Hosea 8–9: They Sow the Wind … They Shall Reap the Whirlwind": The Calf and the Exile
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible
Put the ram’s horn to your lips!An eagle looms over the house of the LORD,because the people have transgressed my covenantand rebelled against my law.Israel cries out to me,“O our God, we know you!”But Israel has rejected good;an enemy will pursue him.
They set up kings, but not by me.They make princes, but without my approval.With their silver and gold they make themselves idols,to their own destruction.He has rejected your calf, O Samaria.My anger burns against them.How long will they beincapable of innocence?For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God.It will be broken to pieces,that calf of Samaria.
For they sow the wind,and they shall reap the whirlwind.There is no standing grain;what sprouts fails to yield flour.Even if it should produce,the foreigners would swallow it up.Israel is swallowed up!Now they are among the nationslike a worthless vessel.For they have gone up to Assyrialike a wild donkey on its own.Ephraim has hired lovers.Though they hire allies among the nations,I will now round them up,and they will begin to diminishunder the oppression of the king of princes.
Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin,they became his altars for sinning.Though I wrote for them the great things of my law,they regarded them as something strange.Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,and though they eat the meat,the LORD does not accept them.Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins:They will return to Egypt.Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;Judah has multiplied its fortified cities.But I will send fire upon their cities,and it will consume their citadels.Do not rejoice, O Israel,with exultation like the nations,for you have played the harlot against your God;you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,and the new wine will fail them.They will not remainin the land of the LORD;Ephraim will return to Egyptand eat unclean food in Assyria.
They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD,and their sacrifices will not please him,but will be to them like the bread of mourners;all who eat will be defiled.For their bread will be for themselves;it will not enter the house of the LORD.What will you do on the appointed day,on the day of the LORD’s feast?For even if they flee destruction,Egypt will gather themand Memphis will bury them.Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles,and thorns will overrun their tents.
The days of punishment have come;the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it.The prophet is called a fool,and the inspired man insane,because of the greatnessof your iniquity and hostility.The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman,along with my God,yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.Hostility is in the house of his God!They have deeply corrupted themselvesas in the days of Gibeah;he will remember their guilt;he will punish their sins.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.I saw your fathers as the firstfruitsof the fig tree in its first season.But they went to Baal-peor,and consecrated themselves to Shame;so they became as detestableas the thing they loved.Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird,with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.Even if they raise their children,I will bereave them of each one.Yes, woe be to themwhen I turn away from them!I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,planted in a meadow.But Ephraim will bring outhis children for slaughter.Give them, O LORD—what will you give?Give them wombs that miscarryand breasts that dry up!
All their evil appears at Gilgal,for there I hated them.I will drive them from my housefor the wickedness of their deeds.I will no longer love them;all their leaders are rebellious.Ephraim is struck down;their root is withered;they cannot bear fruit.Even if they bear children,I will slay the darlings of their wombs.My God will reject thembecause they have not obeyed him;and they shall be wanderersamong the nations.