Israel is condemned to suffer for generations to come
A SCEPTICAL BIBLE READING OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA 3 – 6
Chapter Three
Though the first two chapters describe events in the 3rd person,
including their depiction of Hosea, this chapter commences immediately in the
first person, with Hosea to all appearances, speaking for himself. There
is clearly a serious mistranslation involved somewhere, and it has affected
several versions of the scripture. Alternatively, the prologue chapters are
added another commentator as a preface and what begins in three attributes the
text to Hosea personally. The switch over is never explained though.
It is a short demand again imposed by God on Hosea to go to Israel and buy
himself the services of a prostitute, for a mere 15 pieces of silver and a
small amount of barley. The implication is that God regards Israel as easily
bribed and bought off by any mercenary enough to have her. God’s disgust is
very sharply presented and totally uncompromising. Hosea is in effect
being put in charge and given responsibility for Israel’s fate. She is told,
through him to have no master but him. Hosea is asserting his authority as a
representative of God, for warning Israel of God’s dire plans for her. If Hosea’s
mission is successful, a future generation of Israel will one day know
happiness denied to Hosea and his generation.
Chapter Four
God calls Israel a land of unbelievers and sinners, and casts them into a
terrible famine and drought. The fishermen will catch no fish. Even Hosea will
suffer in the disasters to come, indicating the imminence of the events to
come. The priests are corrupt. The people are unbelievers; God is going to turn
his back on them all.
Verse 13 sums up the level of irrational anger God is unleashing in these
relentless outbursts. “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn
incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow
thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your
spouses shall commit adultery.” The interpretation of this is one of the
people being too relaxed in their worship, and praise. God isn’t grateful for
just any old sacrifice – he wants the people to suffer the baking heat of the
Sun while making sacrifice. Casting them into desperation and having to
prostitute themselves to survive is God’s way of shaking them out of
complacency.
God takes a nuclear bomb to crack open an eggshell. His behaviour is
grossly OTT.
The Israelis are told in no uncertain terms not to seek assistance in their
need from Judah or Gilgal. Ephram is also to be avoided as a source of help as
the Ephramiotes are idol worshippers and liable to steer the Israelis to
worship of other gods.
Chapter Five
Again, Israel is told that God has abandoned them, like a petulant sulking
parent choosing not to talk to a child as a punishment over some minor
indiscretion. Judah and Ephram share in Israel’s disgrace. Assyria, (then
historically the biggest and most powerful nation in the region) will want to
help its distressed neighbours but they will be unable to do anything for them.
Chapter Six
Human goodness is fickle, as likely to evaporate as morning dew. God
presents himself as a more stable alternative despite his history (the whole
preceding Bible) of being very unstable and unpredictable.
God is angry that one by one the cities he has given us have broken their
promises and Covenant contracts with him. He plans to inflict retribution, and
that promise (threat) is made contractual by being uttered by God’s prophets,
including Hosea.
Arthur Chappell
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