Hos 4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Hos 4:1: 4:1–14:9 This diverse collection of Hosea’s prophecies is presented in roughly chronological order, from early in his ministry during the reign of Jeroboam II until just before the destruction of Israel in 722 BC . Hosea presents God’s charges against Israel, tells them of the severe consequences for their sin, and concludes with a divine promise of future restoration. 4:1 The Lord has brought charges against you: Hosea issued a divine indictment against Israel for breaking their covenant with the Lord (see also Isa 3:13 ; Mic 6:2 ). The charges first focus on sins of omission, the qualities that should characterize the people of Israel but were absent. In Israel there is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God . These theologically rich words describe the inward trust and devotion from which godly lives should spring.

Summary for Hos 4:1: 4:1–14:9 ^a This diverse collection of Hosea’s prophecies is presented in roughly chronological order, from early in his ministry during the reign of Jeroboam II until just before the destruction of Israel in 722 BC. Hosea presents God’s charges against Israel, tells them of the severe consequences for their sin, and concludes with a divine promise of future restoration. 4:1 ^b The Lord has brought charges against you: Hosea issued a divine indictment against Israel for breaking their covenant with the Lord (see also Isa 3:13 ^c; Mic 6:2 ^d). The charges first focus on sins of omission, the qualities that should characterize the people of Israel but were absent. In Israel there is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God. These theologically rich words describe the inward trust and devotion from which godly lives should spring.
4:2 ^e The prophet also charged the Israelites for their sins of commission. The crimes listed here are all prohibited in the Ten Commandments (Exod 20:3-17 ^f; Deut 5:7-21 ^g), the fundamental list of covenant responsibilities. Because the Israelites did not know the Lord, they did not practice even the most basic standards of covenant life.
4:3 ^h God’s judgment inevitably falls upon sinful people. Because of the Israelites’ sin, their land and all of nature would suffer.
Summary for Hos 4:4-5: 4:4-5 ⁱ When we are accused of a crime, our human inclination is to blame someone else, but God makes it clear that the blame for Israel’s apostasy lay with her religious leaders, priests, and false prophets.

• God’s judgment on the priests and prophets was that they would stumble and fall (the same word in Hebrew), both professionally and personally.
4:6 ^j Because the priests refused to know the Lord, neither did the people know their God. As a result, the people were being destroyed.

• A primary function of the priests of Israel was to know, practice, and teach the laws of ... God. Ironically, these guardians of the law had forgotten it.
4:9 ^k The people followed the evil example of their religious leaders; as a result, God would punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds.
4:10 ^l God’s judgment matches the punishment to the crime. The Israelites worshiped Canaanite fertility deities with the expectation of bountiful crops and herds, but God’s judgment was that they would still be hungry and their religious prostitution would gain them nothing.
4:12 ^m They ask a piece of wood for advice! For millennia, people have worshiped natural objects such as wood and stones that they believed embodied spirits and gods (Jer 2:27 ⁿ). Biblical religion completely rejects such practices and beliefs (Exod 20:4-5 ^o; Isa 44:19 ^p).
4:13 ^q Many Canaanite religious rites were practiced on the mountaintops and hills. On these pagan “high places,” sacred trees were usually used in fertility worship (1 Kgs 14:23 ^r; Jer 2:20 ^s).

• Israelite daughters and brides also committed sexual acts in the worship of Baal; they were possibly forced to do so by their fathers and husbands.
4:14 ^t God declared that he would not single out the young women for their prostitution. This declaration contrasts with double standards that were common in ancient cultures.

• shrine prostitutes: The Hebrew word refers to female prostitutes who were dedicated to the service of Baal and Asherah in the temples of Baal (Deut 23:18 ^u).
4:15 ^v Beth-aven refers to the wickedness being practiced at Bethel, the most important worship center in the northern kingdom of Israel (see Amos 7:13 ^w; cp. Hos 5:8 ^x; 10:5 ^y).