Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

8:1 Set the trumpet to your lips. See note on 5:8. The vulture is a symbol of an aggressor, possibly the Assyrian. House of the Lord does not refer to the temple, since the temple resided in Jerusalem. It probably refers to the Lord's land, a phrase peculiar to Hosea (cf. 9:4, 15). The remarks are obviously ominous from what follows. because they have transgressed my covenant. Note that he says "transgressed," not "annulled" (cf. 6:7). The Lord had not "annulled" his covenant with Israel; she was still his estranged wife. While it was a foregone conclusion that Israel would violate the covenant, provisions for reconciliation were put in place (Lev. 26:40-45; Deut. 31:27-29; cf. Deut. 30:1-10).

8:2 Chapter 8 is a response to Israel's cry. For the people of Israel to say they know God is hypocritical (cf. 2:8; 5:4; 11:3). What follows are accusations that expose Israel's idolatry, politics, and false worship.

8:3 The enemy shall pursue him perhaps refers to the "vulture" in v. 1.

8:4 kings . . . princes. The grievance is twofold. The leaders are not the Lord's choice, and these usurpers are not godly. I knew it not. Hosea and his readers were well aware that God knows everything; the point is not whether God was aware of the princes they had set up, but rather, that the people had never asked him for guidance before choosing these leaders.

8:5-6 I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. These verses respond to v. 3, "Israel has spurned the good." Archaeologists have found sculptures of Baal standing on a bull. This calf-idol is reminiscent of the calf-idol made by Aaron (Ex. 32:1-4) and the calf-idol erected at Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-29). As the calf-idol in Aaron's day was pulverized, so this idol shall be broken to pieces (cf. also 2 Kings 23:15).

8:7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. Trusting flimsy alliances ("sowing the wind") will exacerbate the situation by reaping "the whirlwind" (by bringing on a ruthless invader).

8:10 Foreign armies ravaged the land, exacting heavy tribute as they went.

8:14 Shall devour her strongholds refers to the most secure place within each city, its citadel (1 Kings 16:18; 2 Kings 15:25; Ps. 48:3; Isa. 25:4). Ephraim trusted religious shrines for security; Judah her armaments. Both will prove to be futile.