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

9:1 A prostitute's wages (cf. 2:12) are scorned by the Lord (Deut. 23:18).

9:3 The failure of crops in the land is not the only outcome of Ephraim's adultery. Expulsion is another consequence. The mention of exile to Egypt and Assyria reflects the oscillating politics of Israel, trying to play the two against each other (cf. 7:11).

9:4 their sacrifices shall not please him. It shall be like mourners' bread. A description of conditions in exile. Because the food is unclean (v. 3), they shall be defiled and therefore not acceptable in God's presence.

9:6 They are going away from destruction is an indication that they think they are safe. Their hope is quickly dashed, however: but Egypt shall gather them. Other disasters are described in the rest of the verse.

9:7 Some understand the prophet is a fool as Hosea's quotation of Israel's earlier ridicule of the prophet, God's watchman (cf. Jer. 6:16; Ezek. 3:17; 33:2, 6-7)--i.e., that Ephraim's rejection of God's messenger causes them to entrap themselves. By this interpretation, the last two lines would be Hosea's response, showing why the prophets have been prophesying such disaster. Others understand this as Hosea's own statement. By this interpretation, Hosea then says, in the last two lines, that the people's great iniquity shows the reason why these prophets' predictions have been so foolish.

9:9 As in the days of Gibeah refers to the events in Judges 19-21, where God brings judgment on Gibeah and the tribe of Benjamin (Judg. 20:35) for their cruel violence (Judg. 19:22-26; cf. Hos. 10:9).