Hosea 10
We have before noticed the references to Israel as a vine. Psalm 80, Isaiah 5, Jeremiah 2:21 and John 15:1-5 show the nation’s failure to yield fruit to God, and they being set aside, Christ is the true vine. Israel was an empty vine, —one which “emptied” itself in wood and leaves, but gave forth no grapes. He brought forth fruit unto himself, i.e., there was prosperity in the kingdom, but it was turned to their own advantage, and to an increase of idolatry (verse 1).
Verse 2: Their heart was divided; they knew a responsibility to God, but gave the honor due to Him to their idols; they would be ‘found guilty, and altars and images—tokens of idolatry—would be cut off and spoiled.
Verse 3: In the last years of Israel’s history, their king was in prison (2 Kings 17:4, 5); they realized that this happened because they feared not God, hut instead of this circumstance humbling them with other distresses then occurrent, they brazenly said, “What then should a king do for (not to) us?”
The immediate cause of Israel’s being carried off into captivity, was their being untrue to a covenant with the Assyrian king; so was it also, later on, with Judah. Both acknowledged the dominant power of the east—Assyria at this time, Babylonia a century later—and both broke their pledge by negotiating with the ruler of Egypt (2 Kings 17:1; 2 Chronicles 36:13). Thus judgment sprang up as the hemlock in the furrows of the fields, for as a man soweth, so shall he also reap.
Verses 5 and 6 deal with Jeroboam’s golden calves, called the calf of Samaria in chapter 8, and here the calves of Bethaven (house of vanity or house of idols). These tokens of idolatry—powerless in the day of trouble—now to be mourned over, with fear in the heart (for the false gods whom men have set up in place of the true God have always been revengeful beings) were to be carried to Assyria a present to king Jareb (or, the contentious king).
Verse 9: Gibeah was referred to in chapter 9, but here is in even more solemn connection. Israel had sinned “from the days of Gibeah”, when the tribe of Benjamin was almost destroyed because of flagrant sin. At that time Israel had stood firmly; the battle against the children of iniquity did not overtake them, but afterward there was grave decline, as we know. Verses 10 and 11 speak of the judgment impending.
The peoples (Gentiles) were to be gathered against Israel when they are bound for their two iniquities (Jeremiah 2:13). Ephraim had been diligent in service, but not for God; He would make them to draw, or to bear a rider (N.T.). Judah, too, was to be brought down to labor for others; thus Jacob (the whole of the 12 tribes) was to till the ground for the peoples.
The chapter closes with an exhortation to turn to God; plowing wickedness had been followed by reaping iniquity, and then by eating the fruit of lies; far worse was the day near at hand. Shalman (verse 14) is believed to have been Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, but Beth-arbel has not been identified. Beth-el (house of God) was the location of one of the golden calves, and is elsewhere called Bethaven, house of vanity, or house of idols.
ML 11/22/1936