Hosea 9:1-6

Hosea 9:1 (KJB)

Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

 

Here God is telling Israel which is the ten tribes not to rejoice as other people.  Sinful rebellion is not something that a person should ever rejoice in.  Other people may rejoice because they are blessed and obedient but those living in sin should never rejoice.  Israel had become a whore and had departed from their God, the very God who protected them and brought them through many trials and afflictions.  Pagan cultures had taken the first fruits and free will offerings of the harvest and dedicated it to their false gods.  There was even cult prostitution offered at these dedications of their harvests.  Israel had taken up the same rituals as the pagan cultures.

 

Hosea 9:2 (KJB)

The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

 

Since Israel had turned its back on their God, God will not bless the harvests they bring in and they shall not even have new wine since the vines would be part of the crops which will not be blessed of the LORD.  This is because Israel was walking in disobedience and had believed that it was the false gods who brought them their harvests but now they will find out that rebellion will only bring them leanness instead of a good harvest.

 

Hosea 9:3 (KJB)

They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

 

When Israel came out of Egypt from the bondage of slavery, God gave them the land and dispossessed many of the pagan nations to give them the land and there they were to worship and serve the LORD.  Now they will not be able to live in the land anymore and because of their idolatry, the unclean things which they were not permitted to eat under the law they will eat them while in captivity to the Assyrians.  Their diets will be polluted making them polluted under the law.  In an effort to avoid capture by the Assyrians, some of the Israelites will make an attempt to go to Egypt and find a place of refuge in hopes they will not be taken by the Assyrians.  They were given warning in Deuteronomy that if they departed from the LORD, then they would be removed from the land.  Deuteronomy 28:63 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 

 

Hosea 9:4 (KJB)

They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

 

At the morning and evening sacrifice they were to offer the wine offering.  The wine represented the spirit of grace given to the true believer.  If they attempt to make a wine offering, it will not be accepted by the LORD since they were in a state of rebellion.  If they try to hold a feast or sacrifice which was supposed to be a joyous occasion, it would be to them as the bread of the mourner as if they had just buried a parent or a child.  In fact, if they attempt to hold a sacrifice while they were playing the harlot, then instead of them being in a cleansed state they will be polluted.  Normally bread was offered with the sacrifices but no more shall they bring that bread which was tied to their souls as a portion of their sacrifice into the house of the LORD.  This will be the case when they are taken to Assyria and will never be able to enter the temple again since they would now live under pagan laws.

 

Hosea 9:5 (KJB)

What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?

 

When they will be taken to Assyria and solemn feasts like the Great Day of Atonement comes around, what will they do since they will not be able to celebrate it in the manner prescribed in the law?  They would increase their disobedience if they try to celebrate any of the feasts outside of the proper manner given in the law.  Basically there will be nothing they can do because they will not be allowed to return for their feast days.

 

Hosea 9:6 (KJB)

For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

 

Many of the Israelites had fled to Egypt in hopes they could find refuge there until the Assyrians had left Samaria and went back home.  Then they could return to their land and resume living as they did before.  Their plans did not work as many of them who tried to flee from the penalty of their rebellion had died in Egypt and many had thought since Memphis was a place of great trade routes they would find a better life there but that did not happen.  Just as Jonah did not escape from God, neither would many who were trying to escape the penalty of their own sin.  Where they thought they would become rich in silver, it would become as nettles which had large thorns on them and were easily burnt in the fire.  The thorns would be their tabernacles, that is, instead of having a good life, they would suffer continual retribution for their rebellion and would be as one who is persecuted.  There would be no peace in their lives.  Isaiah 33:10-12 (KJV) Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.  {11} Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.  {12} And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

Back