Hosea 8 Commentary

The book of Hosea contrasts God’s faithfulness to Israel’s faithlessness. In the first three chapters, Hosea introduces the reader to Israel’s infidelity to their Suzerain (Ruler) God who entered into a covenant with Him, and spelled out the path they could take that would lead to great blessing. God’s covenant with Israel can be viewed as a marital contract. By using Hosea’s own marriage to his unfaithful wife, Gomer, God demonstrated that Israel is an unfaithful covenant partner. Israel had broken her vows to her Covenant Husband.

Throughout the rest of Hosea, Israel’s condition is described as disobedient, rebellious, and idolatrous. As God had warned, Israel’s adoption of pagan principles of self-indulgence led to exploitation, deception, and violence (Hosea 4:2). The people of Israel stood in need of repentance and genuine righteousness. Hosea called them to repentance, but Israel declined.

Israel spent years sowing to its own destruction, making and breaking alliances with the world’s superpowers at the time, Egypt and Assyria, dealing treacherously. Hosea describes Israel as acting like a “silly dove” flitting from one nation to the other, rather than turning to God for protection (Hosea 7:11). Thus Assyria will come and put Israel into exile, which God will use as a way of punishing Israel for its infidelity to its covenant with God (Hosea 11:5).

Through it all, however, the book offers hope to Israel. For although the Suzerain God invoked the discipline provisions of their covenant contract with Him, resulting in them being wounded grievously, in the end times He will heal them, revive them, and restore their blessings (Hosea 2:20, 14:7). May all who read this book find comfort and hope in the steadfast love and faithfulness of God!

Hosea 8 records the LORD’s indictment on the nation Israel because she has rejected what is ethically good, encouraged political turbulence, and engaged in idolatrous calf worship. Worse yet, Israel has intermingled with pagan nations while offering hypocritical sacrifices to the LORD. Consequently, the LORD pronounces judgment on Israel, consistent with the terms of Israel’s covenant/contract with the LORD. The nation will be ravaged and carried away into exile to Assyria. There she will experience slavery like that which she experienced in Egypt. The structure of the passage is as follows:

1. The LORD announces judgment on Israel because she has rejected Him and His covenantal laws. Israel will thus reap what she sows, and incur the consequences for her behavior, as spelled out in their covenant agreement with God. (vv. 1–7).

2. The LORD states that Israel is swallowed up because she has intermingled with foreign nations. She is not fulfilling her role as a priestly nation, so has become like a worthless vessel, that is no longer useful for its intended purpose (vv. 8–10).

3. The LORD pronounces judgment on Israel because she has offered sacrificial rituals to Him while ignoring His covenantal laws. The nation will be disciplined for having forsaken her covenant agreement, per the terms of the agreement. (vv. 11–14).

The Bible Project - Hosea Summary