Berean Standard Bible

Hosea 10:4-9

4They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

5The people of Samaria will fearfor the calf of Beth-aven.1Indeed, its people will mourn over itwith its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced in its glory—for it has been taken from them into exile.6Yes, it will be carried to Assyriaas tribute to the great king.2Ephraim3 will be seized with shame;Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.47Samaria will be carried off with her kinglike a twig on the surface of the water.8The high places of Aven5 will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel;thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars.Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”and to the hills, “Fall on us!”6

9Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel,and there you have remained.Did not the battle in Gibeahovertake the sons of iniquity?7

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Notes

1. Hosea 10:5 Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28–29. ↩
2. Hosea 10:6 Or to King Jareb ↩
3. Hosea 10:6 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 11 ↩
4. Hosea 10:6 Or of its own counsel ↩
5. Hosea 10:8 Or of wickedness; Aven is a reference to Beth-aven (a derogatory term for Bethel); see verse 5. ↩
6. Hosea 10:8 Cited in Luke 23:30; see also Revelation 6:16. ↩
7. Hosea 10:9 Or Did not the battle overtake the sons of iniquity in Gibeah? ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Hosea 10