Tyndale Open Study NotesHosea 13

• At the height of its power, the tribe of Ephraim caused fear among other Israelites (see Isaiah 7:2).

• he [Ephraim] died: Because of their idolatry, they separated themselves from the Lord, the only true source of life.

• The Hebrew word for idols is the same as the one used for the golden calf (Exodus 32:4, 8; see also Hosea 10:5–6; Amos 5:5–6).

• Kiss the calves!: Canaanite religious ceremonies involved kissing images of Baal (1 Kings 19:18).

• God judged idolatrous Ephraim by saying they would disappear (compare Hosea 6:4).

• Mist, dew, chaff, and smoke all represent things that do not last.

there is no Savior: The Lord proved this to Israel during the exodus and their time in the wilderness.

their hearts became proud, and. … forgot Me: They did not rely on the Lord for safety. Instead, they trusted their kings, armies, and wealth (see Hosea 2:13).

God judged Israel using the Assyrian army as his tool for punishment. The description of God's attack highlights the Assyrians' cruelty to those they conquered.

Me … your helper: See Psalms 70:5; 115:9; 121:2; 124:8. Israel's sin had turned their helper into their destroyer.

Where is your king: When Hoshea's alliance with Egypt failed (see Hosea 12:1), he attempted to make peace with Assyria. However, they captured and imprisoned him (2 Kings 17:4). The Israelites had depended on their armies and kings for salvation instead of the Lord, and now no one could save them.

Israel had chosen its kings without asking the Lord, so now he would take them away in anger.

God had carefully stored up the record of Israel’s sin and guilt. He could not escape his punishment.

Israel was like a child in the womb who resisted being born (an unwise son). Amazingly, Israel preferred to stay in the womb rather than receive life from the Lord.

Sheol refers to the realm of the dead (see Job 3:11–19; see also study note on Job 7:9). The Lord rules over Sheol and could save Israel if he chose to. However, he will not show mercy to the Israelites and calls upon death to punish them.

• In 722 BC, Assyria captured Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom (2 Kings 17:5–6). Thousands died during the three-year siege, and many more were exiled. This happened because they rebelled against their God.

• The terrible act of killing pregnant women is also mentioned in Amos 1:13 and 2 Kings 15:16.