USB ~ Hosea 11

The Disappointment of a Parent

1 † When Israel was a child I loved him, a out of Egypt† I called my son. b

2 The more I called them, the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.

3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; c but they did not know that I cared for them.

4 I drew them with human cords, with bands of love;† I fostered them like those who raise an infant to their cheeks; I bent down to feed them. d

5 He shall return to the land of Egypt, e Assyria shall be his king, because they have refused to repent.

6 The sword shall rage in his cities: it shall destroy his diviners, and devour them because of their schemings.

7 My people have their mind set on apostasy; though they call on God in unison, he shall not raise them up.

But Love Is Stronger and Restores

8 How could I give you up, Ephraim, or deliver you up, Israel? How could I treat you as Admah, or make you like Zeboiim?† f My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred.

9 I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, g the Holy One present among you; I will not come in wrath.

10 They shall follow the LORD, who roars like a lion; h When he roars, his children shall come frightened from the west,

11 Out of Egypt they shall come trembling, like birds, like doves, from the land of Assyria; And I will resettle them in their homes, oracle of the LORD.

Footnotes

†. 11:1-3 After the image of husband-wife (chaps. 1-3), Hosea uses the image of parent-child (Ex 4:22; Is 1:2; Jer 3:19).

†. 11:1 Out of Egypt: Hosea dates the real beginning of Israel from the time of the exodus. Mt 2:15 applies this text to the return of Jesus from Egypt.

†. 11:4 I drew them…with bands of love: perhaps a reversal of the yoke imagery of the previous chapter, i.e., not forcing them like draft animals, but drawing them with kindness and affection.

†. 11:8 Admah…Zeboiim: cities in the vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn 14:2, 8) and destroyed with them (Gn 19:24-25; Dt 29:22).

11:1 Dt 7:8; 10:15; Jer 2:1-9.
11:1 Ex 4:22; Mt 2:15.
11:3 Dt 1:31; 8:5.
11:4 Dt 8:16.
11:5 Dt 17:16.
11:8 Dt 29:22.
11:9 Nm 23:19; Is 31:3; Ez 28:2.
11:10 Jl 4:16; Am 1:2; Jer 25:30.