USB ~ Hosea 6

1 “Come, let us return to the LORD, a For it is he who has torn, but he will heal us; he has struck down, but he will bind our wounds.

2 He will revive us after two days; on the third day† he will raise us up, b to live in his presence.

3 Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming. He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” c

4 What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like morning mist, like the dew that disappears early.

5 For this reason I struck them down through the prophets, I killed them by the words of my mouth;† d my judgment shines forth like the light.

6 For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. e

Further Crimes of Israel

7 But they, at Adam,† violated the covenant; there they betrayed me.

8 Gilead† is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood.

9 Like brigands lying in wait is the band of priests. They murder on the road to Shechem,† indeed they commit a monstrous crime.

10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there is found Ephraim’s prostitution, Israel is defiled.

11 For you also, Judah, a harvest† has been appointed!

Footnotes

†. 6:2 After two days; on the third day: presumptuous Israel expects that soon God will renew them (cf. Ez 37).

†. 6:5 The word of God proclaimed by the prophets is effective, it accomplished what it promised: punishment.

†. 6:7 At Adam: the violation of the covenant at Adam is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible. The place Adam, the location of which is unknown, may be referred to in Jos 3:16.

†. 6:8 Gilead: city in Transjordan (Gn 31:46-48; 2 Kgs 15:25).

†. 6:9 Shechem: an important ancient religious and political center (Jos 24).

†. 6:11 Harvest: God’s judgment, when Judah will reap what it has sown.

6:1 Lam 3:40.
6:2 Lk 24:7, 46; 1 Cor 15:4.
6:3 Dt 11:14; Ps 72:6.
6:5 Is 11:4; 49:2; Jer 5:14; Heb 4:12-13.
6:6 1 Sm 15:22; Am 5:22-24; Mi 6:6-8; Eccl 4:17; Mt 9:13; 12:7.