HOS

Hosea 13

BSB

God’s Anger against Israel

1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;

he was exalted in Israel.

But he incurred guilt through Baal,

and he died.

2Now they sin more and more

and make for themselves cast images,

idols skillfully made from their silver,

all of them the work of craftsmen.

People say of them,

“They offer human sacrifice

and kiss the calves!”

3Therefore they will be like the morning mist,

like the early dew that vanishes,

like chaff blown from a threshing floor,

like smoke through an open window.

4Yet I am the LORD your God

ever since the land of Egypt;

you know no God but Me,

for there is no Savior besides Me.

5I knew you in the wilderness,

in the land of drought.

6When they had pasture,

they became satisfied;

when they were satisfied,

their hearts became proud,

and as a result they forgot Me.

7So like a lion I will pounce on them;

like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them,

and I will tear open their chests.

There I will devour them like a lion,

like a wild beast would tear them apart.

Death and Resurrection

(1 Corinthians 15:50–58)

9You are destroyed, O Israel,

because you are against Me—

against your helper.

10Where is your king now

to save you in all your cities,

and the rulers to whom you said,

“Give me a king and princes”?

11So in My anger I gave you a king,

and in My wrath I took him away.

12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;

his sin is stored up.

13Labor pains come upon him,

but he is an unwise son.

When the time arrives,

he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.

14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol;

I will redeem them from Death.

Where, O Death, are your plagues?

Where, O Sheol, is your sting?

Compassion is hidden from My eyes.

Judgment on Samaria

15Although he flourishes among his brothers,

an east wind will come—

a wind from the LORD

rising up from the desert.

His fountain will fail,

and his spring will run dry.

The wind will plunder his treasury

of every precious article.

16Samaria will bear her guilt

because she has rebelled against her God.

They will fall by the sword;

their little ones will be dashed to pieces,

and their pregnant women ripped open.

Matthew Henry's chapter overview

Introduction

Hosea 13

The same strings, though generally unpleasing ones, are harped upon in this chapter that were in those before. People care not to be told either of their sin or of their danger by sin; and yet it is necessary, and for their good, that they should be told of both, nor can they better hear of either than from the word of God and from their faithful ministers, while the sin may be repented of and the danger prevented. Here, I. The people of Israel are reproved and threatened for their idolatry (Hos 13:1-4). II. They are reproved and threatened for their wantonness, pride, and luxury, and other abuses of their wealth and prosperity (Hos 13:5-8). III. The ruin that is coming upon them for these and all their other sins is foretold as very terrible (Hos 13:12, Hos 13:13, Hos 13:15, Hos 13:16). IV. Those among them that yet retain a respect for their God are here encouraged to hope that he will yet appear for their relief, though their kings and princes, and all their other supports and succours, fail them (Hos 13:9-11, Hos 13:14).

Cross-references: Hos 13:1 · Hos 13:5 · Hos 13:12 · Hos 13:13 · Hos 13:15 · Hos 13:16 · Hos 13:9 · Hos 13:14