Hosea 10

1 Israel [an empty or luxuriant vine] was a luxuriant vine [a large healthy vine, full of branches], yielding fruit [the fruit that comes from the ground or from our actions] for himself. The more his fruit [the result of his labor, the abundance of his land] increased, the more he increased the altars [places of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God]. The better his land [the soil or ground, a country, territory, or region] produced, the better he made the sacred pillars [monuments or memorials, sometimes used with an altar]. word study 2 Their hearts [deceptive, divided] are devious; now [at this time, in this moment] they must bear their guilt [be found faulty, deserving punishment]. The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will break down [shatter, demolish] their altars [places of sacrifice] and demolish [destroy, ruin] their sacred pillars [monuments, memorials]. word study 3 Surely now [at this time, in this moment] they will say, “We have no king [no ruler, no monarch], for we do not revere [fear, stand in awe of] the LORD [Yehovah, the divine King]. What can a king [ruler, leader] do for us [to help us, to save us]?” word study 4 They speak [idle, empty] mere words; with false [deceitful] oaths they make [formal agreements, covenants] covenants. So [righteous] judgment [justice, verdict] springs up like [harmful, poisonous] poisonous weeds [hemlock, bitter plants] in the furrows [plowed rows, cultivated land] of a field [cultivated land, earthly realm]. word study 5 The people [inhabitants, residents] of Samaria [watch mountain, a region in northern Palestine] will fear [be in terror, dread] for the calf [heifer, young female calf] of Beth-aven [house of vanity, a place of idolatry]. Indeed, its people [nation, community] will mourn [lament, grieve] with its idolatrous [pagan] priests— those who rejoiced [celebrated, shouted with joy] in its glory [great honor, splendor]— for it has been taken [departed, removed] from them into exile [a state of captivity, banishment]. word study 6 Yes, it will be carried to Assyria [as a tribute, for a present] as tribute to the great king [Jareb, a contender]. Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel] will be seized with shame [shamefulness, disgrace]; Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob] will be ashamed [feel guilty, disappointed] of its wooden idols [own counsel, advice, or decisions]. word study 7 Samaria [the watch mountain, a region in northern Palestine] will be carried off [swept away, destroyed] with her king [the royal person, ruler] like a twig [a small splinter, foam] on the surface [face, presence] of the water [a liquid, source of refreshment]. word study 8 The high places [cultic platforms, idolatrous altars] of Aven [evil, wickedness] will be destroyed [devastated, annihilated]— it is the sin [rebellion, transgression] of Israel; thorns [prickly growths] and thistles [weeds] will overgrow [come up, ascend] their altars [places of sacrifice]. Then they will say to the mountains [hills], “Cover us [hide us, protect us]!” and to the hills [small hills], “Fall on us [crush us, overwhelm us]!” word study 9 Since the days [from the very beginning, of old] of Gibeah [a city in Palestine, birthplace of King Saul] you have sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong], O Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people], and there [in that place, at that time] you have remained [stood, persisted]. Did not the battle [war, conflict] in Gibeah [against the city] overtake [reach, catch up to] the sons [descendants, children] of iniquity [moral perverseness, unrighteousness]? word study 10 I will chasten [discipline, punish] them when I please [in my desire]; nations [peoples, Amaw] will be gathered [assembled, brought together] against them to put them in bondage [bind them, enslave] for their double [two, dual] transgression [iniquities, sins, wrongdoings]. word study 11 Ephraim [a tribe of Israel, doubly fruitful] is a well-trained [taught, guided] heifer [young female calf, nearly grown] that loves [has affection for] to thresh [tread, trample]; but I will place a yoke on her fair [beautiful, lovely] neck [the back of the neck, where burdens are carried]. I will harness [put a rider on, set to work] Ephraim, Judah [the tribe of Judah, a son of Jacob] will plow [cultivate, work the land], and Jacob [the father of the tribes of Israel] will break [harrow, prepare] the hard [difficult, stubborn] ground [earth, land]. word study 12 Sow [plant seeds of faith] for yourselves righteousness [moral integrity, justice] and reap [harvest, gather in] the fruit of loving devotion [kindness, mercy]; break up [plow, till] your unplowed ground [fallow land, unprepared heart]. For it is time [the appointed season, now] to seek [pursue, inquire of] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] until He comes [arrives, appears] and sends [pours out, showers] righteousness [justice, virtue] upon you like rain [abundant blessing, refreshing]. word study 13 You have plowed [cultivated, planted] wickedness [immorality, sin] and reaped [harvested, gathered] injustice [moral evil, unrighteousness]; you have eaten [consumed, devoured] the fruit [result, consequence] of lies [deception, falsehood]. Because you have trusted [relied, had confidence] in your own way [path, manner of life] and in the multitude [abundance, greatness] of your mighty men [strong warriors, champions], word study 14 the roar [a loud, rushing sound, uproar] of battle [war, conflict] will rise [stand up, ascend] against your people [nation, community], so that all [every, everything] your fortresses [strong, fortified places, cities] will be demolished [destroyed, ruined] as Shalman [an Assyrian king] devastated [spoiled, plundered] Beth-arbel [house of God’s Ambush, a city in Palestine] in the day [a 24-hour period, a time of judgment] of battle [war, fighting], when mothers [female parents, caregivers] were dashed to pieces [broken, smashed] along with their children [sons, descendants]. word study 15 Thus [in this way, accordingly] it will be done to you, O Bethel [house of God], because of your great [extreme, severe] wickedness [evil, moral harm]. When the day dawns [at daybreak, in the morning], the king [royal ruler] of Israel [God’s chosen people] will be utterly [completely, totally] cut off [destroyed, ceased]. word study