Osee, 5
God's threats against the priests, the people, and princes of Israel, for their idolatry.
[1] Hear ye this, O priests 1, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over and a net spread upon Thabor. •
O priests: What is said of priests in this prophecy is chiefly understood of the priests of the kingdom of Israel; who were not true priests of the race of Aaron; but served the calves at Bethel and Dan.
[2] And you have turned aside victims into the depth and I am the teacher of them all. •
[3] I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me for now Ephraim hath committed fornication, Israel is defiled. •
[4] They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord. •
[5] And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel, and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them. •
[6] With their flocks and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them. •
[7] They have transgressed against the Lord: for they have begotten children that are strangers 1: now shall a month devour them with their portions. •
Children that are strangers: That is, aliens from God: and therefore they are threatened with speedy destruction.
[8] Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin. •
[9] Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be. •
[10] The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound 1: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. •
As they that take up the bound: That is, they that remove the boundary, encroaching on the property of their neighbors: figuratively: going beyond the boundary of the laws of God.
[11] Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he began to go after filthiness. •
[12] And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the house of Juda. •
[13] And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from you. •
[14] For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion's whelp to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and there is none that can rescue. •
[15] I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and seek my face. •