Project 119: Hosea 10
| Project 119 | Hayden Walker
In this chapter, Israel is presented through the lenses of two metaphors: a vine (Hosea 10:1) and a calf (Hosea 10:11). Both are agrarian images which we can easily understand today. However, there is a puzzle in the first verse that will help us to grasp the theme of this chapter more fully.
Depending on the translation of the Bible you use, you might see different words describing the vine in 10:1. The ESV translates it “a luxuriant vine,” the NIV says “a spreading vine,” the KJV translates it “an empty vine,” while the CEB says “a growing vine.” Why all the variation in translations? Some of the translations even seem to contradict each other. However, as we look back at the Hebrew in which the original text was written, we learn that each of these words are helpful translations that fit the text. In fact, the word used here to describe the vine is elsewhere carries the connotation of emptiness and destruction. So it might seem at first pass that this vine is fruitless. But we are sure from the second half of verse one that the vine does indeed produce fruit. What would an empty, yet fruit-bearing vine produce? Worthless fruit. The vine may be growing, spreading and luxuriant, but the fruit which it produces is useless, empty, and vile.
It is with this framework in mind that the rest of Hosea 10 makes sense. Israel appeared to be flourishing as the nation. The people built new altars and pillars as they prospered economically (Hosea 10:1). These altars and pillars were used in the worship of idols, not the worship of God. It is clear that Israel’s affluence grew in direct proportion to her wickedness and idolatry. God declares that He will destroy these places of false worship (Hosea 10:2, 8). In a poetic turn of phrase, God announces that another kind of “vine” will grow in Israel. This growth will be thorns and thistles covering their altars of idolatry (Hosea 10:8).
The Israelites had stored up their treasure in earthly things and false worship, which led to destruction. The text thus begs the question of us: does materialism lure us away from devotion to God? When everything is going our way and we seem to be prospering, are our hearts still worshipping God completely? Jesus reminded His followers to avoid the temptation to store up treasures on this earth (Matthew 6:19-20). Let us repent of our own false worship and turn again to heavenly treasure.
Hosea 10 (ESV):
1 Israel is a luxuriant vine
that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
he improved his pillars.
2 Their heart is false;
now they must bear their guilt.
The LORD will break down their altars
and destroy their pillars.
3 For now they will say:
“We have no king,
for we do not fear the LORD;
and a king—what could he do for us?”
4 They utter mere words;
with empty oaths they make covenants;
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
in the furrows of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
for the calf of Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—
those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—
for it has departed from them.
6 The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
as tribute to the great king.
Ephraim shall be put to shame,
and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.
7 Samaria’s king shall perish
like a twig on the face of the waters.
8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
on their altars,
and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,”
and to the hills, “Fall on us.”
9 From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel;
there they have continued.
Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah?
10 When I please, I will discipline them,
and nations shall be gathered against them
when they are bound up for their double iniquity.
11 Ephraim was a trained calf
that loved to thresh,
and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
Judah must plow;
Jacob must harrow for himself.
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 You have plowed iniquity;
you have reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
and in the multitude of your warriors,
14 therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
because of your great evil.
At dawn the king of Israel
shall be utterly cut off.