TEXT [Commentary]

black diamond   3.   The three guilty parties (5:1-3)

1 “Hear this, you priests.

Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.

Listen, you members of the royal family.

Judgment has been handed down against you.

For you have led the people into a snare

by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.

2 You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia Grove.[*]

But I will settle with you for what you have done.

3 I know what you are like, O Ephraim.

You cannot hide yourself from me, O Israel.

You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband;

you are utterly defiled.

NOTES

5:1 leaders of Israel. Lit., “house of Israel.”

royal family. Lit., “house of the king.” Three classes of leadership covering both the civil and religious segments of society are grouped together in 5:1 for condemnation: priests, leaders, and the royal family.

Mizpah and Tabor. The Mizpah intended here is probably a city in Benjamin about 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem; Mount Tabor is situated southwest of the Sea of Galilee. Apparently both had become cult centers by Hosea’s time.

5:2 You have dug a deep pit . . . at Acacia Grove. This line is notoriously difficult to translate. The ancient versions struggled with it and provide little help. The NLT rendering (cf. NRSV, REB) depends on two minor emendations to the MT but has the advantage of providing a third location, “Acacia,” to match the three areas of leadership listed in 5:1. Those who attempt to make sense of the MT as it stands most commonly view the text as indicating the depth of Israel’s sin (e.g., “you are deeply involved in sin,” GW; cf. NIV, NASB, NKJV), perhaps even hinting at the heinous crime of child sacrifice (Andersen and Freedman 1980:380; Hubbard 1989:114).

5:3 I know what you are like, O Ephraim. Israel is identified here with its most prominent region, Ephraim. The whole nation, however, is culpable. While many commentators assume that 5:1-3 constitutes Hosea’s words, 5:6 suggests that they are the Lord’s, as recorded by Hosea.

as a prostitute leaves her husband. The theme of adultery as illustrative of the relation between God and his people surfaces again (cf. 3:1-5). The symbolic experience of Hosea provides a background for the pronouncement.

COMMENTARY [Text]

This short oracle of judgment was aimed at Israel’s leadership. Those who were held responsible for the people’s well-being had failed to provide it. This was particularly true in the area of Israel’s religious experience, for its leaders had left the true worship of God and sponsored the idolatrous and adulterous rites associated with Baal. They were to be warned: God had seen it all and would soon punish them for their actions. Little chance of avoiding God’s judgment exists. Because all Israel followed its corrupt leaders, its flagrant sins rendered the northern kingdom utterly defiled (5:3).

Here again the importance of godly and dedicated leadership is stressed. It is difficult for people to rise above the level of their leadership spiritually or ethically. This is true whether in the church or in the home. Good leaders must be responsible people, for they are held accountable for their decisions, actions, and the example they provide (1 Tim 4:12; Heb 13:17). They are to be those who are faithful and trustworthy (Neh 7:2), who have a genuine concern for those in their trust, and who always try to do the right thing (Mic 3:2; 1 Tim 6:11-12). They are to be those who do not misuse their position for selfish gain (Amos 5:4-12; 1 Pet 5:1-4). Leadership is a privilege, a responsibility, and an opportunity to do special service for God (1 Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9).

May God’s church have dedicated leaders who are faithful servants of the Lord (2 Chr 19:9; 1 Cor 4:1-2; Eph 6:21; 1 Tim 1:12; Heb 3:2). May they be those who live out and teach the principles of his Word (Phil 4:9; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 2:15; 4:2) so that, in turn, there may be a legacy of trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others (2 Tim 2:2).