The Skeptics Annotated Bible (679 page)

(5.6)
“They shall … seek the LORD; but they shall not find him.”
176 Does God help in times of need?

7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for
they have begotten strange children
: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

(5.7)
“They have begotten strange
[illegitimate]
children.”

8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.

(5.9-15) God’s plans for Ephraim and Judah. (He’ll kill them all, of course.)

9
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke
: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

(5.9)
“Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke.”

10
The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

(5.10)
“The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.”

11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

14 For
I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

15 I will go and return to my place,
till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face
: in their affliction they will seek me early.

(5.14-15)
“I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him … till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face.”

6
Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

(6.2)
“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.”
This may be the verse referred to in Luke 18.31-33 and 1 Corinthians 15.3-4. However, Hosea 6.2 refers to the people living at the time (hence “us”) and therefore cannot be fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

5 Therefore have
I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth
: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

(6.5)
“I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth.”

6 For
I desired mercy, and not sacrifice
; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

(6.6)
“I desired mercy, and not sacrifice.”
120 Is God merciful?
20 Does God desire animal sacrifices?

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.

(6.9-10) More lewdness and whoredom