1Hear this, O priests,Attend, O HouseaHouse Emendation yields “prophets.” of Israel,And give ear, O royal house;For right conduct is your responsibility!But youbFor right conduct is your responsibility! / But you Or “This verdict pertains to you. / You.” have been a snare to MizpahAnd a net spread out over Tabor;
2cMeaning of verse uncertain. For when trappers dug deep pitfalls,I was the only reprover of them all.
3Yes, I have watched Ephraim,Israel has not escaped my notice:Behold, you have fornicated, O Ephraim;Israel has defiled himself!
4Their habits do not let themTurn back to their God;Because of the lecherous impulse within them,They pay no heed to GOD.
5Israel’s pride shall be humbled before his very eyes,As Israel and Ephraim fall because of their sin(And Judah falls with them).
6Then they will go with their sheep and cattleTo seek GOD—whom they will not find.dIsrael’s pride … will not find This passage would read well after 5.15; cf. 5.6 with 6.6. They have been cast off:eThey have been cast off Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
7[Because] they have broken faith with GOD,Because they havefthey have Emendation yields “[God] has.” begottenAlien children.Therefore, the new moonShall devour their portion.gTherefore, the new moon / Shall devour their portion Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
8Sound a ram’s horn in Gibeah,A trumpet in Ramah;Give the alarm in Beth-aven;hGibeah…Ramah…Beth-aven The three towns named, in the territory of Benjamin, are now being wrested from Israel by Judah; see v. 10. On the latter town’s name, see second note at 4.15. After you,iAfter you Emendation yields “Stir up.” Benjamin!
9Ephraim is stricken with horrorOn a day of chastisement.Against the tribesjtribes I.e., the kingdoms of Judah and Israel (represented by Ephraim). of IsraelI proclaim certainties:
10The officers of Judah have actedLike shifters of field boundaries;On them I will pour outMy wrath like water.
11Ephraim is defrauded,Robbed of redress,Because he has witlesslyGone after futility.kfutility Cf. Targum and Septuagint; but meaning of Heb. uncertain.
12For it is I who am like rot to Ephraim,Like decay to the House of Judah;lJudah Emendation yields “Israel.”
13Yet when Ephraim became aware of his sickness,JudahmJudah See note at v. 12. of his sores,Ephraim repaired to Assyria—He sent envoys to a patronnpatron Compare the verb ryb in the sense of “to champion, uphold the cause of,” in Isa. 1.17; 3.13; 19.20 end; 51.22. king!He will never be able to cure you,Will not heal you of your sores.
14No, I will be like a lion to Ephraim,Like a great beast to the House of Judah;oJudah See note at v. 12. I, I will attack and stride away,Carrying the prey that no one can rescue;
15And I will return to My abode—Till they realize their guilt.In their distress, they will seek MeAnd beg for My favor.