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RSV

From: Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Israel’s idolatry

[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 fear not the Lord,
and a king, what could he do for us?”

[7] Samaria’s king shall perish,
like a chip 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 upon us.

Israel reproached for its pride

[12] Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

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Commentary:

10:1-15. Verses 1-2 summarize the underlying point in the passage: the wealthier Israel becomes, the more corrupt she is. The verbs “to increase” (v. 1) and “to bear guilt” (v. 2) are in direct contrast to one another. The “We have no king” (v. 3) and the king’s being “like a chip on the face of the waters” (v. 7) refer to the instability of the monarchy in the Northern kingdom: the period between 747 (when Jeroboam II died) to 721 (when Samaria fell to the Assyrians) saw a succession of six kings, who were puppets of Assyria or were assassinated by usurpers. Hosea is quite right when he says they had no king to rule them. The results of this anarchy are mentioned in vv. 4-8 — lots of empty talk, contracts with no substance to them, unjust legal decisions; and the result of it all will he that Assyria will destroy Israel’s altars, the monarchy will perish, and the people will despair. Verses 9-10 probably hark back to the war when all the tribes turned on the tribe of Benjamin to avenge the crime committed at Gibe-ah (cf. Judg 19:1-20:48). Hosea must have regarded that crime and the war it led to (in which the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out) as an archetype of the infamy and cruelty that became so prevalent in later years. Verse 8 is quoted by our Lord when He meets the women of Jerusalem on his way to Calvary (cf. Lk 23:20), and also in Revelation 6:16, in the scene where the sixth seal is opened. The whole passage is a reminder that material progress can also have negative consequences: “Holy Scripture teaches the human family what the experience of the ages confirms —that while human progress is a great advantage to man, it brings with it a strong temptation. For when the order of values is jumbled. and bad is mixed with the good, individuals and groups pay heed solely to their own interests, and not to those of others” (Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 37).

The second stanza comprises a parable (vv.11-13) which recalls the first days of Israel, the years in the wilderness, as being a golden age the stanza continues (vv. 13-15) with a passage that reveals how disappointed God feels; there are references here to recent events — the siege of Beth-arbel by Shalman, a Moabite king (v. 14) and unlawful cults at Bethel (v. 15; note w). The underlying theme is that of the whole book: the people put their trust in their own resources (cf. v. 13), neglecting to seek the Lord (cf. v. 12).