God, through Hosea, chastises Israel for its abandonment of Him, and their infidelity.
Hosea 5:1-3, Priests and royal house visible to God
"Hear this, you priests!
Pay attention, you Israelites!
Listen, O royal house!
This judgment is against you:
You have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.
The rebels are deep in slaughter.
I will discipline all of them.
I know all about Ephraim;
Israel is not hidden from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
Israel is corrupt.
The chapter begins with a three-fold command for attention -- to priests, regular Israelites and royalty. Ephraim, that is, the Northern Kingdom, is visible to God, as are all of its sins. The royal house is called out especially on this. Mizpah and Tabor represent examples of past idolatry and possibly (says Wood) common places for hunting, fitting with the "snare" and "net" images. (Tabor was where Deborah had victory over Sisera in Judges 4. There were a number of place in Israel called Mizpah, which means "watch tower." Mizpah might be Mizpah in Gilead or Mizpah in Benjamin.)
When the northern tribes rebelled against Rehoboam, they set up a competing altar at Bethel. (See 1 Kings 12:25-33.)
Hosea 5:4-7, A spirit of prostitution
"Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God.
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart;
they do not acknowledge the LORD.
Israel's arrogance testifies against them;
the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin;
Judah also stumbles with them.
When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD,
they will not find him;
he has withdrawn himself from them.
They are unfaithful to the LORD;
they give birth to illegitimate children.
Now their New Moon festivals will devour them
and their fields.
The infidelity of the northern kingdom means that the people are separated from YHWH and even when they decide to seek Him, they are unable.
Hosea 5:8-12, Corruption, oppression, rot
"Sound the trumpet in Gibeah,
the horn in Ramah.
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven;
lead on, O Benjamin.
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning.
Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
Judah's leaders are like those who move boundary stones.
I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.
Ephraim is oppressed,
trampled in judgment,
intent on pursuing idols.
I am like a moth to Ephraim,
like rot to the people of Judah.
Gibeah and Ramah were towns in Benjamin, on Judah's northern border. The call to sounds trumpets in these towns (and also Bethel/Beth Aven) is probably a warning is aimed at Judah, corrupted now by Israel.
In the ancient Near East, moving a boundary stone was an indication of deliberate corruption. It is specifically prohibited in Deuteronomy 19:14 and Deuteronomy 27:17, for example. Kidner notes that a metaphor may be suggested here: not only have physical boundaries been moved, but Ephraim and Judah have moved moral boundary stones.
Hosea 5:13-14, Don't turn to Assyria!
"When Ephraim saw his sickness,
and Judah his sores,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria,
and sent to the great king for help.
But he is not able to cure you,
not able to heal your sores.
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
like a great lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces and go away;
I will carry them off,
with no one to rescue them.
Assyria is not the solution for either Israel or Judah. The people need to seek the face of God.
Kidner sees hints of Menahem's brutal and foolish reign, see 2 Kings 15:17-22.
Hosea 5:15, They will seek my face
Then I will go back to my place
until they admit their guilt.
And they will seek my face;
in their misery they will earnestly seek me."
As with all prophetic announcements of judgment, there are hints of a remnant returning to see YHWH. That hope is expanded a bit at the beginning of chapter 6.
First published June 11, 2025; updated June 11, 2025
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