Hosea 5

Hosea 5 pronounces judgment upon the priests, Israel, and the royal house for their spiritual whoredom and rebellion. God declares that their pride and treachery have led them astray, causing Him to withdraw from them despite their attempts to seek Him with sacrifices. Both Ephraim and Judah are warned of impending desolation and destruction, likened to a moth, rottenness, and a tearing lion. God will ultimately withdraw until they acknowledge their sin and earnestly seek His face in their affliction.

The chapter opens with a stern warning to the priests, the house of Israel, and the king's house, declaring judgment for their spiritual infidelity and rebellious acts, which have ensnared others. God reveals His intimate knowledge of Ephraim's whoredom and Israel's defilement, noting their inability to turn to Him due to a pervasive spirit of whoredoms. The pride of Israel testifies against them, ensuring their fall alongside Judah. Though they may bring sacrifices, they will not find the Lord, for He has withdrawn due to their treachery and the begetting of "strange children." A call to arms signals Ephraim's impending desolation, while Judah's princes are condemned for removing boundaries. God promises to be a destructive force, like a moth and rottenness, and a tearing lion, against both kingdoms. Their reliance on Assyria for healing will prove futile, as God Himself is the source of their affliction, and He will withdraw until they acknowledge their offense and seek Him in their distress.

Hosea 5 begins with a solemn declaration of judgment directed at the priests, the house of Israel, and the royal family, for their role as spiritual snares and their profound rebellion leading to slaughter. The Lord asserts His intimate knowledge of Ephraim's spiritual whoredom and Israel's defilement, emphasizing their inability to genuinely return to Him due to an ingrained "spirit of whoredoms" and a lack of true knowledge of God. The chapter highlights that Israel's pride serves as a witness against them, ensuring their downfall in iniquity, with Judah also destined to fall alongside them. Despite their future attempts to seek the Lord with flocks and herds, they will not find Him, as He has withdrawn Himself due to their treacherous dealings and the production of "strange children," signifying their idolatry and illegitimate worship. A vivid call to sound the cornet and trumpet in Gibeah and Ramah signals the impending desolation of Ephraim in the day of rebuke, a judgment made known among the tribes. The princes of Judah are condemned for acting like those who remove ancient boundary markers, thus incurring God's wrath, which He promises to pour out like water. Ephraim is described as oppressed and broken in judgment because they willingly followed human commandments rather than divine ones. Consequently, God declares He will be a subtle, destructive force to Ephraim, like a moth, and to Judah, like rottenness. When both Ephraim and Judah perceive their sickness and wound, they turn to the Assyrian king Jareb for help, but this external alliance will prove utterly ineffective for healing. The Lord further proclaims He will be a fierce, tearing lion to both Ephraim and Judah, taking away their strength with no possibility of rescue. The chapter concludes with God's declaration that He will withdraw to His place until they acknowledge their offense and earnestly seek His face, promising that in their affliction, they will seek Him early.