Hosea 6 WBT
Summary: The chapter opens with what may be Israel's own shallow, ritualistic call to return — "he has torn us, that he may heal us... after two days he will revive us" (v. 1-2) — which the LORD answers by comparing their loyalty to "a morning cloud... that goes away early," fickle and short-lived. He declares that what he desires is not sacrifice but "steadfast love, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (v. 6), a line quoted later by Jesus. The chapter closes describing priests as bandits lying in ambush and recalling specific crimes at Shechem, depicting Israel's corruption as horrific and widespread.
1Come, and let us return to the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2After two days will he revive us: in the third day will he raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he will come to us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain to the earth.
4O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? for your goodness [is] as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
5Therefore 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.
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
7But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
8Gilead [is] a city of them that work iniquity, [and is] polluted with blood.
9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, [so] the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
10I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: there [is] the prostitution of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11Also, O Judah, he hath set a harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
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