Book of Hosea
Compiled by WD Kemner December 2025
Chapter 4
God’s Case against Israel
There are many places within the writings of the Prophets that God details the facts regarding the Jewish nation turning the back on God. In the New Testament detailed understanding of the “grafting in” of the Gentiles can be understood. This chapter of Hosea reads as if it could apply to the ENTIRE world today, including the Gentile nations!
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Controversy = judicial inquiry
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
Because of these sins even the land and animals will suffer.
Cross Reference: Nation to fall for lack of knowledge
4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
The Jews as a “nation” will be destroyed.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Price of rejecting the knowledge of God. What better teacher than the Creator?
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
The sins of His people
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
Stocks – Idols made out of wood
The world of today has not changed. Man’s stocks are in the worship of Celebrity. They control their lives by the latest “insight” from Celebrities, whether it is Athletic or Media (Social and Hollywood).
Staff – Divination rods
Modern staffs today include cell phones and mobile apps dictate what outcomes will dictate for your life.
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
The future Generations are so far removed from God that they do not have the “basic” in understanding.
WOE TO JUDAH
Israel (Northern Kingdom) being so far passed the turning around point, is being given a WARNING to not let this be come true of them. After Samaria (Northern Kingdom falls) it would be only 133 years before Judah fell, not heeding God’s warnings.
Hosea 4:15-19
15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Gilgal and Beth-aven (Bethel) had been setup for worship of a golden calf by Jeroboam (read in 1Kings). God is warning Judah away from idol worship.