1 Listen up, priests of Israel! Hear what I say, leaders of Israel! Pay attention King! You have been judged because you have lead the people to worship false idols in Mizpah and Tabor.
The leaders of Israel have led the common man into sin. They are responsible for the sins of the people and will receive the greater punishment.
2 And you rebels are knee deep in slaughtering sacrifices, though I have warned all of you.
God has given Israel plenty of warning but they just don’t listen.
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me, for now, O Ephraim, thou commit prostitution, and Israel is defiled.
Ephraim was the leading tribe in Israel. They were the ones who evidently introduced idol worship (spiritual adultery).
4 You will not even plan on turning back to God, because you have the spirit of prostitution, and you don't even know the I AM.
5 Israel's arrogance testifies against them, and that's why Israel and Ephraim will fall in their sin. Judah will fall with them.
The belief that there is no right or wrong, that we do not need God, is nothing less than pride. It is the belief that we ARE god in our own lives and no other entity has the right to tell us what to do. It is, ultimately, their pride that is going to do Israel in.
This is the first prediction in the book of Hosea that Judah will eventually fall also.
6 They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the I AM, but they won't find Him. He hath removed Himself from them.
God is fed up and will not take apologies at this point. It is time for punishment.
7 They have dealt treacherously against the I AM, for they have fathered illegitimate children, children who don't know Me. Now they will be destroyed in a month.
Temple prostitution had produced a bunch of illegitimate children, a practice the Law had declared abominable. God values the family as the best place to raise up servants for Him, but this prostitution had denied the children the family they needed.
What’s more, all children born did not know God because of the parent’s lack of teaching. They were all strangers to Him.
8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Cry out at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.
The cities in Benjamin (the border between Israel and Judah) will see the destruction coming on Israel.
A cornet is very much like a trumpet except it plays music in the key of C instead of Bb.
9 Ephraim will be desolate in the day of rebuke. I've let all Israel know what is going to happen.
“Consider yourselves warned.”
10 The rulers of Judah are like those who move landmarks for property lines, and that is why I will pour out My fierce anger on them like a waterfall.
Moving property landmarks stole land from your neighbor.
The leaders of Judah were thieves.
11 Ephraim is enslaved and receives no justice, because he willingly walked away from God.
12 And so I will be to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
Both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (represented by the tribe Ephraim) and Judah will be punished, though Judah’s punishment will be delayed for a time.
13 When Ephraim saw he was sick, and Judah saw he was wounded, Ephraim went to the kingdom of Assyria, and sent to king Jareb, but he could not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel and Judah both went to Assyria when they saw they were in danger from Egyptian aggression. They did not seek their God.
14 For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them up and walk away. I will take them away, and no one will rescue them.
As punishment God will destroy both nations as thoroughly as a lion destroys his prey.
15 I will go home until they acknowledge their sins, and seek My face. In their troubles they will look hard for Me.
God will leave Israel and Judah without protection until they come looking for Him. He won’t help them because they looked to others to protect them.