Exegesis Hosea 10: 5-6

Close Reading

Hosea is a prophetic book and like many books in this tradition, it is a critique of the current ways of the Israelites and an explanation of why their words and deeds are in error. One of the central images of Hosea 10: 5-6 is that of idolatry, specifically that of the "calf" at which the inhabitants of Samaria "tremble" despite the explicit prohibition of worshipping graven images in Exodus; the calf specifically recalls the idolatry of the golden calf while the Israelites were in exile in the deserts.[footnoteRef:1] The priests that "wail" over it are said to be idolatrous themselves, specifically underlining their worship of graven images but also the sense of despair reflected in Hosea as a text. The fact that the calf will be taken to Assyria may be read as a symbolic warning of Israel being conquered by that nation in the near future. [footnoteRef:2] [1: Daniel Stuart, Hosea-Jonah (WBC), ( Waco: Word Book, 1987): 161] [2: "Hosea." Introduction from the NIV Study Bible. http://www.biblica.com/bible/online-bible/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-hosea/ (accessed December 29, 2016)]

Socio-Historical Context

Hosea is written in the voice of a prophet who lived shortly before "the tragic final days of the...
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Hosea is seen as anticipating many of Israel's sorrows and interprets them as likely bringing upon the wrath of God. Specifically, the adoption of the Canaanite religion is condemned and the exile from God anticipates Israel's later, real, physical exile.[footnoteRef:4] [3: Ibid.] [4: Stuart, 162]

Literary Context

As a work of prophetic literature, Hosea has a strong apocalyptic tone, forecasting the doom of Israel and a harsh judgement because of its idolatry. Hosea does not offer a suggestion to the Israelites on how to avoid their fate, however, rather he simply tells them what will happen. "A graphic description of the helplessness of the king completes the verse...Hosea's announcement of divine retribution ends with a description of the devastation of Israel's many shrines and altars."[footnoteRef:5] Like other prophets, Hosea does not necessarily expect to be respected in his time but rather to explain why what will happen will happen and he parallels the image of idol worship with the eventual physical destruction of Israel's places of…