With Their Silver And Gold They Fashioned Idols To Their Own Ruin

"Without MY approval they set up kings and without MY blessing appointed leaders.  With their silver and gold they fashioned idols to their own ruin.

To ME, Samaria, your calf is loathsome; and MY anger blazes against you.  How long will you remain defiled?  The calf is yours, Israel, a craftsman has made it; it is not GOD and will be broken into pieces.  As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind.  Stalk without flower, it will never yield flower, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.

Israel lived apart as a wild donkey, but he was eaten up.  Now, they are among pagans, as a worthless object.  Ephraim went to Assyria with gifts.  Now, they have been given up to the nations; and I shall gather them.  For, in no time, they have been left with no prophets, or kings, or leaders.

Ephraim built many altars; but his altars made him more guilty.  I wrote out for him the numerous precepts of MY law; but they look on them as coming from foreigners.

They offer sacrifices to ME because they are those who eat the meat; but YAHWEH does not accept their sacrifices, for HE is mindful of their sin and remembers their wickedness.  They will return to Egypt." - Hosea 8:4-13 

(The prophet is like a guard [see Ezekiel 3:17].  Hosea condemns the kings who do not come from GOD since they were self-appointed: only David's sons in the south were the chosen ones of GOD.  Moreover, they were never concerned about representing GOD before the people, nor about fulfilling HIS designs.

Then we have the condemnation of the golden calves placed in Bethel to honor YAHWEH [see 1 Kings 12:28].

External practices and sacred banquets following the sacrifice do not make GOD forget their sin.

Hosea looks at Israel's past.  You will return to Egypt, namely, you will be captive again.) 

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