Hosea 4

The prophet charges his people with their enormous sins, Hosea 4:1 , Hosea 4:2 ; in consequence of which they are threatened with heavy judgments, Hosea 4:3-5 . God himself is then introduced complaining of the ignorance and obstinacy of Israel; and as their priests had a large share in the common guilt, it is declared that they shall be visited with a proportionable share of the common ruin, Hosea 4:6-11 . The sins of idolatry and divination are then particularly reproved, Hosea 4:12-14 ; and Judah admonished to beware of these sins, which would leave her rebellious sister Israel helpless and desolate as a lamb in a desert, Hosea 4:15 , Hosea 4:16 . In the remaining verses the style is varied, but the subject is the same. Ephraim is given up to idolatry, and the necessary consequence declared to be a bitter draught! Immediately we see him bound in the wings of a mighty tempest, and driven as chaff before the wind, either to destruction or captivity, Hosea 4:17-19 .