Hosea 9 Commentary

Hosea 9 describes in great detail the judgment that falls on Israel for her unfaithfulness to the Suzerain (ruler) God with whom they made a covenant promise to follow. Israel has become hostile toward God's prophets and has sunk into sinfulness, forsaking God's "love-your-neighbor-as-yourself" way and turning instead to an exploitative pagan culture.

Israel has been defiled because she pledges allegiance to the fertility god (Baal) and mistakenly trusts him to provide for her needs. Consequently, Israel will be sent into exile, as the covenant remedy for non-compliance specifies. Israel will also experience barrenness and death of her offspring (also per the terms of her covenant agreement). Like Cain, Israel will become a fruitless wanderer among the nations. The structure of the passage is as follows:

1. Hosea urges Israel not to rejoice with pagan feasting of prostitutes during their plentiful harvest because the Suzerain (ruler) God will send them into exile in the land of Assyria, where they will remain. Those that escape to Egypt will do so in haste, leaving behind their silver treasures and tents, which will be destroyed by weeds and thorns.
2. Hosea tells Israel that the time of judgment has arrived. It has come upon her because she has been hostile toward God's prophets and has sunk very low in morals, even to the level of gross exploitation and murder, as evidenced by reference to a story from Judges.
3. Hosea tells Israel that although He was pleased with her in her youth, her disobedience and devotion to Baal worship and its attending culture of exploitation will cause her to go into exile. There she will experience harsh conditions that will result in barrenness and death of her offspring. (vv. 10–14).
4. The LORD states that Israel's bad leaders and wicked behavior will cause her to be dried up like a tree whose growth depends on a strong root system. Because of her wickedness, Israel will be exiled and wander among the nations (vv. 15–17).