Yahweh's Controversy In Circumstances Where Faithlessness And Adultery Are Rife
4:1
Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Yisra'el; for Yahweh has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of the Mighty One in the land. 4:2There is nothing but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood touches blood. 4:3Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone who dwells therein shall languish, with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also shall be taken away. 4:4Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for your people are as those who strive with the Kohen. 4:5You shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no Kohen to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your Mighty One, I also will forget your children. 4:7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame. 4:8They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. 4:9It shall be, like people, like Kohen; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings. 4:10They shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the prostitute, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Yahweh.4:11
Prostitution and wine and new wine take away the understanding. 4:12My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declares to them; for the spirit of prostitution has caused them to err, and they have played the prostitute, departing from under their Mighty One. 4:13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow of it is good: therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. 4:14I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that does not understand shall be overthrown. 4:15Though you, Yisra'el, play the prostitute, yet don't let Yahudah offend; and don't you come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beit-Aven, nor swear, As Yahweh lives. 4:16For Yisra'el has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Yahweh feed them as a lamb in a large place. 4:17Efrayim is joined to idols; let him alone. 4:18Their drink is become sour; they play the prostitute continually; her rulers dearly love shame. 4:19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.4:1-2 shows that Yahweh has a controversy with the inhabitants of a land where breaking faith and adultery is rife.
4:3 shows that Yahweh punishes such a land, and the inhabitants who dwell therein.
4:10 shows that Yahweh removes the fruitfulness of both the people and the land such people dwell in, when they commit prostitution.
Prostitution Removes Understanding
4:11 shows that prostitution takes away the understanding that existed prior to the prostitution. In other words, a curse of prostitution is the setting in of folly, among those who partake of prostitution.
4:12 shows HOW folly and error creeps into the lives of those who commit prostitution. The spirit of prostitution causes these prostitutes to err and partake of folly!
In other words, those who partake of prostitution invite the spirit of prostitution into their lives to bring about errors and folly in their lives, thus removing the understanding that resided there previously. Engaging in prostitution is folly, which invites the spirit of prostitution to both take away understanding and replace it with deep folly and error!
4:13 equates prostitution and adultery with idolatry.
Defiled Rebels And Prostitutes
5:1
Hear this, you Kohanim, and listen, house of Yisra'el, and give ear, house of the king; for to you pertains the judgment; for you have been a snare at Mitzpah, and a net spread on Tavor. 5:2The rebels have gone deep in making slaughter; but I discipline them all. 5:3I know Efrayim, and Yisra'el is not hidden from me; for now, Efrayim, you have played the prostitute, Yisra'el is defiled. 5:4Their doings will not allow them to turn to their Mighty One; for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don't know Yahweh. 5:5The pride of Yisra'el does testify to his face: therefore Yisra'el and Efrayim shall stumble in their iniquity; Yahudah also shall stumble with them. 5:6They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh; but they shall not find him: he has withdrawn himself from them. 5:7They have dealt treacherously against Yahweh; for they have borne strange children: now shall the new moon devour them with their fields.5:8
Blow you the cornet in Gevah, and the shofar in Ramah: sound an alarm at Beit-Aven; behind you, Binyamin. 5:9Efrayim shall become a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Yisra'el have I made known that which shall surely be. 5:10The princes of Yahudah are like those who remove the landmark: I will pour out my wrath on them like water. 5:11Efrayim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; because he was content to walk after man's command. 5:12Therefore am I to Efrayim as a moth, and to the house of Yahudah as rottenness. 5:13When Efrayim saw his sickness, and Yahudah saw his wound, then went Efrayim to Ashshur, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound. 5:14For I will be to Efrayim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Yahudah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and there shall be none to deliver. 5:15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly.5:2 speaks about rebels.
5:3 speaks about those who play the prostitute being defiled.
5:4 explains why defiled prostitutes do not turn to Yahweh. They have within them the spirit of prostitution, and also, they do not know Yahweh. In other words, those who have within them the spirit of prostitution, including the spirits of other wickedness categorised together with prostitution, do not turn to Yahweh while they have these spirits within them! Implying that for such people to turn to Yahweh they must first be delivered of these spirits within them!
5:5 shows that those who walk in pride stumble in iniquity.
Yahweh Withdraws From Proud Prostitutes
5:6-7 shows that Yahweh withdraws from proud prostitutes who commit iniquity. Even though such proud prostitutes within whom is the spirit of prostitution might seek Yahweh, they will not find him while they remain in their iniquity.
5:15 indicates that the time when these proud prostitutes have a good likelihood of finding Yahweh is when they repent of their wickedness. For they must first acknowledge their offence of pride and prostitution, and depart from it.
Judgement On Practitioners Of Prostitution And Witchcraft
3:1
Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. The prey doesn't depart. 3:2The noise of the whip, the noise of the rattling of wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots, 3:3the horseman mounting, and the flashing sword, the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies. They stumble on their bodies, 3:4because of the multitude of the prostitution of the alluring prostitute, the mistress of witchcraft, who sells nations through her prostitution, and families through her witchcraft. 3:5"Behold, I am against you," says Yahweh-Tzva'ot, "and I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. 3:6I will throw abominable filth on you, and make you vile, and will set you a spectacle. 3:7It will happen that all those who look at you will flee from you, and say, 'Nineveh is laid waste Who will mourn for her?' Where will I seek comforters for you?"Yahweh executes his judgements against those who partake of prostitution and witchcraft.
3:4 equates prostitution with witchcraft. It therefore appears that prostitution and witchcraft are in the same category or class of wickedness.
Yahweh's Future Judgement On Sorcerers And Adulterers
3:1
Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Sovereign, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot. 3:2But who can abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap: 3:3and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness. 3:4Then shall the offering of Yahudah and Yerushalayim be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. 3:5I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who turn aside the sojourner from his right, and don't fear me, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot. 3:6For I, Yahweh, don't change; therefore you, sons of Ya`akov, are not consumed.At the time of the coming of the messenger of the covenant Yahweh will execute his judgement against sinners, including sorcerers and adulterers. For he, Yahweh, does not change. And just as he executed his judgement on such in the past, so also will he execute his judgement on such in the future.
Righteous Request Against Rebels
5:10
Hold them guilty, Mighty One.Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against you.
Yahweh's Penalty Against Rebels
68:6
The Mighty One sets the lonely in families.He brings out the prisoners with singing,
But the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
78:8
And might not be as their fathers,Traits of rebellious people include disloyal hearts and spirits that are not steadfast with the Mighty One.
78:17
Yet they still went on to sin against him,78:18
They tempted the Mighty One in their heart78:19
Yes, they spoke against the Mighty One.78:20
Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out,Can he give bread also?
Will he provide flesh for his people?"
78:21
Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry.78:22
Because they didn't believe in the Mighty One,78:23
Yet he commanded the skies above,78:24
He rained down manna on them to eat,78:25
Man ate the bread of angels.78:26
He caused the east wind to blow in the sky.78:27
He rained also flesh on them as the dust;78:28
He let them fall in the midst of their camp,78:29
So they ate, and were well filled.78:30
They didn't turn from their cravings.78:32
For all this they still sinned,78:33
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity,Traits of rebellion include faithlessness in the Mighty One, even in the face of vast evidence of the faithfulness of the Almighty.
It should be noted that rebels anger Yahweh by their rebellion, and that he eventually kills them for their abominable rebellion against him.
78:40
How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness,Yahweh's Punishment For Rebels
78:56
Yet they tempted and rebelled against HaElyon the Mighty One,78:57
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers.78:58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places,78:59
When the Mighty One heard this, he was angry,78:60
So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh,78:61
And delivered his strength into captivity,78:62
He also gave his people over to the sword,78:63
Fire devoured their young men;78:64
Their Kohanim fell by the sword;Yahweh surely punishes for rebellion, by death to the rebels and displacement from the position that Yahweh had placed them in. For so did Yahweh punish rebellious Yisrael.
106:1
Praise Yahweh!106:2
Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh,106:3
Blessed are those who keep justice,106:4
Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people.106:5
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen,106:6
We have sinned with our fathers.106:7
Our fathers didn't understand your wonders in Mitzrayim.106:8
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake,106:9
He rebuked the Sea of Suf also, and it was dried up;106:10
He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,106:11
The waters covered their adversaries.106:12
Then they believed his words.106:13
They soon forgot his works.106:15
He gave them their request,106:16
They envied Moshe also in the camp,106:17
The earth opened and swallowed up Datan,106:18
A fire was kindled in their company.106:19
They made a calf in Chorev,106:20
Thus they exchanged their glory106:21
They forgot the Mighty One, their Savior,106:23
Therefore he said that he would destroy them,106:24
Yes, they despised the pleasant land.106:26
Therefore he swore to them106:28
They joined themselves also to Ba`al-Pe`or,106:29
Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds.106:30
Then Pinechas stood up, and executed judgment,106:31
That was credited to him for righteousness,106:32
They angered him also at the waters of Merivah,106:33
Because they were rebellious against his spirit,106:34
They didn't destroy the peoples,106:36
They served their idols,106:37
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.106:39
Thus were they defiled with their works,106:40
Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was kindled against his people.106:41
He gave them into the hand of the nations.106:42
Their enemies also oppressed them.106:43
Many times he delivered them,106:44
Nevertheless he regarded their distress,106:45
He remembered for them his covenant,106:46
He made them also to be pitied106:47
Save us, Yahweh, our Mighty One,106:48
Blessed be Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el,Let all the people say, "Amen."
Praise Yah!
106:7 notes Yisrael's rebellion against Yahweh.
106:19-20 notes Yisrael's prostitution in idolatry.
106:24-25 notes Yisrael's derision of Yahweh's blessing to her, Yisrael's disbelief, Yisrael's murmurings and Yisrael's hard heartedness. These are the manifestations of Yisrael's prostitution.
106:28 again notes Yisrael's prostitution in idolatry.
106:33 again notes Yisrael's rebellion.
106:34-43 again notes Yisrael's acts of prostitution and the adverse consequences that befell her on this account.
106:36-37 notes that those who sacrifice to idols in reality sacrifice to demons! Implying that idols represent demons! Therefore idolatry is the worship of demons! Also, those who abandon Yahweh for idols in effect abandon Yahweh for demons!
106:39 affirms that prostitution defiles or profanes those who participate in it.
106:40 affirms that Yahweh's wrath is kindled against prostitutes.
Successfully Fighting Against The Spirit Of Prostitution
5:1
My son, pay attention to my wisdom.5:2
That you may maintain discretion,5:3
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey.5:4
But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,5:5
Her feet go down to death.5:6
She gives no thought to the way of life.5:7
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.5:8
Remove your way far from her.5:9
Lest you give your honor to others,5:10
Lest strangers feast on your wealth,5:11
You will groan at your latter end,5:12
And say, "How I have hated instruction,5:13
Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers,5:14
I have come to the brink of utter ruin,5:15
Drink water out of your own cistern,5:16
Should your springs overflow in the streets,5:17
Let them be for yourself alone,5:18
Let your spring be blessed.5:19
A loving hind and a pleasant doe --5:20
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress?5:21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh.5:22
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him.5:23
He will die for lack of instruction.Hosea 4 explains 5:1-2. For the manner discretion is maintained, and knowledge preserved, is by one not giving the spirit of prostitution opportunity to come into one and remove these valuable attributes, replacing them with folly and error. Adultery and prostitution should be avoided, for such evil conduct allows the spirit of prostitution to come into one's life and remove the good gifts that Yahweh had given that one.
6:20
My son, keep your father's commandment,6:21
Bind them continually on your heart.6:22
When you walk, it will lead you.6:23
For the commandment is a lamp,6:24
To keep you from the immoral woman,6:25
Don't lust after her beauty in your heart,6:26
For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread.6:27
Can a man scoop fire into his lap,6:28
Or can one walk on hot coals,6:29
So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife.6:30
Men don't despise a thief,6:31
But if he be found, he shall restore seven times.6:32
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding.6:33
He will get wounds and dishonor.6:34
For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband.6:35
He won't regard any ransom,Penalty Against Evil And Rebellious People
17:11
An evil man seeks only rebellion;22:14
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit:23:27
For a prostitute is a deep pit;23:28
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber,Rebellion Contrasted Against Understanding And Knowledge
28:2
In rebellion, a land has many rulers,Rebellion is contrasted against understanding and knowledge. It therefore appears that those with understanding and knowledge do not rebel against Yahweh. It therefore also appears that it is surely a sign of lack of knowledge and understanding when one rebels against Yahweh.
29:3
Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father;30:20
So is the way of an adulterous woman:24:13
"These are of those who rebel against the light;24:14
The murderer rises with the light.24:15
The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight,24:16
In the dark they dig through houses.24:17
For the morning is to all of them like thick darkness,Included among rebels are murderers and adulterers.
Yahweh's Judgement On Yehoram, A Prostitute King Of Yahudah
21:1
Yehoshafat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Yehoram his son reigned in his place. 21:2He had brothers, the sons of Yehoshafat: `Azaryah, and Yechi'el, and Zekharyah, and `Azaryah, and Mikha'el, and Shefatyahu; all these were the sons of Yehoshafat king of Yisra'el. 21:3Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Yahudah: but the kingdom gave he to Yehoram, because he was the firstborn. 21:4Now when Yehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Yisra'el. 21:5Yehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Yerushalayim. 21:6He walked in the way of the kings of Yisra'el, as did the house of Ach'av; for he had the daughter of Ach'av as wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh. 21:7However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children always.21:8
In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Yahudah, and made a king over themselves. 21:9Then Yehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edom who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots. 21:10So Edom revolted from under the hand of Yahudah to this day: then did Livna revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Yahweh, the Mighty One of his fathers. 21:11Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Yahudah, and made the inhabitants of Yerushalayim to play the prostitute, and led Yahudah astray.21:12
There came a writing to him from Eliyah the prophet, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the Mighty One of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Yehoshafat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Yahudah, 21:13but have walked in the way of the kings of Yisra'el, and have made Yahudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim to play the prostitute, like as the house of Ach'av did, and also have slain your brothers of your father's house, who were better than yourself: 21:14behold, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your substance; 21:15and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.21:16
Yahweh stirred up against Yehoram the spirit of the Pelishtim, and of the `Aravi'im who are beside the Kushim: 21:17and they came up against Yahudah, and broke into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Yeho'achaz, the youngest of his sons. 21:18After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 21:19It happened, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 21:20Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Yerushalayim eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.[<< Previous Section] [Contents] [Next Section >>]
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