Two Cities
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Context
Context
The prophet addresses the northern kingdom in terms of two cities that represent its past and present. The two cities are described as being allied in their cause for evil.
Gibeah: the scene of one of the most despicable sins in the history of Israel.
Bethel is the site of the golden calf the led the people into the worship of idols.
These two cities and offenses that took place there not only represents the Israel’s past but also the present. This also pointed to the impending judgment that God would execute upon Israel.
10 When I please, I will discipline them,
and nations shall be gathered against them
when they are bound up for their double iniquity.
Israel is Gibeah (9-10)
Israel is Gibeah (9-10)
History Repeats Itself
History Repeats Itself
22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. 24 Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.” 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. 26 And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.
A Levite was traveling with his concubine and were confronted with men from the city. They took the woman and abused her all night.
When the other tribes of Israel learned of this sin, they gathered an army to assault Gibeah and all-but wiped out the male population of the city for failing to protect an innocent woman. (see Judges 20:1-48)
How does Hosea connect the events of Gibeah to Israel?
Hosea now identifies the northern capital city of Samaria with this city name.
The mindset of Gibeah did not die with the its former inhabitants, but has lived on in Gibeah-like Samaria. As a result, since Samaria had become a new Gibeah, God will judge Israel in similar fashion as he did on Gibeah in the past.
9 … Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah?
Israel would be overthrown in a way similar to Gibeah.
Gibeah had thought itself secure and strong. Committing the heinous sin against this woman was of no consideration to them.
Gibeah was assailed by fellow Israelites, but foreign, ungodly nations would be used to overthrow Israel
Gibeah was nearly annihilated but ultimately spared. The Lord’s judgement against Samaria would be final.
10 … when they are bound up for their double iniquity.
Double iniquity
debate on this meaning
sin of immorality (Gibeah) and idolatry (Bethel)
The Idolatry of Bethel
The Idolatry of Bethel
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
because of your great evil.
At dawn the king of Israel
shall be utterly cut off.
The northern kingdom’s first ruler, Jeroboam I erected two golden calves. The one erected in Bethel near the capital is used to symbolize Israel’s idolatry.
So, now we have Israel being compared to Gibeah for the depravity being committed and to Bethel for their idol worship.
Bethel was the center of where everything depraved was taking place.
God’s Intentions (11-12)
God’s Intentions (11-12)
The trained calf who loved to thresh imagery is a positive reference to Israel’s calling as a teachable animal without a muzzle and free to eat as it threshes the harvest grain because it willingly does what it is told.
4 “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
And verse 12 makes clear that God intended that Israel sow righteousness.
There seems to be a call to repentance here.
Start sowing what is right and good to bring a harvest. This is the call.
fallow ground needs to be broken up so that a harvest can grow.
The end of verse 12 shows that God must grant this harvest. He grants His people repentance which produces righteousness.
God’s accusation (13-15)
God’s accusation (13-15)
Their works have produced the opposite of what God desired.
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Their trust was misplaced. In what did they trust? Their military (end of verse 13)
This is the sense of false confidence and strength we have seen throughout this book. Israel felt strong, not because of her faithfulness to God but because of her efforts in unrighteousness.
Hosea does not mince words:
14 therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
There is some question as to the proper identity of Shalman, but one strong possibility is the Assyrian king Shalmanser V. He was the son of Tiglath-pileser III and likely the enemy ruler while Hosea wrote this prophecy.
The idea here in verse 14 is that while Samaria might desire mercy in the midst of this judgement, none will be shown.
The good of this, and we could even say the mercy here is not the withholding of judgement but the execution of it. It would stop the idolatrous ways of Israel and the corruption of her king.
The key to the problem of Israel is seen in verse 13: you have trusted in your own way.
