Hosea Chapter 8 Breakdown

1 “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law.

Israel has sinned against YHWH’s covenant, and rebelled against His Law. “He” shall come like an eagle against the house of YHWH, or the country of Israel.

2 Israel will cry to Me, ‘My God, we know You!’

At this time, Israel will cry out to YHWH. This sound very familiar.

Matthew 7:22-23

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Now, if we couple these two passages together, we can see they are in the same context. We know Yeshua says He came only for the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Throughout the entire book of Hosea the story revolves around the House of Israel being sinful and living in lawlessness against YHWH. Because of this they were scattered among the gentile nations of the world reaching to the furthest corners of the Earth. In the last days during the tribulation and wrath of YHWH, men will call out to Him, but He will have to say, I never knew you because He is the Law, and they refused to know it, and keep it.

3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.

Because Israel chose to go against YHWH’s Law, they will be pursued by their enemies.

4 “They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves— That they might be cut off.

Israel will set up their kings, but not according to YHWH’s will. This particular verse really stood out to me because so many people believe no matter who is in charge, YHWH has made them in charge. Unfortunately, this verse seems to contradict that thought process. Yes, YHWH does place certain people in positions of power, but He does so when men work according to His Law.

Israel appointed princes but  YHWH did not give recognition. Israel made idols of silver and gold, and have been cut off from YHWH.

5 Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! My anger is aroused against them— How long until they attain to innocence?

Sacrifices have been rejected, and YHWH’s anger is great against them. But they do not return to His ways.

6 For from Israel is even this: A workman made it, and it is not God; But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

Even Israel acknowledged it is not a god, but worship it anyway. This is why the calf of Samaria will be shattered.

7 “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up.

Israel plants seeds of wind and reaps no benefit. Their works will produce no profit. But, if it does produce profit, strangers will take it away from them.

8 Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.

Israel has been scattered throughout the gentile nations.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.

Israel has been taken to Assyria, alone without Judah. Ephraim has paid for false gods.

10 Yes, though they have hired among the nations, Now I will gather them; And they shall sorrow a little, Because of the burden of the king of princes.

Even though they have paid for false god within the gentile nations, YHWH will gather them up. They shall weep because of the prophecies from the King of princes.

11 “Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin, They have become for him altars for sinning.

The House of Israel has made many alters for their sin, to their false gods, they too have become an alter in and of themselves for sinning.

12 I have written for him the great things of My law, But they were considered a strange thing.

YHWH has written and given Israel all the great things of His Law, but they rejected it because it was strange to them.

13 For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, But the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt.

Israel makes sacrifices of flesh, to YHWH, then they eat it. YHWH does not accept these offerings. He remembers their sin and punishes them for it. They will be sent to Egypt.

14 “For Israel has forgotten his Maker, And has built temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire upon his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.”

The House of Israel has forgotten YHWH and built temples for other gods. Judah even has built great cities. YHWH will burn it all down and destroy the palaces.