Hosea 4:11-19

Strong Wine and Illicit Sex Have Turned The People's Minds So That They Look To Bits Of Wood Concerning Their Future And Play The Harlot On The Tops Of Mountains And Under Sacred Trees Rather Than Looking To YHWH (Hosea 4:11).

The strong wine and illicit sex which are a part of their religious activities have taken away their understanding, so that their minds are befuddled and they seek to pieces of wood for their divination, and to the tops of mountains and under sacred trees for their worship. YHWH therefore intends to punish Israel for their ways and forbids them any longer to use His Name, a consequence of which will be that they will be put to shame for the behaviour.

Analysis of Hosea 4:11.

a Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding (Hosea 4:11).

b My people ask counsel at their tree, and their staff makes declaration to them, for the spirit of whoredom has caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God (Hosea 4:12).

c They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shadow is good. Therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery (Hosea 4:13).

d I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes, and the people who do not understand will be overthrown (Hosea 4:14).

c Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let Judah not offend, and do not come to Gilgal, nor go you up to Beth-aven, nor swear, “As YHWH lives” (Hosea 4:15).

b For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Will YHWH now feed them as a lamb in a large place? Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone (Hosea 4:16).

a Their drink has become sour, they play the harlot continually, her shields dearly love shame, the wind has wrapped her up in its wings, and they will be put to shame because of their sacrifices (Hosea 4:18).

Note that in ‘a' lasciviousness and wine have taken away their understanding, and in the parallel their drink has become soured, and their behaviour will cause them to be ashamed. In ‘b' seek to wooden things and spiritual harlotry, and in the parallel they have behaved stubbornly and are joined to idols. In ‘c' they sacrifice in high places and commit spiritual harlotry, and in the parallel they are seen as playing the harlot and Judah are therefore not to go to Gilgal or Bethaven to sacrifice with them. Centrally in ‘d' the overthrow of the people is determined because of their illicit sexual and religious behaviour.