3. They have planted wickedness (9:10-11:7)

Israel’s rejection of the good is not something of recent vintage. For all their promise at Sinai and on the plains of Moab, promise like that of new grapes or new figs (9:10), the possibility of succumbing to orgiastic idol worship was always near the surface as at Baal-Peor (v.10; see Nu 25:1-18). But, just as then, all such attempts to guarantee fertility and productivity will turn back upon them, and the result will not be fecundity, but barrenness; death, not life (9:11-14).

The Bible does not record an outbreak similar to that at Baal-Peor as having occurred at Gilgal (on the contrary, see Jos 6:1-10), but the setting here suggests that that was indeed the case (9:15). If so, it was evidently remembered in the popular history. Gibeah is cited as another example of Israel’s persistent habit of rebellion (10:9). Evidently the events of Jdg 19 and 20 are being referred to. Because of their grievous sin, the Benjamites were all but destroyed.

In such circumstances, how can kings who are illegitimate and a cult that is corrupted with idolatry do anything to help (10:3-8)? Instead, the people are burdened with anxiety as to how they can help to save the monarchy and the cult! A sad reversal of affairs (for a similar statement, see Isa 46:1-2, but contrast 46:3-4). One of the great virtues of Jerusalem’s having no idol was that no enemy could ever boast of having captured Judah’s God. The same could not be said for Bethel (Beth-aven, vv.5-6). Both king and god would be destroyed.

Ephraim’s love of fertility worship on the threshing floors (10:11; see on 9:1-2) will condemn it to hard and tedious labor in the Exile. If they would seek the Lord (10:12), then whatever the immediate future might hold for them, personal and national righteousness would result. But their persistent dependence on manipulative ritual, military strength, and political intrigue could bear no other fruit than destruction. Beth-arbel (10:14) is located at an important pass leading up from the shore of Galilee toward the Jezreel Valley (see on 1:4-5). If Arbel is lost, then Jezreel, Israel’s most important food supply, is lost as well. Shalman is almost certainly Shalmanezer, the Assyrian emperor who succeeded Tiglath-Pileser (see the introduction). Thus Hosea is pointing out the folly of depending on an army that has already lost its most critical battle.

It is apparent that Israel has not learned the lessons of God’s compassion that their history should have taught them. Thus there is no other recourse than to allow their sin to have its effect in the hope that this will somehow teach them the lesson mercy did not (11:1-7).