The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-05-07

pointed for May II, 1891. Hos, 10; LIS.
Zone reading these notes should FIRST carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicated nbOye.l
SUBJECT: AMOS SHOWS SIN Is THE Pro
DUcER OF SORROW IN VARIOUS FORMS OF
PUNISHMENT.
/. Data
We cover In this study the entire 10th chap
ter Of the prophecy Of Hosea. Tho book was
written by the prophet himself 1t is the first
book Of the 10 Minor Prophets, according to
the arrangement Of our ordinary Bibles. There
are 1--WE books OF Major Prophets and u Of the
Minor, giving total Of Il prophetic books in the
Old Testament The prophecy Of Hosea consists
Of II chapters. The style is seEtea.!ous some
times even to abTuptHes5. We find Iu 10 many
words in italics, showing they are not in the
original, but are supplied in order 10 complete
the sense. He was quite apt TO omit cOuJuuc-
tons and such advcrsatives rs But, yet, how
ever, etc. He abOunds in SMILES, and aIlegO-
ries are numerous. He illustrates the besuti-
ful IN composition, and also its opposite, the
sublime. His expression is forccful and ami
mated. He aims his prophecies mainly toward
Israel, but we find some that relate % judah.
We observe that while he denoGnces the aims
OF the people in general, he is not afraid to
handle roughly the royal family, and even the
priesthood. He foretOld the captivity Of the
judah. He wrote from $50 B. G. 10 6J3 b. e.,
covering, some say, lie years. During said
years Uzziah, lothian, Ahaz and Hezckiah
were successiyeiy Kings Of Judah, and JerO-
bOam III King OF Israel. 1:1) During this
time idOatry spread, not only having head
quarters and idols ut Dan and Bethel, but also
at Samaria. Gilgal, Sichem, Beersheba, and
even on the Gilcad Mountains. The student
should read the entire prophecy Of Hosea al
single reading, and set before himself the COM
plete picture
The 10th chapter, which is our study. is
composed Of 10 verses. IL deals with the idol
airy Of the Israelitcs. IL sets out with figure
Of speech drawn from tho vineyard. Verses
Ii chide the Israeitcs for id0latry, anarchy,
violence of covenant. They also threaten pun
ishment. Verses TO 8 detail idolatrous prac-
tees, and set forth the evils that must grow
out of such gross sins Verses 20 IL predict
the captivity Of Israel, setting forth idolatry
in terms suggested by the worship at MI.
Horeb Of cali or heifsr. Verses II TO 10 are
allegorical, being based on agricultural employ
ments.
The prophe. declares the evils that must
result from persistence in sin.
2 Tine.
Hosea wrote the tenth chapter B. c. go, or
A. II. 1914, or about $50 years ago.
3. Place.
Prophets were quite peripatetic, not in the
limited seEse Of Aristotle, who was styled
peripatetic because he walked to and fro in the
Lyceum ut Athens bat as going from place to
place throughout the Kingdom Of Israel. Ho-
sea was Of course much at the Capital, Samaria.
He would be found also NJ main places Of con-
gregating, as at Bethel, Dan, etc.
4 Hosea.
The prophet was son Of Bscri We are in
formed by EpiphOnius that he was native Of
Boemoth in the tribe Of Issachar. He was
raised by Providence for the purpose Of warn
ing the IsFaeites OF the terrible results sure to
follow their inyeterate, degrading. rebelliOus
idolatry. Though he prophecied many years
his book is brief. 1t is difficult Of interpreta-
tiOn on account Of certain grammatical OBSCURE
ties. He was contemporary with Isaiah, Amos,
Joel, Micah. While denOuncing sin he invites
10 repentance.
s. The Sins Of Israel
]. They were as an empty vine. tV.1.) No
fruit was derived from them by Jehovah.
Enemies robbed the Israelites Of their products.
(Nah, 2:2) The people were obliged 20 pay
I tribute 10 heather kings; as, Q. e, 10 Pul. q
XII 10: 2Ol
2 The Israelites were selfish. What products
they secured, what incomes they derived, what
wealth they accumulated, these were all used
for material instead Of religious purposes; for
selves instead Of for the Almighty; for ease
instead Of for the Church. (V. IL
g They advanced in idolatry. They added
to Dan aud Bethel other places for idol wor-
ship. They made more and more images. They
built additional heather affairs. wi
T. They attempted to worship both Jehovah
and Baal-God and Mammon. Verse ,; ]
Hi. IS: II; 81. Mt, G:2i; st. James, 4:S)
3. They feared not God. ". 81 They did
not reverence the Almighty. They treated
slightinrly His laws. They cared not FOR His
thresteuiugs. They did not appreciate His
Instructions. They did not acknowledge Deity
as their Lawgiyer or King.
g. They were needless as 20 their promises
VA They even swore falsely. If they made
treaties they broke them, seemingly having
lost the sense Of conscience. We may cite as
examples their shabby treatment Of Shalmane-
ser. King Of Assyria and So, King Of Egypt.
y XII, Il: H. They should not have made
foreign covenants, but neither should they
have become truce breakers.
T. Their sins were continuous. They dated
back to the days famous in the history Of
Gibeah. (9:9; Jud., chapters 70 and DO The
historic Rllusiou carries Us back to cir b. G.
1890.
& They plowed wiekedness. They seemed
to want evil to grow. ~. 49,
o. They trusted IN idOlatrous ways and hopes,
instead Of finding comfort and strength in
the true religion. They had more confidence
in the numerOusness Of their eO-religionists
than in the Almighty. (Y.I3)
10. Their wickedness was great. (Y. l5.)
Compare faulty" VIZ
6. The Consequences of Their Sins
l. God was determined TO break up the evil
conduct Of the lsraclites. What they would
not do for themselves He was resolved 10 do,
to wit, 10 break down their affairs and destroy
their images. va
2 They were left without a King. This
was true in a spiritual sense, for they did not
recognize Jehovah. They were az times King
less literally or in the civil sense. (V. g.
Compare verses and 15y3 And we notice that
between the reigns Of Pekah and Hoshea,
period of eight TO nine years, there was
period of anarchy. Kingless interregnum
| And then, even if they possessed the most
able King, he would be powerless, providing
| the Almighty ceased TO act as their King.
3. Judgments or punIShments, comparable
/ 10 the evil effects resulting from partaking Of
| poisoned drinks were 10 be inflicted on them
/ for their idolatry. (Y.4)
f. Their idols calves made Of gold were
| very valuable, and as objects Of worship much
/ loved. 1t is said JeFoboam made two such,
/ placing One in Dan and the other at Bethel.
! IL is said Tigiath PilescT carried OF the one at
/ Dan And now Shalmaneser was to make a
| trophy Of the calf at Bethel. Such seizures
| distracted the IsTaGltGs aud set them TO mourn
| ing. The priests lost their vocation became
| distressed and were deprived Of their glory
/ Verses and o. Jareb means 4 protecting
! goi OF king. The calf Of Bethel became the
| possession of the King Of Assyria, and was
] ruar,led hy Assvrian forces All the npoDIe