Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished
And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand. Hos. 2:10
will I discover... God pledged to expose Israel’s wickedness. The phrase is linked to being taken forcibly into captivity (in Eze. 16:37-40).
her Lewdness... Means disgrace. God does not want her anymore, because she has been unfaithful. No husband wants an unfaithful wife. He will bring punishment upon her for her sins. She deserves His punishment.
of her lovers... The idols were personified as if they could see, though they could offer no help.
The
figurative portrayal of Israel as the Lord’s wife is carried along
in these verses. Without wool and linen (cf. Hos. 2:5), which were
used to make clothing (Lev. 13:47, 13:59; Deut. 22:11; Pro. 31:13;
Eze. 44:17), she would have no means of covering her nakedness.
Through this deprivation the Lord would expose her lewdness. Her
shameful behavior would become known to all through this public
demonstration (cf. Hos. 2:3; Eze. 16:36-37). “Lewdness”
(naḇlûṯ,
which occurs only here in the OT) refers to a blatant breach of
covenant which disgraces the entire community. A related term
(neḇālâh)
is used of Achan’s sin (Jos. 7:15), as well as various prohibited
sexual acts, including fornication (Deut. 22:21), incest (2Sam.
13:12), rape (Jdg. 19:23; 20:6), and adultery (Jer. 29:23). During
this exhibition Israel’s lovers would be forced to stand by
helplessly, being unable to deliver her from the Lord’s powerful
grip. Then the Lord’s superiority and the lovers’ weakness (or
apathy) would become apparent to her.
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