Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind
Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. Hos. 8:11
had made many... Multiplication of altars was condemned in the law (Deut. 12:5). The narrative (in Joshua chapter 22), shows that unity of altar and sanctuary was essential to the unity of the nation.
alters shall be... The last clause should be rendered, he had altars for sinning. The worship of God was degraded into the sensuous approaching Baal-worship. In the first clause sin equals transgression, in the last transgression plus guilt and peril.
It appears; the tribe of Ephraim led the way in the worship of false gods. Since he has built altars to false gods, all the altars he builds will be considered evil.
Another of Israel’s sins was its hypocritical ritualism. The people had built many altars for sin offerings. But these altars had become altars for sinning, as the religious acts conducted there were hypocritical. Sacrifices are an offense to God when not combined with a wholehearted devotion to His commandments (cf. Hos. 6:6; Isa. 1:11).
For Ephraim hath multiplied altars-to sin; altars are his own-to sin. Were I to write for him by myriads My laws, as those of a stranger would they be accounted.
Another of Israel’s sins was its hypocritical ritualism. The people had built many altars for sin offerings. But these altars had become altars for sinning, as the religious acts conducted there were hypocritical. Sacrifices are an offense to God when not combined with a wholehearted devotion to His commandments (cf. Hos. 6:6; Isa. 1:11).
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