Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant
And
as troops of robbers wait for a man, so
the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit
lewdness. Hos. 6:9
And
as troops... As a gang of highwaymen lie in wait in a ditch, or under
a hedge, or in a cave of a rock or mountain, for a man they know will
come by that way, who is full of money, in order to rob him. Or, as
fishermen stand upon the banks of a river, and cast in their hooks to
draw out the fish. Assassins
in troops; a gang of priests murder on the way to Shechem.
so the
company... Not only encourage murderers, and commit murders within
the city, but go out in a body together upon the highway, and there
commit murders and robberies, and divide the spoil among them. All
which they did unanimously, and were well agreed, being brethren in
iniquity, as well as in office.
Or, in the
way of Shechem; as good people passed by Gilead to Shechem, and so to
Jerusalem, to worship there at the solemn feasts, they lay in wait
for them, and murdered them. Because they did not give into the
idolatrous worship of the calves at Dan and Bethel: or, in the manner
of Shechem. That is, they murdered men in a deceitful treacherous
manner, as the Shechemites were murdered by Simeon and Levi.
for they
commit... Literally, For they have done deliberate sin. The word
literally means a thing thought of, especially an evil, and so,
deliberate, contrived, bethought-of, wickedness. They did deliberate
wickedness, but gave themselves to do it, and did nothing else.
Then it
seems, these priests appear to be godly men, when in fact they are
very ungodly men. Jesus spoke the greatest indictment against
priests, such as these, that was ever spoken against a priest (read
the 23rd chapter of Matthew).
The
background of this verse is equally obscure. Perhaps groups of
priests were actually murdering travelers to Shechem. A more likely
explanation is that the language is hyperbolic, perhaps pointing to
the priests’ false teaching and involvement in social exploitation.
The references to (Ramoth) Gilead and Shechem are well chosen. Joshua
had designated that both of these towns be cities of refuge, where
manslayers could find asylum (Josh. 20:1-2, 20:7-8; see Num.
35:1-34). In this way the land would be spared outbreaks of
bloodshed, and justice would be promoted. Ironically in Hosea’s day
these cities had become associated with bloodshed and injustice.
The
priests’ crimes were shameful. Elsewhere this word (zimmâh)
is used of the vilest sexual sins, including incest (Lev. 18:17),
cult prostitution (Lev. 19:29), rape (Jdg. 20:5-6), and adultery
(Job. 31:9-11). This sexual connotation is probably applicable here
because the priests’ breach of covenant (Hos. 6:6-7) is likened to
prostitution (Hos. 6:10).
The
background of this verse is equally obscure. Perhaps groups of
priests were
actually murdering travelers to
Shechem.
A more likely explanation is that the language is hyperbolic, perhaps
pointing to the priests’ false teaching and involvement in social
exploitation. The references to (Ramoth) Gilead and Shechem are well
chosen. Joshua had designated that both of these towns be cities of
refuge, where manslayers could find asylum (Josh. 20:1-2, 20:7-8; see
Num. 35:1-34). In this way the land would be spared outbreaks of
bloodshed, and justice would be promoted. Ironically in Hosea’s day
these cities had become associated with bloodshed and injustice.
The
priests’ crimes
were
shameful.
Elsewhere
this word (zimmâh)
is used of the vilest sexual sins, including incest (Lev. 18:17),
cult prostitution (Lev. 19:29), rape (Jdg. 20:5-6), and adultery (Job
31:9-11). This sexual connotation is probably applicable here because
the priests’ breach of covenant (Hos. 6:6-7) is likened to
prostitution (Hos. 6:10).
