Hosea 9:11

"I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved."

Key Reflection

In these verses, Hosea compares Israel to grapes found in the wilderness, symbolizing their potential for sweetness and prosperity. However, he also notes how the ancestors' worship of Baal Peor led them to apostasy and moral corruption, akin to becoming abominable like what they desired most, illustrating the contrast between initial promise and subsequent downfall.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away, like a bird -Ephraim had parted with God, his true Glory. In turn, God would quickly take from him all created glory, all which he counted glory, or in which he gloried. When man parts with the substance, his true honor, God takes away the shadow, lest he should content himself therewith, and not see his shame, and, boasting himself to be something, abide in his nothingness and poverty and shame to which he had reduced himself. “Fruitfulness,” and consequent strength, had been God’s special promise to Ephraim. His name, Ephraim, contained in itself the promise of his future fruitfulness.Genesis 41:52. With this Jacob had blessed him.

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