Hosea 9:9

"A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler’s snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his God."

Key Reflection

In Hosea 9:9, the prophet describes the plight of Ephraim under divine judgment. For the original audience, the image of a fowler’s snare symbolizes the inevitable capture and destruction that would come to Ephraim as they wandered off course in their sinful ways. The phrase "hostility in the house of his God" suggests that even within the sanctuary where one might find refuge or solace, there would be no escape from the divine judgment impending upon them.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

They have deeply corrupted themselves -Literally, “they have gone deep, they are corrupted.” They have deeply immersed themselves in wickedness; have gone to the greatest depth they could, in it; they are sunk in it, so that they could hardly be extricated from it; and this, of their own deliberate intent; they contrived it deeply, hiding themselves, as they hoped, from God. As in, the days of Gibeah -When Benjamin espoused the cause of “the children of Belial” who had worked such horrible brutishness in Gibeah toward the concubine of the Levite. This they maintained with such obstinacy, that, through God’s judgment, the whole tribe perished, except six hundred men.

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