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Political Upheavals[a]

Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
    the trumpet in Ramah!
Sound the alarm in Beth-aven:(A)
    “Look behind you, Benjamin!”[b]
Ephraim shall become a wasteland
    on the day of punishment:
Among the tribes of Israel
    I announce what is sure to be.
10 The princes of Judah have become
    like those who move a boundary line;[c](B)
Upon them I will pour out
    my wrath like water.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:8–14 This passage describes political and military conflict between Judah and Israel. Perhaps some allusion is made to the Syro-Ephraimite war of 735–734 B.C., when a coalition of Arameans and Israelites attempted to dethrone the king of Judah (2 Kgs 16:5; Is 7:1–9). Judah repulsed the attempt with the aid of Assyria, and the latter devastated both Aram and Israel.
  2. 5:8 A vision of invasion, from Gibeah and Ramah in northern Judah, into Israel.
  3. 5:10 Move a boundary line: invasion by Judah (v. 8) is compared to a case of social injustice (Dt 19:14; 27:17; Prv 23:10–11).

“Sound the trumpet(A) in Gibeah,(B)
    the horn in Ramah.(C)
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven[a];(D)
    lead on, Benjamin.
Ephraim will be laid waste(E)
    on the day of reckoning.(F)
Among the tribes of Israel
    I proclaim what is certain.(G)
10 Judah’s leaders are like those
    who move boundary stones.(H)
I will pour out my wrath(I) on them
    like a flood of water.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 5:8 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).