How we cite our quotes:
Quote #1
Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law. Israel cries to me, “My God, we—Israel—know you!” Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him. (NRSV Hosea 8:1-3)
Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. (KJV Hosea 8:1-3)
Storks, vultures, eagles, doves—the Minor Prophets sure do like their birds, but what they like even more is the covenant, or contract, that God made with the twelve tribes way back in the book of Exodus—even back to Abraham, if you count that circumcision agreement as a covenant. If punishing Israel with an invasion sounds rather severe, it might help to know that this is actually a standard punishment listed in a covenant between nations known as a vassal treaty. Maintain the alliance and good things happen; break it and you are toast. Israel hopes that by appealing to their long history, God might relent.
Quote #2
Ephraim herds the wind, and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a treaty with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt. (NRSV Hosea 12:1)
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. (KJV Hosea 12:1)
When nations enter a vassal treaty they make vows in the names of their respective gods. Israel would have done this in its treaty with the Assyrian empire, but in the book of Hosea, the country’s rulers are violating their agreement by secretly trying to join other nations in taking on Assyria. Why would this get God so mad? Well, for one thing, the second commandment handed down at Mount Sinai is not to take Yahweh’s name in vain, which back then would have included breaking a sacred vow.
Quote #3
I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land, and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down. What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads swiftly and speedily. For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border. (NRSV Joel 3:2-6)
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. (KJV Joel 3:2-6)
God’s people carried off to foreign lands and sold into slavery. Sacred objects stolen and used in pagan temples. The promised land occupied. This passage from Joel captures the pain of exile and loss felt throughout all the Minor Prophets—even Jonah’s anger of the repentance of Nineveh reflects his desire to see Assyria punished for the horrors inflicted on Israel. God’s ancient commitment to Judah is on epic display in this passage. Ask any parent: they’ll tell you that they can scream at their kids but don’t let anyone else try.