Hosea

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Hosea 6 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Hosea 6 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

This may be the verse referred to in Luke 18:31-33 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. However, Hosea 6:2 refers to the people living at the time (hence "us") and therefore cannot be fulfilled by the the death and resurrection of Jesus.

But it is not just Christ who has risen. His people are risen with Him, see Eph. 2:5-6:

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ... And hath raised us up together ...

So it certainly was fulfilled with Christ's death and resurrection and is still being fulfilled with every sinner that is born again.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice."
Is God merciful?
Does God desire animal sacrfices?

God is merciful as this verse says. But while the author of the SAB calls judgement and punishment cruelty, he does not really believe that. When someone robs his place, does he claim that any punishment would be cruelty? Of course not.
On animal sacrifices, see Heb. 10:4.

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

(6:9-10) More talk of lewdness and whoredom.

10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.