“They shall eat,
But not be satisfied.
They shall play the prostitute,
But not multiply.
They have forsaken
Yahweh
To cherish prostitution.
Wine,
With new wine,
Takes away
Understanding.
My people consult
A piece of wood.
Their divining rod
Gives them oracles.
A spirit of prostitution
Has led them astray.
They have left
Their God
To play the prostitute.”
These northern Israelites would eat, but not be satisfied or full. They played the prostitute. They did not increase or multiply. They have cherished prostitution rather than Yahweh. All kinds of wine, new and old, take away understanding. Thus, the Israelite people consult with pieces of wood, the wooden idol gods. Their oracles or sayings come from their magical divining rods or sticks. This concept of prostitution has led them astray. They have left God to be prostitutes to other gods. Obviously, this was an allusion to the prostitution fertility rites and the fact that they were turning to other wooden idol gods, rather than being faithful to Yahweh.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 