The sinfulness of Israel (Hos 4:7-4:9)

“The more they increased,

The more they sinned

Against me.

They changed

Their glory

Into shame.

They feed

On the sin

Of my people.

They are greedy

For their iniquity.

It shall be

Like people,

Like priests.

I will punish them

For their ways.

I will repay them

For their deeds.”

Once again, Yahweh, via Hosea, reminded the people of the northern kingdom of Israel that the more that they grew larger, the more that they sinned against him, Yahweh. They had changed their glory into shame. Their food was sin itself. They were greedy for iniquity. Both the priests and the people shared the blame, so that Yahweh was going to punish them both together. He was going to repay them for their sinful deeds.

The transgressions of the house of Israel (Ezek 33:10-33:10)

“Now You!

Son of man!

Say!

To the house of Israel!

Thus,

You have said!

‘Our transgressions,

Our sins,

Weigh upon us!

We waste away

Because of them.

How then can we live?’”

Yahweh has a convoluted message for Ezekiel, the son of man, for the house of Israel. The Israelites had said that they had committed sins and transgressions against Yahweh. These sins weighed on them, as they are wasting away. They even wondered how they could live. Yet, this is Ezekiel projecting what Yahweh said to him that the Israelites had said. This was a long way to get a simple message that they were sinners.