“Though you play the prostitute,
O Israel!
Do not let Judah
Become guilty!
Do not enter
Into Gilgal!
Do not go up
To Beth-aven!
Do not swear!
‘As Yahweh lives.’”
Yahweh, via Hosea, told northern Israel that she had become a prostitute. Now he warned that the southern Judah kingdom should not become guilty. They should not go to Gilgal, that was just east of Jericho. Neither should they go to Beth-aven or Bethel, the place of worship of the northern Israelites. They should not swear by Yahweh.