Hosea 13:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In doing so, Israel faced death and repeated their sins, as if to say, “I suffer for my actions and perish for my arrogance.” He was aware of the Lord's wrath, who punishes those who stray, yet he held little regard for this understanding and continued to commit similar transgressions.

It is noted in the book of Numbers that the Israelites engaged in sexual immorality, overwhelmed by their desires, and united themselves with the daughters of Moab, which led to severe consequences. It is recorded: “And Israel dwelt in Setim, and the people defiled themselves by fornication with the wives of Moab. And I called their idols for their sacrifices; and the people ate their sacrifices and worshipped their idols. And Israel joined itself to Baal-Peor; and the Lord was angry with Israel.” The Lord instructed Moses to take swift action against the leaders and to take measures to avert His wrath from Israel. Moses declared to the tribes of Israel, “Kill every man who has been associated with Baal-Peor” (Num. 25:1-5). As a result of these actions, many Israelites perished.

Therefore, consider that Israel, who once upheld the divine justifications during Moses' time, faced a grim fate, as every transgressor was slain by the sword of their own kin. Yet they continued to add sin upon sin, crafting a union of gold and the works of their hands, forming deities from the artistry of craftsmen. The language seems to underscore their foolishness, as they revere as gods those whom they themselves create. Thus, let the Psalmist declare concerning them, “Let those who make them become like them; and let everyone who puts their trust in them be like them” (Psalm 113:16).

He compounded his sin, crafting likenesses of idols from gold and silver, also full works of artists, urging, "Offer a sacrifice of men, for there are not enough bulls." Simmachus translated it as, “Sacrifice men, since there are not enough oxen,” while other translations convey the idea of sacrificing to idols, indicating that rational beings, namely people, are to worship mere animals without understanding.

Thus, when Jeroboam, son of Nebat from the tribe of Ephraim, spoke, terror fell upon Israel, especially the ten tribes. This fear, called rathath in Hebrew, was translated by Simmachus and Theodotion as trembling, and the Septuagint rendered it as δικαιώματα, meaning justification. The fear was so intense that it led Israel into sin, offending God through Baal and resulting in death, as they turned away from the source of life, who declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). "The soul that sins will die" (Ezek. 14:20). Furthermore, the apostle states, “The widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives” (1 Tim. 5:6). Ephraim not only perished due to Baal, but he also multiplied his transgressions by making silver idols, which were the products of human hands. Those who were supposed to guide the people toward righteousness—the priests and leaders—instead urged the people to sacrifice men who worship calves, a message echoed in the Psalms which speaks of reaping their children through demonic forces (Psalms 105:37).

In translation, while some render the act of worship as kissing, reflecting a custom in which hands are kissed during worship, Job emphasizes that he did not partake in such practices, stating, “if I had placed my hand over my mouth, and put it over my forehead, this would have been counted as my iniquity” (Job 31:27-28). If, as suggested, the demons incite the populace to sacrifice people due to a lack of calves, this reflects the greed of those who thrive on the blood of offerings, desiring the death of the innocent for their pleasure. When those misled by Ephraim spoke, they brought fear and trembling upon the people, leading them into idolatry and ultimately to death alongside those who followed them.

Unsatisfied with his own destruction, Ephraim converted the language originally intended for God's glory into idol worship. He employed eloquence to formulate a doctrine that masquerades as truth, yet is nothing more than a product of human corruption. They also encourage their followers to abduct those from the Church of God, effectively leading them to heretics, resulting in their spiritual demise. The following phrase, "For there are not enough calves," signifies an urging away from attempting to deceive the Gentiles—referred to as unreasoning beasts—but rather inciting them to harm and take captive those in the Church, known as Christians, who are truly human beings.