Hosea 8:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Instead, this approach incites strong indignation, compelling God to impose judgments upon those who entice such behavior, reminding the offenders of all their wrongdoings. When this transpires, swift wrath and punishment descend upon them, leaving no means of rescue. It is indeed solemn to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). Conversely, for those committed to living uprightly and striving to avoid sin, it is infinitely better and serves as a foundation for all blessings to offer sacrifices to God that are genuinely spiritual and to celebrate in His honor. They have returned to Egypt, consuming impure things in Assyria. Again, He rebukes them for their foolish and irreverent conduct, showcasing their ignorance of the path to righteousness. Those who had descended into such folly, He warned of impending wrath and retribution for their sins, recalling all their transgressions. The anticipated events began to unfold when Israel faced the threat of invasion. In their moment of need, rather than seeking God through prayer and repentance to please Him and seek better paths to mitigate His anger, they turned instead to Egypt, calling upon the strength of man, the Egyptian, for aid—and not God—relying on the flesh of horses, as noted (Ezekiel 39:17-20). “A king shall not be saved by much strength; a mighty man shall not be delivered by his great might; the horse brings false hope” (Ps. 32:16-17). “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Ps. 117:8). They would learn through experience that their reckless plans were futile; for those who looked to the Assyrians and Midians would consume unclean things, living without regard for the remnants of the law, indulging in whatever food was available. One might wonder how the Israelites could be disturbed by their decision to serve idols. The answer is that they were all equally misguided, yet there remained some vestige of respect for the law in their hearts; they had not fully abandoned Jewish customs, even as they worshipped in pagan temples. Thus, even the revered prophet Elijah once charged them with being indecisive, caught between allegiance to Baal and total devotion to God. However, when Israel was taken captive, they relinquished all regard for the law and were compelled to adhere to the customs and laws of their conquerors. This understanding aligns with what Christ said, “For to every one who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away” (Luke 19:26). Therefore, we should not overlook the divine gifts; what we receive from God should be cherished above all else. For in those who are diligent, the gift will flourish, but if we are neglectful and indifferent, it will surely vanish.

Consequently, He will also account for the iniquities of their forebears and exact retribution for past sins due to their return to Egypt, either seeking help or worshipping the same deities they had previously followed, Apis and Mnevis. Israel forgot their Creator and constructed high places, dedicating every hill and shade to Baal, Astarte, and other idols. Likewise, Judah, although witnessing Israel’s departure from God's love and the consequences of their sins, did not turn to the Lord but relied on fortified cities, of which the Lord has proclaimed will be destroyed down to their very foundations. The pronoun 'his' certainly refers to Judah, though some interpret it as 'them,' referring to the cities. In a profound sense, iniquities, or offenses, refer to those committed before baptism, which were absolved at that time, while sins represent those committed thereafter. The Psalms state, Blessed are they who forsake iniquity and are covered by sin. All of these matters will be attributed to the heretics, who will be recompensed for both their past iniquities and their present sins. For upon their exit from Egypt through the acknowledgment of Christ, they returned to Egypt through their faithlessness. Israel forgot their Maker and, in rejecting Him, created another lord for themselves. Likewise, Judah, a member of the Church, constructed fortified cities—not with God's aid but through deceit. The Lord declares He will incinerate them with the fire of His Spirit, destroying their proud towers and the poorly laid foundations, preventing them from erecting sacrilegious temples against God. Some interpret Judah's fortified cities positively, but this understanding seems contradicted by the pronouncement, I will send fire upon his cities, consuming their foundations, prompting attempts to reconcile this by suggesting that once the perfect comes, what is partial shall cease. The phrase from the LXX interpreters, And in Assyria they ate unclean things, is absent from the Hebrew text, warranting notation. However, one might argue that longing for Egypt, the Israelites, when transported to Assyria, consumed unclean food, as Ezekiel records, noting their consumption of idolatrous items, rendering them so defiled by idolatries that they are likened to human waste. Likewise, the heretics, whose leaders are the Assyrians, partake in unclean food, becoming sullied by their abominations.

This aligns with the apostolic teaching, 'You who are unaware that the kindness of God leads you to repentance, but due to your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each according to his works (Rom. 2:4-6). These individuals turned back to Egypt. There, they sought refuge; there, they escaped from the misfortunes that had befallen them, while in Assyria the unclean things devoured them. Yet, they will also be compelled against their will into the land of Assyria and will be made to live in a manner not in accordance with the law.