Hosea 9:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, as the harvest approached and they gathered grapes into vats, they made libations, offered sacrifices to false gods, composed songs of praise, and engaged in merriment. God reproved the nation of Israel for their actions, asserting that they should not rejoice like other nations. Why? Those who are steeped in ignorance about God’s true nature may have an unproven excuse due to their weakness: but Israel, knowing the law and aware of the Lord of all, strayed profoundly into apostasy. Thus, they bear greater guilt and will face inevitable condemnation for their impiety because, knowing "the will of his lord, he was negligent, and did not do it; and for this cause he shall be beaten much, whereas he that knew not, and therefore did not do it, shall be beaten little," as the Savior said. Therefore, He warns, "Rejoice not as men do; those from the womb go astray, but you who are under the law have turned away from God."

What was their illicit desire? "I have loved," he states, "gifts," which were not from God but from calves and Baal, which give nothing to those who ask. What were they seeking from these idols? "From every threshing-floor," as they recklessly sought the fertility of insignificant idols. Thus, Israel was asking for gifts from idols. Were their petitions met? Not at all: "the threshing-floor and the cleaver shall not know them, and the wine shall lie unto them." It is clear that pestilence, famine, and drought plagued Samaria. In their deception, they were left with unfulfilled hopes. Moreover, they forsook the holy land, seeking refuge in Egypt— a fortified nation— and began to serve many gods, for Egypt was filled with deities, and the worshippers fancied they could achieve everything through magical practices. They turned away from the land God had chosen for them, exchanging it for a land of idols. Yet still, they sought offerings from the Assyrians. "To the Lord": having gathered grapes into the winepresses, they directed their offerings not to the Lord who provided but to demons. They also presented loaves as firstfruits from their harvest. However, this will lead them to impurity and defilement, and their offerings will be viewed as "the bread of sorrow," meaning contemptible and vile. Why is this so? The law declared anyone who came near a corpse to be unclean—whether by blood relation or mere touch—resulting in defilement during mourning rituals. Thus, the "bread of sorrow" was for those who lamented a dead person, making it dreadful for those wishing to avoid being tainted by death. Even the loaves offered as firstfruits were considered unclean and abominable, leading those who partake to be defiled; for they were unfit for their souls, as they "shall not enter into the house of the Lord." However, it must be noted that the law commanded the offering of firstfruits—sheaves and bread. But Israel transferred what was meant to honor God to idols, despite God's clear statement: "I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven images." Therefore, we should turn to God for our needs and honor Him as the giver and organizer of all we possess, for besides Him, there is none who gives "rain," as written, but by His grace does the earth yield its bounty, and we are filled with the highest blessings, enjoying spiritual food and receiving heavenly wine that "rejoices the heart of man." Recognizing this truth, we will reside in the holy land, we will be united with God, and we will not consume "unclean things in Assyria," for the rulers of this age, the evil spirits in the heavens, feed their followers with impurity.

Ephraim, as it is said, returned to Egypt, and in Assyria consumes unclean foods. Some have added the words “and in Assyria ate unclean things,” which do not appear in the original Hebrew text. But when they find themselves in Chaldea without temple and altar, they will pour out wine, not to the Lord, but to demons; those who perform offerings to foreign gods, remaining in captivity and consuming idolatrous food in Assyria, are like the bread of mourning and will not find favor with Him. It is prohibited to partake of the offerings made by mourners, and if they consume them, what was rightly offered becomes unclean.

The meals of mourners are referred to as νεκρόδειπνα by the Greeks, and we might identify them as raheptalia, memorials for the deceased, since they are prepared for loved ones who have passed away. Both the one who brings and the one who consumes such offerings will be rendered unclean, for their bread, or the food they present, will not enter into the house of the Lord, which has been devastated and burned by Babylon’s fire, but will serve merely to satisfy their souls. The implication is clear: they focus on gratifying their insatiable desires and sensuality, while I do not accept what is unclean.

Those who have distanced themselves from the Church and returned in spirit to Egypt, consuming the sacrifices of Assyrians—that is, demons—will not dwell in the land of the Lord. They do not offer wine to the Lord but instead indulge excessively, and neither their offerings nor the offerers are pleasing to Him. The sacrifices of heretics are characterized by sorrow and tears because their actions result only in weeping. They cannot heed the words, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4); instead, they will hear, “Woe to you who laugh, for you shall weep” (Luke 6:25). Everything they proffer is not presented to God but to the dead—those who have concocted heretical teachings—and anyone who partakes of their sacrifices will be defiled. These are the blind leading the blind into destruction. Their actions serve merely for their own enjoyment, to mislead the populace, and to consume the resources of the widows.

We might designate the bread of sorrow as those harmful words in which they express their wickedness against the Lord; such bread does not enter the house of God, for the gatherings of heretics are not considered the house of God but rather dens of thieves.

This is why He speaks through the Prophet Isaiah, proclaiming that bringing Me grain offerings is futile; My soul detests them (Isaiah 1:13). Likewise, through the Prophet Malachi, He declares that He does not take pleasure in you, nor will He accept an offering from your hand (Malachi 1:10). He then foretells the affliction that would come upon them during their exile.