Reading for September 15th

 Read Hosea 9.10-17. In 9.10-11.7: Images of a rebellious people. With a series of images taken from Israel's agricultural and family context-grapes and figs, a young palm tree, a vine, a female calf, a son-Hosea highlights Israel's past protentional and present waywardness. In 9.10-12: The comparison of Israel to grapes and figs begins with images of fertility and new harvest and concludes with infertility and bareness. In verse 10: Baal-peor is a site east of the Jordan where the Israelites once worshipped Baal (Num 25.1-5). In verses 13-17: Israel is compared to a young palm with great potential (v. 13) whose roots dry up and whose fruit falls (v. 16). In verse 15: Gilgal, the site where Israel entered Canaan (Josh 4.19-20), is criticized by Hosea for its false worship (4.15). In verse 17: Hosea refers here and elsewhere (5.13-14;10.14) to Israelites deported by conquering countries, a practice of the Assyrians describes also by Israel's historian (2 Kings 15.29; 17.6). Comments or Questions..