4 “Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your love is like a morning cloud,
and like the dew that disappears early. 5 Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets;
I killed them with the words of my mouth.
Your judgments are like a flash of lightning. 6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant.
They were unfaithful to me, there. 8 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity;
it is stained with blood. 9 As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man,
so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem,
committing shameful crimes. 10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing.
There is prostitution in Ephraim.
Israel is defiled. 11 “Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you,
when I restore the fortunes of my people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 6:4-11
Commentary on Hosea 6:4-11
(Read Hosea 6:4-11)
Sometimes Israel and Judah seemed disposed to repent under their sufferings, but their goodness vanished like the empty morning cloud, and the early dew, and they were as vile as ever. Therefore the Lord sent awful messages by the prophets. The word of God will be the death either of the sin or of the sinner. God desired mercy rather than sacrifice, and that knowledge of him which produces holy fear and love. This exposes the folly of those who trust in outward observances, to make up for their want of love to God and man. As Adam broke the covenant of God in paradise, so Israel had broken his national covenant, notwithstanding all the favours they received. Judah also was ripe for Divine judgments. May the Lord put his fear into our hearts, and set up his kingdom within us, and never leave us to ourselves, nor suffer us to be overcome by temptation.