[CS-FSLUG] TD: CS-BibleStudy: Hosea 5

[Brian Derr]

On Sun, Sep 12, 2004 at 09:42:45PM -0500, Timothy R. Butler wrote:
> Now that we are approximately one third of the way through Hosea, I  
> have two questions before we continue with this week's Bible study:
> 
> 	1.) Are there any things you would change to improve the weekly 
> 	Bible study?

Spicing it up somehow so that more than just a couple respond that we
can start an actual discussion about the topic at hand.

> 	2.) Are you enjoying studying Hosea?

I am enjoying getting into Hosea because it has made me research the
history and timeline of Israel closer.  I have found myself wanting to
know why Ephraim was singled out and how it relates to Judah.  Very good
study not only to see God's judgement and patient love, but also as a
history lesson.

> http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible? 
> language=english&passage=Hosea+5&version=NIV
> 
> Ice Breaker: There is no ice breaker this week.
> 
> Study Questions:
> 
> 	1.) It sounds like more of God's wrath is directed toward Ephraim 
> 	than  the other tribes, do you think they were especially corrupt or that  
> they simply are mentioned more frequently as an example to the others?

From what I've read of the history of Israel and Judah I think that
Ephraim may have been singled out because the tribe was one of the
largest and most powerful.  They were given the land that is mainly
Samaria from the Jordan River to the coast.  They were the center of all
traffic between the northern and southern kingdoms.  This made them at
the center, or crossroads, of a lot of activity.  This probably opened
them up to a lot more perversion from others.

See Genesis 48:17-20 for the blessing of Ephraim and his brother
Manasseh by their grandfather, Israel (Jacob).  With this historical
knowledge it could be said that Hosea was pointing out Ephraim because
of their status as the "leader" of the tribes of Israel.

> 	2.) Why do you suppose only two tribes are mentioned in this passage 
> specifically?

The tribe of Judah basically overshadowed the other two tribes that made
up the land of Judea.  The tribe of Benjamin and Levi basically lost
their individualality in the tribe of Judah.  Thus referencing the tribe
of Judah can be a reference to all the tribes of the land of Judah.

> 	3.) The NIV, CEV and several other translations translate this in  
> poetical form, whereas the NLT and KJV seem to use a prose style for  
> the passage. Does this change make you feel differently about the  
> passage?

My question:

What do you think is meant in verse 7?  Several different
translations have several different wordings:

(KJV) http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Hsa/Hsa005.html#top
(NASV) http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?book=Hsa&chapter=5&version=nas&Go.x=29&Go.y=11
(NLT) http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?book=Hsa&chapter=5&version=nltp&Go.x=31&Go.y=14

All three of these translations differ quite a bit in their wording at
the end of verse 7.  Is God giving them a month before they are taken
over by another nation?  Or will a false religion destroy them like it
says in the NLT?

Brian

-- 
The just man walketh in his integrity:
his children are blessed after him.  -- Proverbs 20:7
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