Глава 8

Os.8:1. In their throats is like the impassable earth, like a trumpet, like an eagle in the house of the Lord. Just as their fathers constantly contradicted and despised My power, clearly opposed Moses and Aaron, who were sent to liberate them: so they, imitating their fathers in their stubbornness, will become “like an impassable land,” and will be given over to final desolation, after the military trumpet sounds loudly, the king of the enemies swoops down like an eagle, and with the greatest fury attacks the house of God. And the fact that he called the king of his enemies an eagle is evidenced by the prophecy of Ezekiel. For it is said: “a great eagle, great-winged, full of nails, who commanded to go into Lebanon,” and so on. (Ezek.17:3). They will tolerate this For yet you have transgressed My covenant, and you have dishonored My law. That's why it is said: Hos.8:2. They will call to Me: God by the knowledge of You. Experiencing these calamities, they will then seek help. But why will they suffer such disasters? Hos.8:3. For Israel has turned away from the good. And showing what benefits these are, the Prophet added: Hos.8:3–4. You drove away the enemy: You set up a king for yourself, and not by Me, your ruler, and did not appear to Me. When they took advantage of My providence for them, then they defeated all those who were hostile to them. However, this did not convince them to surrender to My providence; on the contrary, they themselves appointed a king, without even asking Me about it. This accusation falls on the ten tribes, who made Jeroboam king for themselves, without asking the God of all things whether this should have been done. And let none of those who have read the books of Kings consider this to be contrary to what was said there; because God did not send Ahijah the Silonite to the people, but to Jeroboam; and therefore they are unworthy of any excuse for having arrogated to themselves the appointment of king. After this, accusing him of having received silver and gold from God and used it for the construction of idols, he offers admonition and advice: Hos.8:5. Crush your calf Samaria; My wrath is angry with her: how long cannot those in Israel be cleansed? Hos.8:6. And then the treemaker created, and God did not flatter your calf, Samaria. Very opportunely he ridiculed the powerlessness of idols; because for their existence they need substance and art; and the substance - wood, stone, gold, silver, tin - borrowing from the earth, while asking for appearance from art, they idolize hand-made idols of animals. And he continues the accusation. Hos.8:7. As everything has been destroyed by the wind, and I will accept their destruction: a handle that does not have the power to create torment; Even if he does, strangers will eat him. You will not get any fruit from serving idols; the handles collected from them will look like ears of corn, beaten by the wind; Apparently, they fill the granaries with themselves, but do not have a single grain in them. The property of idols is the same: the appearance of either a husband, or a wife, or a lion, or some other animal, the idol takes from art; but devoid of all strength and initiative. Therefore, the idols themselves will perish along with those who worship them. For it is said: “I accept their destruction, and strangers will devour it.” Hos.8:8–9. Israel was swallowed up; now she is among the nations, like a vessel of no use. I have sincerely risen to the Assyrians. Having asked for help from the Assyrians, they will be sold into slavery, deprived of the opportunity to perform any kind of divine service and celebrate the holidays established by law. Israel, grown and blossomed by Me, like a plant, retreated from serving Me. Os.8:10. For this reason they will give themselves over to tongues. He could not get enough of the benefits, but continued to desire more; for this he will be sold into slavery. that is, in an enemy country. And they will rest little until the king and princes are anointed. Recognizing that it is best for someone else to reign over them, and not I, they will fall under the dominion of the Assyrians, not being able to appoint a king for themselves. Os.8:11. As Ephraim multiplied his treasures, his beloved treasures became his sins. In justice I will put an end to his lawless kingdom; because he turned away to many idolatrous places; having passionately loved these lawless places, he acquired wickedness there. Os.8:12. I will write him a lot, and he will be legitimate. I commemorate many of these churches and the laws invented about them, according to which idolatrous rituals were performed, in writing, to expose their great wickedness. The beloved is imputed into the alien trap. And they took great care of these lawless treasons; the altars of God, which should have been honored with every service and had for oneself coveted and greatly beloved, were left neglected, as if this duty lay on someone else. However, I blame them for this not because I need their victims. Os.8:13. Even if they devour the sacrifice and eat the meat, the Lord will not accept them. It was not without intention that it was added: “they eat meat,” because it was their custom to bring kidneys, membranes of the liver and fat to the altar from the victims designated for burnt offerings, and to separate the chest and right frame to the priests; The other parts of the sacrifice were consumed themselves, at will. That is why the Prophet said: “If they devour the sacrifice and eat the meat, the Lord will not accept them.” God does not need sacrifices, but requires spiritual disposition. It is said: “devour the sacrifice of praise to God” (Psalm 49:14). Now he will remember their iniquities and avenge their sins. Similar to this is the apostolic saying: “not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance, but because of your cruelty and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, and revelation, and the righteous judgment of God, which will be done to everyone according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:4-6). Tia returned to Egypt. There they sought help for themselves, there they fled from the disasters that befell them. And in Assyria the unclean will be eaten. But even against their will they will be taken to the Assyrian country, and they will be forced to lead a life not prescribed by law. Os.8:14. And Israel forgot what they had made, and erected churches: and Judah multiplied their established cities: and I will send fire upon their cities, and consume the foundations thereof. And after the burning of the cities, like Judas, they will learn to place their trust not in the walls, but in Me, so Israel, not to erect treasuries for demons, but to perform Divine services according to the law.