CHAPTER 4 Nov. 7 
Against the Children of Israel 
Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed. 3Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. All living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die. 4Yet let no man bring a case, neither let any man accuse; for Your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. 5You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to Me. Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. 7As they were multiplied, so they sinned against Me. I will change their glory into shame. 8They feed on the sin of My people, and set their heart on their iniquity. 9It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds. 10They will eat, and not feel satisfied. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh. 11Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the heart. 12My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God. 13They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery. 14I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin themselves. 15Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don’t let Judah offend; and don’t come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As Yahweh lives’. 16For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow! 17Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone! 18Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way. 19The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be unfulfilled in the offering of their sacrifices.

Commentary

4:12 The spirit of prostitution- Gomer’s sexual addiction was reflected in Israel’s chronic unfaithfulness to Yahweh. The very process of sinning has a tendency to push people into a downwards spiritual spiral from which there is no easy exit (see 5:4).
4:15 Gilgal and Beth Aven were border towns between Judah and Israel. The nominally faithful people of Judah were slipping over the border to do quick idol worship and then returning, protesting their loyalty to Yahweh. This kind of hypocrisy can so easily be slipped into.