God’s Absence (5:1-7): In this oracle, Hosea describes the deeds of his three addressees in the exact reverse of their order in verse 1a–c. First, he tells of the murderous ways of the royal house, verses 1e–2a. Then he discusses the captivity of the Israelites to a spirit of harlotry, verses 3c–5. Finally, he turns to the cult where the priests officiate, verses 6–7b. And after each description, the punishment for such ways is stated, verses 2b, 5b–c, and 7c–d. The oracle holds together in a unified form, as it stands in the MT.

5:1–2 The interpreter is confronted with at least two very difficult and interrelated problems in 5:1–7. The first has to do with the reading of the text in verse 2a, the second with verse 7c–d. The NIV has translated verse 2a, The rebels are deep in slaughter. The…