9:1–17 · In another attempt to persuade his audience to repent and turn back to God, Hosea tells a group of people at harvest time that God will soon bring an end to the joyous harvest festivals in Israel (9:1–9). Instead of being a time to rejoice and praise God as they used to be (Deut. 16:14–15), the Israelite festivals reflect the influence of pagan festivals. The introduction of sacred prostitution into the festivals demonstrates that the people love Baal, the fertility god who they claim has brought fertility to their crops, more than they love Yahweh, the God of Israel. In order to demonstrate to the people that Baal does not bring prosperity, God will take away all fertility so that the nation will have poor harvests (9:2). Then God will send them out of his land and into the land…