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[Hosea 7:1] WHEN I WOULD HAVE HEALED ISRAEL, THEN THE INIQUITY OF EPHRAIM WAS DISCOVERED, AND THE WICKEDNESS OF SAMARIA: FOR THEY COMMIT FALSEHOOD; AND THE THIEF COMETH IN, AND THE TROOP OF  ROBBERS SPOILETH WITHOUT.
This and the following passages are based on incidents in the lifetime of the Prophet, or shortly before or after his time. Prophets below the level of Moses had to extrapolate from their own experiences. The Divine Inspiration that was given to them had to remain to a degree within the confines of their own understanding. They could understand something that would happen as an outgrowth of conditions in their own time and this is what they prophesied about. These prophesies were then written down since the specific events described were prototypical of what would take place in the End Times.
See What Are Prototypical Prophesies?
This present verse speaks of a stage in the Return from Exile when the Almighty was prepared to heal Israel then the presence of violent robbers amongst them and evidently socially connived at by them prepvent the Almighty enabling their rehabilitiation.
In Western Societies todays organizations like the Mafia, and traders in human misery like drug dealers often receive respect, especially if they are wealthy. "WITHOUT": Hebrew "chutz" which can also mean "market-place" (Daat-Mikra).

 
[Hosea 7:2] AND THEY CONSIDER NOT IN THEIR HEARTS THAT I REMEMBER ALL THEIR WICKEDNESS: NOW THEIR OWN DOINGS HAVE BESET THEM ABOUT; THEY ARE BEFORE MY FACE. 
Not only do they not realize that the Almighty remembers all their past wickedness but even at present before HIS face they continue to do evil. it happens to some of us that at times we have bad experiences or go through negative stages. When we look back or are just coming out of such situations we may sometimes realize that what happened to us was (at least partly and at least in some cases) due to our own bad deeds.
If we can put these deeds and attitudes that caused them away from us we are on the way to being healed. It is no good continuing bad habits, blaiming these habits on bad luck or bad influence, and then expecting to avoid the consequences. The choice, to some degree, is often in our hands and with a little effort we may begin a succesful journey to reovery. This is what the Almighty through HIS Prophet is telling us.
The name "Hosea" in Modern Hebrew is pronounced as "Hoshea". It means, "God will save" or "God is our salvation".                    

[Hosea 7:3] THEY MAKE THE KING GLAD WITH THEIR WICKEDNESS, AND THE PRINCES WITH THEIR LIES.      
Not only do the Powers-that-be not prevent the evil-doers but they rejoice in their success. Daat Mikra (Yehudah Kiel) quotes opinions that the expression "MAKE THE KING GLAD" actually means "appoint the king". Similar expressions of gladness were associated with the coronation of King Saul:
AND ALL THE PEOPLE WENT TO GILGAL; AND THERE THEY MADE SAUL KING BEFORE THE LORD IN GILGAL; AND THERE THEY SACRIFICED SACRIFICES OF PEACE OFFERINGS BEFORE THE LORD; AND THERE SAUL AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL REJOICED GREATLY [1-Samuel 11:15].
According to this explanation, Not only do the evildoers do evil but they appoints the governors and officials who will rule over the people.
Oil companies today take exorbitant prices for their products which are vital for transporation and industry. They hamper the development of alternate energy sources, prevent the propagation of sane ecological doctrines, and they promote anti-Israeli policies. In addition to all that it may be due to oil interests that nothing serious is being done to counter the Saudi-subsidized "holy war" again the west.
See, "Dr. George Friedman: Why Did the US Invade Iraq? The Saudi Problem".
It should be noted that quite a few leading parties in the present US Administration as well as amongst the Opposition Democrtatic Establishment have close family ties to the oil industry.

[Hosea 7:4] THEY ARE ALL ADULTERERS, AS AN OVEN HEATED BY THE BAKER, WHO CEASETH FROM RAISING AFTER HE HATH KNEADED THE DOUGH, UNTIL IT BE LEAVENED.
In Hebrew the word for "adulterer" is "Mina-af" whereas the word translated here as "baker" is "Me-ofeh". The two words share the same letters, look similar, and the sound of one reflects on the other. One explation of this verse is that "adulterers" here refers to workers of treason who are waiting for the right moment to replace the monarch just as a baker waits for the dough to rise.

 [Hosea 7:5] IN THE DAY OF OUR KING THE PRINCES HAVE MADE HIM SICK WITH BOTTLES OF WINE; HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND WITH SCORNERS.  
IN THE DAY OF OUR KING: This verse can also be understand to read, "In the day we apppoint a king, the previous king has been made sick with alcohol, he has been celebrating with those who mock him [intend to get him drunk, and kill him]. See "Daat Mikra".

[Hosea 7:6] FOR THEY HAVE MADE READY THEIR HEART LIKE AN OVEN, WHILES THEY LIE IN WAIT: THEIR BAKER SLEEPETH ALL THE NIGHT; IN THE MORNING IT BURNETH AS A FLAMING FIRE.    
                
[Hosea 7:7] THEY ARE ALL HOT AS AN OVEN, AND HAVE DEVOURED THEIR JUDGES; ALL THEIR KINGS ARE FALLEN: THERE IS NONE AMONG THEM THAT CALLETH UNTO ME.     
Most commentators describe the above as concerned with an incident of the history of Israel before the exile. Maybe.  It describes drunkenness, plotters of treason waiting for the right moment, an ambush, assassins waiting all night long for the day of "coronation". This chapter and the previous ones deals with the murder of kings, rulers, and independence. The trusting of foreigners who betray us and the involvement of Assyria and Egypt. See the extract adapted from "The Tribes" at the end of this chapter. We have more information concerning all of our claims. They all check out well. If they did not we would say so and change or modify our beliefs.  If in the future we find that we may have been mistaken we will also say so.  In the meantime everything indicates that we were more correct than even we thought.
We say what we believe.
We give the sources.
We explain the logic and share the knowledge that enabled us to reach our conclusions.
If it is wrong, it should be easy to counter.
So far, it has not been.
If anybody thinks our beliefs will eventually be proven wrong they are strongly advised not to hold their breath.
 
[Hosea 7:8] EPHRAIM, HE HATH MIXED HIMSELF AMONG THE PEOPLE; EPHRAIM IS A CAKE NOT TURNED.   
EPHRAIM, HE HATH MIXED HIMSELF AMONG THE PEOPLE: In Hebrew this says, "Ephraim be-amim hu Yitbolel" or literally: "Ephraim shall be assimilated amongst the Peoples", -"peoples" in Hebrew "amim" is in the plural. Ephraim will loose his identity and be considered by himself and others as part of the Gentile Nations. Rashi: He will be assimilated in Exile amongst the Gentile nations.
A CAKE NOT TURNED: Over-baked on one side and unbaked on the other with the resultant product not fit for anything. In English we have the expression "half-baked" for someone who is unbalanced.

[Hosea 7:9] STRANGERS HAVE DEVOURED HIS STRENGTH, AND HE KNOWETH IT NOT: YEA, GRAY HAIRS ARE HERE AND THERE UPON HIM, YET HE KNOWETH NOT.    

[Hosea 7:10] AND THE PRIDE OF ISRAEL TESTIFIETH TO HIS FACE: AND THEY DO NOT RETURN TO THE LORD THEIR GOD, NOR SEEK HIM FOR ALL THIS.
TESTIFIETH: Hebrew, "ve-anah" which can also mean "be downgraded, oppressed". The Commentary "Metsudat David" explains it to mean that the Pride or Glory of Israel will be downtodden in his own eyes but despite this Israel does not repent.

 [Hosea 7:11] EPHRAIM ALSO IS LIKE A SILLY DOVE WITHOUT HEART: THEY CALL TO EGYPT, THEY GO TO ASSYRIA. 
They ask help of their enemies who never wanted their good. Instead of turning to the God of Israel who wants to help HIS people they turn to do those who want the destruction of his people. This is similar to the Americans turning to the Saudis and other such reprobates to help them fight terrorism when it is the Saudis themselves who actively cause much of it!

 [Hosea 7:12] WHEN THEY SHALL GO, I WILL SPREAD MY NET UPON THEM; I WILL BRING THEM DOWN AS THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN; I WILL CHASTISE THEM, AS THEIR CONGREGATION HATH HEARD.   
                
 [Hosea 7:13] WOE UNTO THEM! FOR THEY HAVE FLED FROM ME: DESTRUCTION UNTO THEM! BECAUSE THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST ME: THOUGH I HAVE REDEEMED THEM, YET THEY HAVE SPOKEN LIES AGAINST ME.
The Commentators rend this verse something like the following:
Woes unto them for they distanced themselves from ME who could save them from the disaster that otherwise would come upon them.
They are being robbed by others while sinning against ME who would protect them. I would redeem them as I have done in the past but they speak bad things about me and thus nullify the goodness I otherwise would bestow on them.

[Hosea 7:14] AND THEY HAVE NOT CRIED UNTO ME WITH THEIR HEART, WHEN THEY HOWLED UPON THEIR BEDS: THEY ASSEMBLE THEMSELVES FOR CORN AND WINE, AND THEY REBEL AGAINST ME. 
                   
[Hosea 7:15] THOUGH I HAVE BOUND AND STRENGTHENED THEIR ARMS, YET DO THEY IMAGINE MISCHIEF AGAINST ME.
 After the Exile of the Ten Tribes God will have delivered them, made them rich and powerful. They had a second chance to do right. They abuse the opportunity given unto them.

[Hosea 7:16] THEY RETURN, BUT NOT TO THE MOST HIGH: THEY ARE LIKE A DECEITFUL BOW: THEIR PRINCES SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD FOR THE RAGE OF THEIR TONGUE: THIS SHALL BE THEIR DERISION IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.
 
The heathen will despise them because of their infidelity.

THE EXILE (adapted from "The Tribes")
 The original Twelve Tribes of Israel had split into two kingdoms. Two tribes comprising "Judah" were in the south, while the Ten Tribes of "Israel" were in the north. The Ten Northern Tribes were entirely taken away by the Assyrians to places in northern Mesopotamia, to the Caucasus area and to eastern Iran.
The Bible says that,
"The King of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Hala, and in Habor, and in the cities of the Medes" (2-Kings 17;6). The Bible also mentions "Hara" (1-Chronicles 5; 26) in eastern Iran as a place of exile. The Talmud and archaeological findings enable the identification of these places of re-settlement. Shortly after the exile and re-settlement every one of the said places became a centre for a group of peoples who then appeared for the first time. They are known to history as the Cimmerians, Scythians, and Guti or Goths. It will be shown that these entities were (at least in part) the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel!
The bulk of the Israelites had been exiled in the period 730-710, or earlier. In about 707 b.c.e., a people named "Gimirae" were reported from the region of Mannae10. These are the Cimmerians. They were referred to as "Outcasts" by the Assyrians11. The Prophet Amos had said that the northern tribes would be "cast-out" (i.e. outcast) to the Mountains of Mannae. Apart from their being in Mannae, the Cimmerians were also reported as at first centered in the region of Iberia13 in the Caucasus. The Cimmerians killed the king of neighbouring Urartu (Ararat) and overran his land. They also defeated and killed Sargon, king of Assyria, in 705. Sargon was replaced by Sennacherib (705-681) who beat off the Cimmerians after which a portion of them invaded the Land of Phrygia in Anatolia.    
The Cimmerian king was called by the Assyrians "King of the Umman Manda [i.e. Cimmerians], king of the Sakae [Scyths] and Guti [Goths]"14. Umman Manda means "People [Umman] of Menasseh" -since in Aramaic, Persian, and other northern dialects at that time the Hebrew "s" sound was often changed for "d", thus Menasseh becomes Manda. The Cimmerians and Scythians were essentially different branches of the one people and both could be referred to as Umman Manda by the Assyrians at that time. Later the Babylonians would misapply the term to the Medes who were to settle in regions formerly occupied by the Scythians and to a degree took over the former Scythian role in international affairs. The Cimmerian king was also termed "King of the Amuru" by the Assyrians and the Cimmerians were referred to as "Amuru". "Amuru" means Amorite but in Assyrian usage the expression meant "Dweller of the Land of Israel" or "Previous Dweller of the Land of Israel and/or Syria".  We find Cimmerians being called "Ameru" in juxtaposition to "Syrians" (Achlamu) who are explicitly spoken of separately as adversaries of the "Amuru". Since "Amuru" means Israelite or Syrian and the Cimmerians are termed "Ameru" in a context explicitly excluding the Syrians they must have been considered as Israelites! As we mentioned above, a portion of the Cimmerians had invaded Phrygia . These were soon driven out of Anatolia and crossed the Bosporus into Europe. Jerome (on Zecharia 10:11), the translator of the Bible into Latin, had heard from Jewish sages the tradition that Israelites, exiled by the Assyrians, had reached the Bosporus and from there headed north, i.e. into Europe. These Cimmerians, via the Balkans and Danube valley, eventually reached Gaul, the British Isles, and Scandinavia. They became the major factor in "Celtic" civilization.
Meanwhile, those other of the Cimmerians who had not been driven into Phrygia but had remained on the fringes of the Assyrian Empire managed to recuperate. By the end of Sennacherib's reign they had gained control of Mannae. They posed a serious challenge to Sennacherib's successor, Essarhaddon (681-669 BCE). 
Essarhaddon at first beat the Cimmerians, some of whom joined his forces15. In about 676 a new element, known as " Ishkuza"16 emerged from the Cimmerian ranks. These are identified with the Scythians whom the Persians and Babylonians referred to as the "Saka": The terms "Ishkuza" and "Saka" are both forms for the name "Isaac". Abraham the patriarch had been promised: "In Isaac will your seed be called"  (Genesis 21:12). After their first appearance, the Scythians and Cimmerians are recognizable as distinct entities though, in effect, both bodies were combinations of Scythians proper, of Goths, and of Cimmerians in varying proportions.
In 673 Esarhaddon slew  the  Scythian king  who was replaced by  Bartatua. Bartatua became the Scythian ruler and entered into alliance with  the  Assyrians, which entailed  marrying Esarhaddon's  daughter. The Assyrian   Empire at  that  stage was troubled  by rebellious  Medes, Mannaens, Cimmerians, and others. The Scythians from allies of the Assyrians progressed to hold the Assyrians in some type of subservience for 28 years17. For a period they took control over much of the Assyrian Empire. According to Herodotos they ruled it. They established a center at Beth Shean18 in the former land of northern "Israel". Archaeological finds testify to their presence throughout the Israelite region19. They attacked Egypt and raided the Phillistine city of Ashkelon. At this stage the Jews of Judah in the south who had not been exiled but had remained on part of their own land centered around Jerusalem were ruled by king Josiah ben Amon (628-609 BCE). Whilst the Scythians were taking over control from the Assyrians and setting themselves up in Beth-Shean and over portions of the former land of Israel, King Josiah of Judah was also extending his influence into that very same area! King Josiah had made himself independent of Assyria, smashed idols which represented Assyria's authority20, and established colonies in northern Israel, at Megiddo, in the north near Beth-Shean, and in Philistia on the coast21. He also had a presence in Beth-Shean (which was considered the Scythian headquarters) itself!
The Scythians, as well as king Josiah, attacked Phillistia and later also maintained a presence there22 in addition to the Judaean colonies in that place. In other words, the Scythians and Judeans of King Josiah were in the same areas, undertaking the same activities, and must have been working hand in hand23. Also at this time, in eastern Iran (in the region of Hara and Bactria), there arose a religious reformer named Zarathustra (ZOROASTER) whose original doctrine was monotheistic and even Biblical in character24. After Zoroaster's death, his religion was paganised by the Median tribe of Magi, even though the original message had been Hebraic. Zoroaster, according to Iranian tradition had been taught by the prophet Jeremiah or by one of Jeremiah's pupils25. Zoroaster himself had Scythian familial connections26 yet some reports identify him as an Israelite27. Zoroaster is an additional indication that the historical Scythians were to a significant degree of Israelite origin.
Eventually, after enduring Scythian subjection and witnessing the partial disintegration of their Empire, the Assyrians attempted to re-assert themselves. At this stage, ca. 616 BCE, the Medes and Babylonians were in open revolt. About two years later, in 614 the Medes began to besiege Nineveh, the Assyrian capital. The Assyrians were supported by part of the Mannaeans and by Egypt. At first, the Scythians seemed more inclined to support Assyria versus her besiegers than to be against her. The Medes, Babylonians, Guti, Gimiri (Cimmerians), and others were combined against Assyria. Scythians from Bactria-Hara and from the city of Ecbatana were called to Assyria's help. Ecbatana in Media was THEN a Scythian center but later became the capital of Media. When the Scythians arrived at NINEVEH they were somehow persuaded to change sides and to join the besiegers28. According to a Babylonian inscription, Nineveh was taken and sacked by the allies with the Umman-Manda (meaning in this case, the Scythians) taking the leading role. Shortly afterwards all of the other Assyrian cities received similar treatment. The Assyrian Empire was destroyed.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian army under Pharoah Neco had been marching to the aid of Assyria. King Josiah of Judah attempted to stop the Egyptian progress but was killed fighting Pharoah Neco at Megiddo. The Egyptians continued northward, only to be defeated at Carcamish29. King Josiah of Judah had died fighting on the Scythian behalf. After having defeated the Assyrians and the Egyptians, the Scythian leaders were invited by the Medes to a feast. The Medes got the Scythians drunk and then massacred them30. After this the Medes and Babylonians divided the former Assyrian Empire between each other. The Babylonians conquered Judah and exiled its inhabitants to Babylon. Later, the Medes lost paramountcy to their allies, the Persians. Cyrus the Persian king conquered Babylon and allowed the Judeans to return to their land. Medes, Babylonians and Persians were to progressively drive the Scythians out of the Middle East area and into the north. From the north the Scythians were eventually to continue westward into Europe.
 
PARALLELS BETWEEN SCYTHIANS AND ISRAELITES.
Were The Israelites Scythians?
 
Talmudic sources and connected Commentaries state that King Josiah ben Amon of Judah sent Jeremiah the prophet to bring back the Lost Ten Tribes. They say that SOME FEW OF THEM DID IN FACT RETURN TEMPORARILY31! They later left according to the report and returned to their places of exile31. A religious reformer known as Zoroaster had appeared in Scythian areas in the time of Jeremiah. 
See:
What Spake Zarathustra?
The message of Zoroaster was originally Hebraic but after his death the Iranian Magi paganised it. Tradition held that Jeremiah had taught Zoroaster. During the reign of King Josiah of Judah and in the time of Jeremiah the Scythians had settled for a time in the Land of Israel and had made it a center of theirs. King Josiah of Judah died fighting on the side of the Scythians. After Josiah's death the Scythians departed from the Land of Israel.
 
The Scythians bore Tribal names similar to Israelite ones, they identified their ancestor with JOSEPH of Israel, and their artwork was of Israelite-Phoenician origin.
The events of the Scythian-Assyrian epoch were also echoed in Biblical Prophecy. The prophets largely predicted events that in their fullness will occur in the Messianic era. Nevertheless, they often presented their account of the future in the description of events happening in their own time or not so long afterwards and thus history may be considered to repeat itself32. There are a few Biblical passages concerning the fall of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, which are also apposite to the Scythian-Judean symbiosis in the reign of King Josiah. The fifth chapter of the Book of Micah, for instance, speaks of a ruler coming out of Beth Lehem and King Josiah was a descendant of David, who came from Beth Lehem. "The remnant of his brethren" returning unto the Children of Israelis is spoken of (Micah 5:3) and refers to the partial (and temporary -then) re-settlement of Israelite Scythians in the former Land of northern Israel. The important verses, for our consideration, are Micah 5:5-8:
 
"And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and he [i.e. Assyria] shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him [i.e. against Assyria] seven shepherds, and eight principal men." 
"And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrud in the entrances thereof "....
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD..."
 "And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the GENTILES in the midst of many people as a lion among the flocks of sheep..."
 
Again, the main point of these passages may be applicable only to the Messianic era yet it is also descriptive of our explanation of the Israelite-Scythian equation. The Assyrians, at first, came into the land of Israel and trod it down, including the Royal palaces, as archaeological excavations of  Samaria have proven. They then exiled all of the surviving inhabitants. From their places of exile, the Israelite-Scythians made peace with Assyria, then became "Shepherds" i.e. allies and protectors of Assyria, and after that graduated to be the effective rulers of the Assyrian Empire, i.e. "eight principal men". Finally the Israelite-Scythians destroyed the Assyrian cities and wasted "the land of Assyria with the sword", just as Micah describes.
 
Similarly, the Talmud says (Shabbat 147) that the Lost Ten Tribes came to a calamity because of the "Wine of Phrygia33" and perhaps the reference is to the same drunken feast that caused the Scythian leaders to be killed and to lose control of the Assyrian empire. Other parallels can be drawn between descriptions of the exiled Israelites and the Scythians but for the moment the point has been made.
 

Chapter Six

The Book of Hosea Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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