Sacrifices on Mountain Tops - Hosea 4:13

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms has caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their god”, and in chapter four and verse thirteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “they sacrifice on the tops of the mountains” where we read,

They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills,

under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow is good:

therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

The verse begins, “They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, ...” Hosea began with the words, “they sacrifice” or “they, Jehovah God's people, slaughter, kill and make offerings” “upon the tops of the mountains” which means “on the pinnacles and summits of the hill country or ranges of hills”, “and burn incense” or “and kindle and offer sacrificial smoke” “upon the hills” which means “on the risings above the plain”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God was aware of His people offering slaughters and smoking sacrifices upon the “high places” or risings above the plains.

The verse goes on to say, “under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow is good:” Hosea continued with the words, “under oaks and poplars” or “beneath the great oak trees and white poplar trees which exudes milky-white gum” “and elms” which means “and terebinth or teil trees”, “because the shadow is good” or “since and on account that the shade from the trees exists as pleasant, agreeable, excellent and valuable”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God knew His people were offering their “sacrifices and incense” beneath the large “oak, poplar and elm trees” because they provided pleasant shade.

Finally the verse says, “therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.” Hosea ended this verse by saying, “therefore your daughters” or “wherefore, on this account and then your, Jehovah God's people's, female offspring and descendants” “shall commit whoredom” which means “will dedicate themselves to adultery, fornication and prostitution”, “and your spouses” or “and your, Jehovah God's people's, wedded brides, daughters-in-law and young wife” “shall commit adultery” which means “will dedicate themselves to idolatrous fornication and prostitution”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God concluded that the result of His people offering sacrifices and incense to false gods upon the mountains and beneath the shady trees would be that their “daughters” and their “spouses” would dedicate themselves to adultery, fornication and prostitution. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God was aware of the “sacrifices and incense” that was being offered to false gods upon the “mountain tops and hills” beneath the shade trees. Whenever people follow these false ways, they bring destruction and ruin into their own lives and to those around them. God wants the best for us, and He knew sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind would provide forgiveness of sins, granting of eternal life and keeping our offspring separated from idolatrous acts and deeds.

Next time Hosea says, “I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".