8:10 Even though they have hired lovers among the nations, 1
I will soon gather them together for judgment. 2
Then 3 they will begin to waste away
under the oppression of a mighty king. 4
9:1 O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly 5 like the nations,
for you are unfaithful 6 to your God.
You love to receive a prostitute's wages 7
on all the floors where you thresh your grain.
1 tn Or “they have hired themselves out to lovers”; cf. NASB “they hire allies among the nations.”
2 tn The Piel stem of קָבַץ (qavats) is often used in a positive sense, meaning “to regather” a dispersed people (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ 3.a; BDB 868 s.v. קָבַץ 1.α). However, in Hosea 8:10 it is used in a negative sense, meaning “to assemble (people) for judgment” (e.g., Ezek 20:34; Hos 9:6; HALOT 1063 s.v. 3.e.i). Cf. JPS “I will hold them fast” (in judgment, see the parallel in 9:6).
3 tn The vav consecutive + preterite וַיָּחֵלּוּ (vayyakhellu, Hiphil preterite 3rd person common plural from חָלַל, khalal, “to begin”]) denotes temporal subordination to the preceding clause: “then…” (so NLT); cf. TEV, CEV “Soon.”
4 tn Heb “a king of princes” (cf. KJV, NASB); TEV “the emperor of Assyria.”
5 tn Heb “do not rejoice unto jubilation”; KJV “Rejoice not…for joy”; NASB “Do not rejoice…with exultation.”
6 tn Heb “you have committed adultery”; NRSV “you have played the whore.”
7 tn Heb “you love the wages of the prostitute” (NIV similar); NAB “loving a harlot’s hire.”