Hosea 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 

2Ki 14:26; 2Ki 15:19,20; 2Ki 17:3; 1Ch 5:26; Isa 10:8; Isa 36:13; Eze 16:37; Eze 23:9,10,22-26,46,47; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37; Ho 10:10; Hag 2:6

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.”