Or, truth. As the unchaste wife of Jehovah, Israel became evil. Once a wife becomes unchaste, all kinds of evils follow. Once we forsake God, we too can do any kind of evil.
Referring to the priest (v. 6).
Referring back to v. 1.
Referring again to the priests.
The priests desired that the people would sin, because the more the people sinned, the more sin offerings there would be for the priests to eat.
The priests, who had been sanctified, separated, to be a special group among the people, made themselves the same as the people, becoming low and common.
The people of Israel had no heart for anything but fornication, wine, and new wine.
Instead of praying to God and inquiring of Him, God’s people inquired at their wooden post (idol).
Or, visit (i.e., for punishment). So throughout the book.
Technically, cult prostitutes (cf. Deut. 23:17).
Gilgal was the center of idolatry (Hosea 9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4; 5:5).
Hosea 5:8; 10:5; cf. 1 Kings 12:28-29
Meaning house of nothingness, or house of idolatry. It was probably applied contemptuously to Bethel, which had become a seat of idolatry (1 Kings 12:26-33; cf. Hosea 5:8; 10:5).
Lit., shields.
