Hosea 5:15 to Hosea 6:3. Israel's Confession and Penitence. Yahweh, speaking in His own person, declares that He will return to His place (i.e. to heaven; cf. Micah 1:3), there to await Israel's penitence (Hosea 5:15). When trouble comes they will eagerly seek Him. Then follows (Hosea 6:1-3) a light-hearted confession of sin by the people, coupled with expressions of assurance that their God will forgive and help them. Many scholars regard this section as an addition by a later hand, intended to mitigate the unrelieved gloom of what precedes. But nothing in the style or language suggests that the piece is not by Hosea. Batten thinks it represents the confession and penitence of the purified people who will emerge from the judgment. Others regard the confession as a light-hearted one, put into the mouth of the people, which (in Hosea 6:4HYPERLINK "64.fi" ff.) Yahweh rejects. Welch suggests that the prophet is quoting (in Hosea 6:1-3) a temple-song (used at one of the great festivals), which he uses as a sort of text for comments that follow. Hosea 6:4 is then the immediate continuation of Hosea 6:3.
Hosea 5:15. LXX inserts saying at the end (cf. mg.).
Hosea 6:1. Cf. Isaiah 3:7.
Hosea 6:2. After two days. the third day, i.e. after an undefined but short interval. Marti thinks that the return from the Exile is referred to.
Hosea 6:3. his going forth, etc.: read (rearrangement of Heb. consonants), as soon as we seek him we shall find him.