The great day of Jezreel

14th November 2012, hej

This Article: (5 Pages)

3) Gathered to appoint One Head

The last point is interesting as Hosea makes a specific prophecy,

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: Hosea 1:11

Why Jezreel should be mentioned is curious. Is this to be a place where the people will gather in the future? Hosea writes they shall 'come up', indicating a physical gathering in one place. Will that place be Jezreel or is it used for what the name means? Jezreel today is a place of no importance, but it is close to the armistice line defining modern Israel and the land called 'Judea and Samaria.'

The place name is loaded. The day of Jezreel historically was one of destruction of Yahweh's enemies and the worship of idolatry: from Gideon to Jehu.

Baal means 'lord' as Hosea makes clear. The people shall not call Yahweh any more more 'Baali', which translated is 'my lord'. In the time of Christ the Jews had ceased from pronouncing the name, and used 'Lord'. Yahweh so disliked the term as it was so long used for false worship (as it is today), that it will be replaced with 'ishi.' We might ponder just what it means for us. In a Hebrew Bible, the name of our Creator is written and we can know its meaning, but Jews read 'lord'. This habit is evident also among Christians. It indicates a distance. Who calls their loved ones by title rather than their name? Instead of a name our Creator has been given the title 'Lord'. But that is not what He wrote in his book. It is not what He asked to be called. He offers the mercy of betrothal to his people of Israel. The analogy of betrothal is used a few times in the New Testament. 'My Baal', or as translated 'my Lord', will not be used by the people of God.

There is one more direct connection. That of the oppression of false worship and the river Kishon.

NEXT PAGE... Kishon

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