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Commentary on the Book of Hosea, Chapter 4: 

After three chapters introducing us to the symbolism of Hosea’s life, the book now presents the words Hosea proclaims to the people of Israel. During this time there is political peace, but the religious leadership has not passed on knowledge of God (v. 6) which has led to a societal disaster. Hosea’s words to the nation opens with a list of their sins. Some are easy to understand, but others are more symbolic. Turning to things of wood and oracles (v. 12), are references to how the people use pagan spiritual practices to discern what to do instead of consulting God. They worship these gods on mountains (v. 13) rather than worship the true God in the Temple. The references to adultery and harlotry (vv. 13-14) can be literal, and they can be symbolic for seeking gods to love other than the true God. As a result of these sins, God will give to the people what they have given to Him and to others: He will forget them (v. 6), ensure they will not prosper (v.10), and bring them shame (vv. 7, 19).

The Book of Hosea, Chapter 4:

God Accuses Israel

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel;
for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or kindness,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
2 there is swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds and murder follows murder.
3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it
languish,
and also the beasts of the field,
and the birds of the air;
and even the fish of the sea
are taken away.
4 Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my
contention, O priest.
5 You shall stumble by day,
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 The more they increased,
the more they sinned against me;
I will change their glory into shame.
8 They feed on the sin of my people;
they are greedy for their iniquity.
9 And it shall be like people, like priest;
I will punish them for their ways,
and repay them for their deeds.
10 They shall eat, but not be
satisfied;
they shall play the harlot, but not multiply;
because they have forsaken
the Lord
to cherish harlotry.
11 Wine and new wine take away the understanding.
12 My people inquire of a thing of wood,
and their staff gives them oracles.
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,
and they have left their God to play the harlot.
sacrifice on the tops of
the mountains,
and make offerings upon the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
because their shade is good.
Therefore your daughters play the harlot,
and your brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot,
nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with harlots,
and sacrifice with cult
prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.
15 Though you play the harlot, O Israel,
let not Judah become guilty.
Enter not into Gilgal,
nor go up to Bethaven, and swear not, “As the Lord
lives.”
16 Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn;
can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad
pasture?
17 Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.
18 A band of drunkards, they give themselves to harlotry;
they love shame more than their glory.
19 A wind has wrapped them in its wings,
and they shall be ashamed because of their altars.

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

"And since you have forgotten the law of God, I also will forget your children" (v.6) The Lord is addressing the spiritual leaders in this chapter, saying that the people are destroyed because of the sins of the spiritual leaders. Over whom am I a spiritual leader? How does my sin and spiritual apathy affect the people over whom I have responsibility?

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.