All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
Gilgal wickedness: 'All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.' Gilgal identified as wickedness center—כָּל־רָעָתָם בַּגִּלְגָּל (kol-ra'atam bagilgal). Divine response: שְׂנֵאתִים (sene'tim, I hated them), expulsion from בֵּיתִי (veiti, My house), לֹא אוֹסֵף אַהֲבָתָם (lo osef ahavatam, I will love them no more). All princes סֹרְרִים (sorerim, revolters). This demonstrates that persistent covenant violation exhausts divine patience, resulting in covenant love withdrawn. Only Christ's mediation secures unending love (Romans 8:38-39).
Historical Context
Gilgal, originally significant covenant site (Joshua 4:19-24, 5:2-10, 1 Samuel 11:14-15, 15:12-23), became corrupted worship center. Prophets condemned it (Hosea 9:15, 12:11, Amos 4:4, 5:5). What began as place of covenant renewal became place of covenant violation. God's 'hatred' (שָׂנֵא, sane) uses covenant lawsuit language—legal rejection, not emotional malice. 'Drive out of My house' references expelling from land/covenant community. Archaeological evidence shows Gilgal had significant cultic activity in monarchic period. That such historically important site became center of wickedness demonstrates how far Israel had fallen. Church history shows similar pattern: historically significant sites/institutions sometimes become centers of apostasy.
Questions for Reflection
How can historically significant places of genuine worship (like Gilgal) become centers of corruption and false worship?
What does divine 'hatred' (covenant rejection) teach about the seriousness of persistent rebellion despite prior grace?
Analysis & Commentary
Gilgal wickedness: 'All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.' Gilgal identified as wickedness center—כָּל־רָעָתָם בַּגִּלְגָּל (kol-ra'atam bagilgal). Divine response: שְׂנֵאתִים (sene'tim, I hated them), expulsion from בֵּיתִי (veiti, My house), לֹא אוֹסֵף אַהֲבָתָם (lo osef ahavatam, I will love them no more). All princes סֹרְרִים (sorerim, revolters). This demonstrates that persistent covenant violation exhausts divine patience, resulting in covenant love withdrawn. Only Christ's mediation secures unending love (Romans 8:38-39).