Hosea 9:5
What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Israel's religious calendar structured around agricultural festivals tied to land: Passover/Unleavened Bread (spring barley), Pentecost/Weeks (spring wheat), Tabernacles/Ingathering (fall harvest). These required Jerusalem pilgrimage (Deuteronomy 16:16-17), offerings of land produce, covenant community gathering. Northern kingdom had established alternative sites (Bethel, Dan), but even these became impossible in Assyrian exile—scattered, landless, no sanctuary. The rhetorical question emphasizes loss: how celebrate harvest festivals without land or harvest? How observe pilgrimage feasts without temple? This demonstrated that covenant disobedience results in covenant joy lost. Post-exilic Judaism adapted (synagogue worship), but exile initially ended festive worship.
Questions for Reflection
- How does loss of ability to celebrate appointed feasts demonstrate covenant relationship broken?
- What does Christ's fulfillment of all biblical feasts teach about how the gospel transforms religious observance?
Analysis & Commentary
No festive days: 'What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?' Rhetorical question: מַה־תַּעֲשׂוּ (mah-ta'asu, what will you do) for appointed feasts (מוֹעֵד, mo'ed; חַג, chag)? Answer implied: nothing—exile prevents celebrating appointed times. Leviticus 23 prescribed festivals requiring temple access, land produce, covenant community. Exile ends all. This demonstrates that rebellion costs celebratory covenant relationship. Only Christ fulfills all feasts (Passover, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Tabernacles), enabling eternal celebration (Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 4:9-10).