References to Children in Hosea 4-14
4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
5:7: “They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.”
9:11-17: “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. (12) Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! (13) Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer. (14) Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. (15) 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. (16) Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. (17) My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.”
10:14: “Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.”
11:1-3: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. (2) As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. (3) I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.”
12:3: “He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God”
13:13: “The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.”
13:16: “Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.”
14:3: “Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.”