1. Hosea 11:8 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why are the cities Admah and Zeboiim mentioned?

Hosea 11:8 (ESV)

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.

These are two cities near Sodom and Gomorrah: the cities that God overthrew in his enormous wrath. Read about this in Deuteronomy 29:23. Now God actually has to do the same with his disobedient people. But he does not do it! There is indeed a turnaround taking place, but it is a turnaround within God! This Father cannot find it in his heart to send his son away for good. He cannot bid him farewell. He loves his children that much!