When Ephraim multiplied altars to expiate sin, they became to him altars for sinning. Though I write for him the multitude of my instructions, they are regarded as a strange thing. Though they offer choice sacrifices, though they eat flesh, the Lord does not accept them. (Hosea 8: 11-13)

The altars of the Northern Kingdom were erected with care. They stood where the patriarchs and matriarchs had prayed. They honored Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Aaron.

The laws of Moses were preserved and studied. The laws could seem strange - zuwr - irrelevant and weird. But the laws were honored.

The princes, priests, and people came to the altars with thank offerings and with an authentic attitude of worship. They honored God.

But Hosea perceives a fundamental corruption. Rather than loving God, the religious treated God as the Great John of prostitutes.

The prostitute will honor the John's wishes, no matter how weird, in return for an agreed price. The weirder the wish, the higher the price. The best prostitutes honor their clients, but they do not love them.

Above is a miniature altar from archeological digs at Beth-Shan in Northern Israel.