Blow the horn in Gibe-ah, the trumpet in Ramah: Compare Joel 2.1, 15. The horn was a hollow ram’s horn, similar to a sea shell that can be used as a trumpet. NET Bible says “ram’s horn.” The trumpet was a long and straight metallic instrument. One end of it had a mouthpiece, while the other end was widened into a bell shape. The sound on the trumpet was made by blowing into the mouthpiece in such a way as to vibrate the lips. The vibrations were magnified as they passed along the widening body of the tube. Rams’ horns and trumpets were used in warfare as signals and were used to call or to announce such things as festive gatherings of the people. Here they would warn the people of the approach of an enemy, thus serving to sound the alarm and assemble all available soldiers. Translators should select instruments that readers will expect to be used for the purpose of signaling. Horn and trumpet are used in parallel poetic lines, so a sharp distinction in meaning between them is not intended.

Gibe-ah and Ramah were towns on hilltops, so they were suitable places from which to give warning by a horn or a trumpet. Anyone working in the fields or with flocks could gather inside the walls to prepare a defense. These towns were located in the tribal area of Benjamin. Gibe-ah was 5 kilometers (3 miles) and Ramah was 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Jerusalem, and from the time when the kingdom was divided, they were loyal to the kingdom of Judah and belonged to Judah. When Israelite forces passed through that area to attack Jerusalem, and then came back after defeating Jerusalem, these towns would have been in great danger (see, for example, 2 Kgs 14.8-14).

Sound the alarm at Beth-aven: In this context the Hebrew verb rendered Sound the alarm refers to shouting or blowing a horn/trumpet to warn about an approaching enemy. For the town of Beth-aven, which was also called “Bethel,” see 4.15. Bethel was a city in southern Israel where there was a shrine with a golden calf. Bethel originally was on the northern boundary of the tribe of Benjamin, but when the kingdom was divided, it came under the rule of Israel to the north rather than Judah to the south. It was about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Jerusalem. Mentioning these cities in order from south to north may indicate how the Judean troops from the south pushed back the Israelites who were retreating to Ephraim, the heart of the northern kingdom (see 5.9).

Tremble, O Benjamin: Instead of tremble, the Hebrew text has “after you.” The Hebrew here has several interpretations. King James Version says “after thee, O Benjamin,” which is literal but makes little sense. An acceptable rather literal translation is “Behind you, Benjamin!” The three places mentioned in this verse are in the territory of Benjamin. This line could serve as a warning to the people of Benjamin that the enemy is approaching from behind. New American Bible favors interpreting it as a warning to guard the rear, saying “Look behind you, O Benjamin!” (similarly Bible en français courant). New English Bible understands it to mean “we are right behind you,” translating “Benjamin, we are with you!” This meaning fits the historical situation and is related to the meaning of the same phrase in Jdg 5.14, where it is rendered “following you, Benjamin.” The verb tremble is based on an emendation that follows the Septuagint but is not necessary, according to Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. This emendation has the idea of “excite” or “stir up,” so Jerusalem Bible says “call Benjamin to arms!” Bible de Jérusalem is similar with “alert Benjamin,” and so is Good News Translation with “Into battle, men of Benjamin!” We prefer to follow the Hebrew text here, understanding this line as parallel to the previous one, so it seems best to translate it as a warning to the people of Benjamin to guard their rear.

In general, then, this verse is a warning to the people in the cities on both sides of the boundary between Israel and Judah. There will be warfare, and they will be in the middle of it all. A translation model for this verse is:

• Blow the ram’s horn, in Gibeah,
the trumpet in Ramah!
Sound the alarm in wicked Bethel!*
Behind you, Benjamin!
* d Betheld* is literally “Beth-aven,” which means “house of wickedness.”

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .