Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. The prophecy was uttered between Shalmaneser's first and second invasions of Israel. Compare Hos... [ Continue Reading ]
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. THEIR HEART IS DIVIDED - (1 Kings 18:21, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him;" Matthew 6:24; James 4:8, "Purify... [ Continue Reading ]
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? FOR NOW THEY SHALL SAY, WE HAVE NO KING, BECAUSE WE FEARED NOT THE LORD; WHAT THEN SHOULD A KING DO TO US? - rather, 'for us.' Soon they, deprived of their king, shall be reduced to say, We... [ Continue Reading ]
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. THEY HAVE SPOKEN WORDS - mere empty words. SWEARING FALSELY IN MAKING A COVENANT - breaking their engagement to Shalmaneser (), and making a covenant with So, thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. THE INHABITANTS OF SAMARIA SHALL FEAR BECAUSE OF THE CALVES - i:e., shall fear... [ Continue Reading ]
It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. IT SHALL BE ALSO CARRIED UNTO ASSYRIA. The Hebrew for "It" is emphatic: itself. Not only Israel, but Israel's god, shall be carried captive-a proof of i... [ Continue Reading ]
As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. AS FOR SAMARIA, HER KING IS CUT OFF AS THE FOAM UPON THE WATER - (Hosea 10:3; Hosea 10:15) "foam" denoting short-lived existence and speedy dissolution. As the foam, though seeming to be eminent, raised on the top of the water, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. THE HIGH PLACES ALSO OF AVEN - i:e., Beth-aven. THE SIN - i:e., the occasion of sin (; , "T... [ Continue Reading ]
O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. O ISRAEL, THOU HAST SINNED FROM THE DAYS OF GIBEAH - (, notes; Judges 19:1; Judges 20:1.) The days of Gibeah O ISRAEL, THOU HAST SINNED FROM THE DAYS... [ Continue Reading ]
It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. IT IS IN MY DESIRE THAT I SHOULD CHASTISE THEM - expressing God's strong inclination to vindicate His justice against sin, as being the infinitely... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. AND EPHRAIM IS AS AN HEIFER THAT IS TAUGHT - i:e., accustomed. AND LOVETH TO TREAD OUT THE CORN - a... [ Continue Reading ]
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY - "sow to yourselves FOR lª- righteousness" (as the object of your sowing). Righteousnes... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. YE HAVE PLOWED WICKEDNESS. Ye do not even leave it to grow of itself, which it is sure to do on the naturally corrupt soft of the heart, b... [ Continue Reading ]
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. THEREFORE SHALL A TUMULT - a tumultuous war. ARISE AMONG THY PEOPLE - literally, peoples: the war shal... [ Continue Reading ]
So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. SO SHALL BETH-EL DO UNTO YOU - i:e., your idolatrous calf at Bethel shall be the cause of a like calamity befalling you. BECAUSE OF YOUR GREAT WICKEDNESS - literally, the wic... [ Continue Reading ]