HOSEA CHAPTER 6 An exhortation to repentance, HOSEA 6:1. A complaint against Israel and Judah for persisting still in their wickedness, HOSEA 6:4. The former chapter ended with a declaration of God's resolution to bring his own chosen ones, true Israelites, by deep distresses to repentance, and to s... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse it is most certain we are to regard both the literal and historical sense, and distinguish it from the mystical and accommodated sense; in this latter, these words foretell the death, and resurrection, and future glory of Christ and Christians, as 1 CORINTHIANS 15:4, and so are general... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN; after that God hath revived and raised his repenting and inquiring captives, brought them to his temple and city, restored his worship and his law amongst them (all which are figures of more glorious things to be expected by the church of Christ after his resurrection). SHALL WE KNOW; be bette... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord now enters a debate with both Israel (here called EPHRAIM) and the two tribes, with all that were his, people anciently; much after the manner of men, who having to do with froward and ungovernable children, or servants, whom they pity, and would not cast off, after much kindness and patien... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE; because I would do for you whatever might be done, because I would cure you of your obstinacy and hypocrisy, and make you upright and constant. I have hewed them; I have severely, continually, and unweariedly by the prophets reproved, warned, and threatened. Your hearts have been like kno... [ Continue Reading ]
I so hewed and slew them, because they did not what I most of all required, approved, and could accept of; they were full of sacrifices, and spared them not, but either to idols, or else in formality and pride. These sacrificers were either abominable idolaters, as were they of Ephraim, or proud hyp... [ Continue Reading ]
I told them by my prophets what I required of them by covenant, but I could not obtain it, they regarded not what I said. LIKE MEN; or, like Adam: some take it for a proper name, and so refer it unto the first man, and his breaking covenant; and, for aught I see, it may well enough refer to him, who... [ Continue Reading ]
GILEAD; one of the six cities of refuge, situate in the country of that name, on a high hill, whence it is called Ramoth-gilead: now as a city of refuge it was a city pertaining to the priests and Levites, as all the cities of refuge did, in what tribe soever they were, NUMBERS 35:6. IS A CITY OF TH... [ Continue Reading ]
What is here charged upon these priests, they turned highway-men and murderers, some understand of their killing and spoiling those that were going up to Jerusalem to worship God there; but more likely it is, that in this Gilead were many murderers, who durst not go out, nor could get their liveliho... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SEEN: it may be understood of the prophet speaking what he had seen; or of God, who seeth now, and hath seen, AN HORRIBLE THING, a very horrible thing, as some observe from the word, in the house of Israel, the ten tribes. THE WHOREDOM, idolatry, OF EPHRAIM; which was brought in by an Ephraim... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is confessedly very dark to interpreters, who agree not whether Judah be vocative or nominative; or who it is that setteth, whether Ephraim, Judah, or God; or what captivity is here meant, whether one past or to come: the conciseness of our prophet makes him very obscure. ALSO, O JUDAH; o... [ Continue Reading ]