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. Ver. 1. _Israel is an empty vine_] Heb. an emptying vine, בוקק losing her fruit, and so deceivin... [ Continue Reading ]
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. Ver. 2. _Their heart is divided_] _sc._ from God; whose soul therefore is justly disjointed from them, Jeremiah 6:8. They professed to worship the true God, and yet they transferre... [ 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? Ver. 3. _For now they shall say, We have no king_] _sc._ to do us good; he is no better to us now than a king of clouts: he cannot protect us, or deliver us out of the hand of our enemies. If... [ Continue Reading ]
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. Ver. 4. _They have spoken words_] Bubbles of words, great swelling words, _as _ 2Pe 2:18 thereby thinking to bear down and outface the prophets, and the godly party. The... [ 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. Ver. 5. _The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear_] _sc._ When God shall break the... [ 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. Ver. 6. _It shall be also carried unto Assyria, &c._] As no small part of the spoil, shall this Deafter be carried captive; being so far unable to save o... [ Continue Reading ]
Hosea 10:7 [As for] Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. Ver. 7. _As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as the foam upon the waters_] An apt simile (whereof this prophet is full). Her king (not her idols, as some sense it), though gotten into Samaria, a strong city, so well victu... [ 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. Ver. 8. _The high places also of Aven, &c._] Sept. the altars, _ab Alto dicta_ (במות whence Bωμο... [ 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. Ver. 9. _O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah_] Or, _prae diebus,_ worse than in the days of Gibeah. What those days were, see Hos 9:9 Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
Hosea 10:10 [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. Ver. 10. _It is in my desire that I should chastise them_] That is, I am unchangeably resolved, and fully bent upon it, to carry them ca... [ 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. Ver. 11. _And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught_] _sc._ With the ox goad, which hath its... [ 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. Ver. 12. _Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy_] Righteousness is a sure seed, a precious grain, which those that sow (and ev... [ 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. Ver. 13. _Ye have plowed wickedness_] The former exhortation was even spilt upon them; for they went on to plot and plough wickedness; they h... [ 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. Ver. 14. _Therefore shall a tumult arise among the people, &c._] Even among those mighty men, wherein ye... [ 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. Ver. 15. _So shall Bethel do unto you_] _i.e._ The idolatry that you have committed at Bethel, by a _synedoche_ of the place, this shall undo you. Or, So shall he do unto you, O i... [ Continue Reading ]