When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. Ver. 1. _When Ephraim spake trembling_] Or, there was trembling, as there is among the beasts of the field when the lion roareth. Ephraim, while innocent of the great offence, spake with authority, an... [ Continue Reading ]
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, [and] idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. Ver. 2. _And now they sin more and more_] Heb. They add to sin: God... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff [that] is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. Ver. 3. _Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud_] They shall vanish and come to nothing: the morning cl... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I [am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for [there is] no saviour beside me. Ver. 4. _Yet I am the Lord thy God, &c._] Yet for all the sorrow; and though I thus threaten thee: "for since I spake against thee, I do earnestly remember thee still," &c., J... [ Continue Reading ]
I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. Ver. 5. _I knew thee in the wilderness, in a place of great drought_] _In terra torridissima,_ where I gave thee _pluviam escatilem et petram aquatilem,_ as Tertullian phraseth it, where I gave thee bread from heaven, set the flint ab... [ Continue Reading ]
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Ver. 6. _According to their pasture so were they filled_] Saturity bred security; fulness, forgetfulness. This was a foul fault, and is much complained of, Deu 32:13-14... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe [them]: Ver. 7. _Therefore will I be unto them as a lion, as a leopard, &c._] Thus still God proceedeth to use similitudes by the ministry of his prophets, as he did before, Hosea 13:3. He here compareth himself (who ot... [ Continue Reading ]
I will meet them as a bear [that is] bereaved [of her whelps], and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. Ver. 8. _I mill meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps_] _Surgit hic oratio._ The bear is more cruel than the lion, for... [ Continue Reading ]
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me [is] thine help. Ver. 9. _O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself_] Heb. He, or, It hath marred thee, O Israel; that is, either thy sin of self-exaltation and forgetfulness of me, as Hosea 13:6; or thy king, in whom thou trustest, as Hosea 13:10; or th... [ Continue Reading ]
I will be thy king: where [is any other] that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? Ver. 10. _I will be thy king_] Thine eternal King, so Pagnine. As I have been thy prophet, Hosea 13:4,5, so I will be thy king; I will also be thy priest an... [ Continue Reading ]
I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took [him] away in my wrath. Ver. 11. _I gave thee a king in mine anger_] As once before he gave them quails to choke them. A king, that is, all those kings they had since they fell off from the house of David. These were God's gifts, but giftless gifts (αδωρα... [ Continue Reading ]
The iniquity of Ephraim [is] bound up; his sin [is] hid. Ver. 12. _The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up_] _sc._ in a bundle, or fardle, or fagot, as the French hath it. And like as all fardles are opened on a fair day, so shall Ephraim's iniquities be brought to light, and punished at the last day:... [ Continue Reading ]
The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he [is] an unwise son; for he should not stay long in [the place of] the breaking forth of children. Ver. 13. _The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him_] This commonwealth was before compared to a mother, Hos 1:1-11 Hosea 3:1,5. An... [ Continue Reading ]
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Ver. 14. _I will ransom them from the power of the grave, &c._] Some read it thus, I would have ransomed them, &... [ Continue Reading ]
Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. Ver. 15. _Though he be fruitful among his brethren_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up. Ver. 16. _Samaria shall become desolate_] Here many begin the fourteenth chapter, but not so well; for this ver... [ Continue Reading ]