When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, [and] the troop of robbers spoileth without. Ver. 1. _When I would have healed Israel, &c._] Whereas Israel, hearing of a happy harvest pr... [ Continue Reading ]
And they consider not in their hearts [that] I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. Ver. 2. _And they consider not in their hearts_] Heb. They say not in their hearts; that is, they set not down themselves with this consideration, they... [ Continue Reading ]
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. Ver. 3. _They make the king glad with their wickedness_] A sad commentary surely of king and people, exhilarating themselves and each other in wickedness. Their kings were well paid of their people's compliances with th... [ Continue Reading ]
They [are] all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, [who] ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. Ver. 4. _They are all adulterers_] εξεκαυσθησαν, _adulterio caleseunt, so Paguine,_ scalded in their base lusts, as those in Romans 1:27, all (for the most pa... [ Continue Reading ]
In the day of our king the princes have made [him] sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. Ver. 5. _In the day of our king_] Our good king, on whom they so much doted, that they forgot God and his sincerer service. _Quaecunque a regibus dicuntur aut fiunt, Gallis mirific... [ Continue Reading ]
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. Ver. 6. _For they have made ready their hearts like an oven_] As an oven red-hot is ready to bake whatsoever is cast into it, so are wicked me... [ Continue Reading ]
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: [there is] none among them that calleth unto me. Ver. 7. _They are all hot as an oven_] That none might post it off to others, all are accused of this mad desire to do mischief; as all the Sodomites, full and w... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Ver. 8. _Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people_] viz. in confederacies, marriages, manners, superstitions. They were conformed to those nations from whom God had separated them with a wonderful separation, Exod... [ Continue Reading ]
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. Ver. 9. _Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not_] Strange stupidity, such as was that of Samson, who had lost his hair, and therewith his strength, an... [ Continue Reading ]
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. Ver. 10. _And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face_] Sept. the ignominy, or impudence of Israel: _q.d._ They think to brave it out in a stout and stomachful way. Low they a... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. Ver. 11. _Ephraim also is like a silly dove_] That may be drawn any way for want of wit (so the word פיתה signifieth), easily persuaded, enticed, deceived. The Septuagint render it ανους, _insensata,_ witless,... [ Continue Reading ]
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. Ver. 12. _When they go_] Yea, flee (as the dove doth very swiftly, pleasing herself in the clapping of her wings and cutting of the air); th... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. Ver. 13. _Woe unto them! for they have fled from me_] As Cain (the devil's patriarch) did when he went out from the presenc... [ Continue Reading ]
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me. Ver. 14. _And they have not cried unto me with their heart_] Hitherto hath been said what they had done; now what they had not done. Omissions... [ Continue Reading ]
Though I have bound [and] strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. Ver. 15. _Though I have bound and strengthened their arms_] _Quum ego erudivi,_ so Pagnine, Polanus, and others; when I taught them, or chastened them, as Hosea 7:12, "and strengthened their arms"; there is... [ Continue Reading ]
They return, [but] not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this [shall be] their derision in the land of Egypt. Ver. 16. _They return, but not to the most High_] _Gnal_ for _Gnelion_ by contraction; as _Jah_ for Jehova... [ Continue Reading ]