Hosea 4:2
Break out — As waters that swell above all banks. Toucheth blood — Slaughters are multiplied; so that the end of one is the beginning of another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Break out — As waters that swell above all banks. Toucheth blood — Slaughters are multiplied; so that the end of one is the beginning of another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall languish — Shall pine away. With the beasts of the field — God punishes man in cutting off what was made for man's benefit; and 'tis probable the tamer cattle were starved for want of grass or fodder, all being consumed by the wasting armies. The tamer either were killed by enemies, or offende... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man strive — They are so hardened, it is to no purpose to warn them any more. As they that strive — There is no modesty, or fear of God or man left among them, they will contend with their teachers, reprovers, and counsellors.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore — The prophet turns his speech to the people, thou O Israel; he speaks to them as to one person. Fall — Stumble, and fall, and be broken. This day — Very suddenly; your fall shall be no longer delayed. The prophet — Prophesied lies. In the night — In the darkest calamities. Thy mother — Bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Destroyed — Many were already cut off by Pul king of Assyria, and many destroyed by the bloody tyranny of Menahem. Of knowledge — Of God, his law, his providence, his holy nature, his hatred of sin and power to punish it. Because thou — The prophet now turns from the people to the priests, to whom h... [ Continue Reading ]
As they — Kings, priests, and people. Were increased — In number, in riches, and honour. So they sinned — Sin grew with their wealth and honour. Their glory — They turned all that in which they might glory above others, into sin. I will turn it into their dishonour.... [ Continue Reading ]
They — The priests who minister to the idols. The sin — Probably by sin is meant sin — offering, in which the priest had his share. And they — Covetous, luxurious, idolatrous priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not have enough — They shall not be nourished, nor satisfied with what they eat. Shall not increase — They shall not hereby increase the number of their children, either the women shall not bear, or the children shall not live.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take away the heart — Deprive men of their understanding and judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stocks — Wooden statues. The spirit of whoredom — A heart ensnared with whoredoms, spiritual and corporal. Caused them to err — Hath blinded, and deceived them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Good — Convenient for the sacrificers. Shall commit whoredom — Shall dishonour themselves, and their families, with fornicators.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor your spouses — I will give them up to their own hearts. For themselves — The husband and fathers are examples to their wives and daughters. Therefore the people — The sottish ignorant people, that know not God. Shall fall — Be utterly ruined.... [ Continue Reading ]
Offend — Commit like sins. Gilgal — Gilgal was chosen by Jeroboam, or by succeeding idolaters for the solemn worship of their idols. Beth — aven — Beth — el, where Jacob lodged, who called it Beth — el, the house of God; but when Jeroboam made it the place for his calf — worship, it became Beth — av... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel — The ten tribes. As a back — sliding heifer — Which when grown lusty, and wanton, will neither endure the yoke nor be confined in her allowed pastures. In a large place — In a large place or wilderness, where is no rest, safety or provision; such shall be the condition of the ten tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ephraim — The children of Ephraim were numerous and potent, and here put for the whole ten tribes. Let him alone — He is obstinate, as such, throw him up.... [ Continue Reading ]
Their drink — Their wine is corrupt and hurtful. Continually — Without ceasing from Jeroboam's time to this day. Give ye — Beside there is shameful oppression and bribery among them.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wind — The whirlwind of wrath from God hath seized this old adulteress, and carried some of her children away already. They shall be ashamed — What they made their confidence, shall be their shame.... [ Continue Reading ]