Hosea 14:6

I will be as the dew Rather, as the night-mist, i.e. the masses of vapour (Hebr. tal) brought by the damp westerly winds of summer (see on Hosea 6:4). -In the strict scientific sense of the word, this is rain, and not dew at all, since the vapour becomes condensed in the air before touching the ground" (Neil, Palestine Explored, p. 135). The promise comes very appropriately after the -I will heal" of Hosea 14:4. The baleful effects of the sirocco are often felt in Palestine during the rainless heat of summer, but by the beautiful provision of night-mist all hardy forms of vegetable life are preserved. But to the -east-wind" described in Hosea 13:15 there was no such counteracting force. A -dew" (-night-mist") of supernatural energy (like Gideon's) was required to vivify that which Assyria had destroyed what another prophet calls (Isaiah 26:19) -a dew of lights", i.e. an influence from the divine Light, could alone undo so complete a catastrophe. Observe how nearly coincident are the conceptions of land and people in Hosea's mind (see on Hosea 2:3).

grow[blossom] as the lily So Sir 39:14. The image suggests the ideas of profusion and beauty. There is nothing to bind us down to any single individual of the lily species. Indeed, the application of the Hebrew shôshanwas probably as wide as that of the Arabic sûsanstill is, if we may argue from the mention of -lilies [oleanders?] by the rivers of waters" in Sir 50:8. Dr Thomson's -Hûleh lily", which abounds in the woods north of Tabor (The Land and the Book, p. 256), is at least as likely a flower to be meant as any other. Dr Tristram prefers the not less gorgeous than abundant Anemone coronaria(Nat. Hist. of Bible, p. 464).

and cast forth Lit., -and let it strike." A change of the verbal form for the sake of colour and variety.

as Lebanon The slender roots of the lily supply no fit image for stability; for this Hosea turns to the -cedars of God" (Psalms 80:10, A. V. -goodly cedars"), or perhaps he means the mountains of Lebanon themselves (for the -roots" of a mountain, comp. Job 28:9).

His branches shall spread For -branches" render saplings. It is the same word as in Isaiah 53:2 (where A. V. -tender branch"). There the prophet's idea is that after Israel's vine has been cut down, a slender plant will spring up from the root; here, that the root of the living tree shall send forth many fresh plants. In fact, Israel is to be like not merely a tree, but a garden.

as the olive-tree Beautiful doubtless in itself, but with a beauty enhanced by the serviceableness of the fruits. Jeremiah compares Israel to -a fresh-green olive-tree, fair, and of goodly fruit" (Jeremiah 11:16).

his smell as Lebanon As the balsamic odour of the cedars and of aromatic shrubs. Comp. Song of Solomon 4:11.