Hosea 6 - Introduction
How little has Israel effected, and how little will he ever effect, by his fits of repentance, which contrast so violently with his flagrant transgressions of God's law!... [ Continue Reading ]
How little has Israel effected, and how little will he ever effect, by his fits of repentance, which contrast so violently with his flagrant transgressions of God's law!... [ Continue Reading ]
_he will heal us_ At any rate the Israelites have found out the true physician (comp. Hosea 7:1; Hosea 11:3). Assyria -could not heal them" (Hosea 5:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet enters into the feelings of the only too quickly repentant Israelites, and imagines them encouraging each other to return to Jehovah. These three verses are closely connected with the end of the preceding chapter; comp. -let us return", -he hath torn" (Hosea 6:1), and -his going forth" ... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse contains the germ of the striking allegory of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10), and reminds us also of the prediction of an Israelitish resurrection in Isaiah 26:19. The idea is that, contrary to all human expectation Israel shall quickly emerge from the depths of trouble. What human skill... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shall we know_, &c. But as this construction is resumptive of Hosea 6:1, we had better translate, YEA, LET US KNOW, LET US BE ZEALOUS TO KNOW, JEHOVAH, i.e., to know him as our master, protector, and friend. Why so? Because the want of this knowledge was the cause of Israel's misery. It was ho... [ Continue Reading ]
The answer of Jehovah, who cannot be satisfied with such a superficial repentance and such hasty resolutions of -knowing" Him. _what shall I do unto thee?_ -What other means can possibly be employed to move thee to a serious repentance?" Comp. Isaiah 5:4. _your goodness_ Rather, YOUR PIETY. The wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Similar fitful repentances have already forced Jehovah to interpose, like a severe but kind physician who will cut out the diseased part rather than suffer the evil to spread. _hewed them by the prophets_ i.e. warned them of the fatal consequences of their conduct. The divine or prophetic word has... [ Continue Reading ]
A further explanation of these severe judgments, the moral effect of which the prophet has been considering. _For I desired mercy and not sacrifice_ Rather, FOR I DELIGHT IN PIETY AND NOT IN SACRIFICE. The Hebrew is vague; _khésedh_-dutiful love" may mean either -piety" or -kindness", love to God or... [ Continue Reading ]
The contrast between Israel's conduct and Jehovah's requirements. _But they like men_ Literally, BUT THEY THEY LIKE (other) MEN TRANSGRESS THE COVENANT (or, perhaps, the ordinance, see on Hosea 8:1). The word rendered -men" (_"âdâm_) means ordinary or less privileged men, as in Psalms 82:7 and most... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gilead_ Here alone, and probably in Judges 10:17, mentioned as the name of a town. We still find the name of Gilead (in its Arabic form _Jil-âd_) lingering at various parts of the ancient Gilead, but we cannot venture on a combination with the prophet's Gilead. Ramoth-Gilead would seem, from its im... [ Continue Reading ]
Two spots of specially ill fame are singled out Gilead and the road to Shechem.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as troops_ Rather, AND AS BANDITS LYING IN WAIT, (SO DOTH) THE COMPANY OF PRIESTS; THEY MURDER ON THE ROAD TOWARDS SHECHEM; YEA, THEY COMMIT OUTRAGES. The reference in the figure is either to the doings of native banditti (comp. Hosea 7:1), or to those of the guerilla-bands of Arameans, Moabite... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah is still the speaker. From his heavenly -place" he points indignantly (as Hosea 6:7) to the abominations practised -there", i.e. in the whole land of Israel, for even Judah has not escaped the infection. The structure of the verses becomes more symmetrical, if we attach the concluding words... [ Continue Reading ]