Hosea 7:14

with their heart, when they howled Rather, in their heart, but they howl. The prophet contrasts the quiet communion of the heart with Jehovah and the wild-beastlike -howling" of the impenitent Israelites, who murmur at the withdrawal of material blessings. Comp. Isaiah 24:11.

they assemble themselves i.e. to lament together in their affliction. But the rendering is doubtful. Ewald, better, -they excite themselves" (or, are inwardly moved). But it is much more natural to suppose that Dalethhas become altered into Resh, and that we should read differently. Render therefore, with the Septuagint and some Hebrew MSS., they cut themselves. It is an allusion to a well-known sign of mourning, forbidden indeed by the Law (Deuteronomy 14:1; Leviticus 19:28; Leviticus 21:5), but habitually practised in Palestine (Jeremiah 16:6; Jeremiah 41:5; Jeremiah 47:5; Jeremiah 48:37), and still noticeable in the time of St Jerome (comm. on Jeremiah 16:6).