ISRAEL WILL SURELY REPENT AND BE FORGIVEN Hosea makes a touching final appeal for repentance. He assures Israel of God's mercy, and closes with a description of the blessings that will follow the renewal of His favour.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE.. WORDS] go to Him, prepared to confess your sins. RECEIVE _us_ GRACIOUSLY] RV 'accept that which is good,' i.e. what is good in us, in contrast to the iniquity which God is asked to take away. RENDER] i.e. offer. THE CALVES.. LIPS] better, 'our lips as bullocks'—that sacrifice of penitence whi... [ Continue Reading ]
DEW] a frequent metaphor to express spiritual blessing: cp. Deuteronomy 32:2. The paucity of rain made the land dependent on frequent and heavy dews: cp. 1 Kings 17:1. GROW] RV 'blossom.'... [ Continue Reading ]
OLIVE] the emblem of fatness and fertility. 8. This v. passes into a sort of dialogue between Ephraim and God. Thus: _Ephraim_. WHAT HAVE I TO DO ANY MORE WITH IDOLS? i.e. I will in future have nothing more to do with them. _Jehovah_. (RV) 'I have answered, and will regard him,' i.e. I have heard... [ Continue Reading ]