Hosea 2:9

Lo-ammi] i.e. 'not my people.' By their sin and perfidy Israel had ceased to act as God's people. They had refused the responsibilities of their calling, and could not expect its privileges.

10. Here, as elsewhere, Hosea cannot bear to dwell upon God's punishments without looking beyond them to His greater mercies. Here he evidently contemplates a restored people, fulfilling the promise of earthly greatness made to Abraham (Genesis 32:12), and brought into even closer relation to God, that of sonship: cp. Romans 9:26. Living God] i.e. God manifesting His power in action.

11. As with many other prophecies, the vision of the future includes the union once more of Israel and Judah in one people (cp. Isaiah 11:13; Ezekiel 37:19), a prophecy unfulfilled except so far as the church is symbolised by the whole of Israel, The day of Jezreel] The union of Israel and Judah is to be marked by a prosperity which shall take away the reproach from Jezreel (see on Hosea 1:4). This is more fully explained in Hosea 2:23.

Hosea 2:1. Ammi.. Ruhamah] This v. is closely connected with Hosea 1:10, and must be read along with them. As Jezreel is to become a name of honour in the predicted future, so also the old names of the other two children will have become quite inappropriate. The not will have to be omitted, and they will become 'My people,' 'Pitied.'

Will I.. take away] RV 'will I take back.' In the time thereof] i.e. when it should be ripe, the crop would fail. God would thus punish them for the abuse of His gift.