XII. (1) EAST WIND. — Comp. Isaiah 27:8 and Job 27:21. On the latter passage Wetzstein remarks: — “This wind is more frequent in winter and early spring, when, if it continues long, the tender vegetation is parched up, and a year of famine follows. Both man and beast feel sickly while it prevails.”... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB refers to the northern kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD POWER. — Should be, _strove._ Prayers and tears were the weapons used in the memorable struggle for pardon, reconciliation, peace in the self-conquest as well as the God-conquest which was achieved. “At Bethel He (Jehovah) found him (Jacob)” not once only, but on repeated occasions (Genesis 28:1... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD GOD OF HOSTS. — See Cheyne’s _Isaiah,_ vol. 1, pp. 11, 12, and Nowack’s commentary on this passage. Probably the hosts were the stars which were conceived of as celestial spirits standing upon or above Jehovah’s throne in Micaiah’s vision, on the right hand and on the left (1 Kings 22:19). Thes... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE... — More correctly, _But do thou return to thy God._ There is an implied contrast between the patriarch and his degenerate descendants in the days of Hosea.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS A MERCHANT. — The vivid and fierce light of the prophet’s words is obscured in the English version. The rendering “he is a merchant” originates from the fact that Canaan (rendered “merchant”) is often used predominantly of Phœnicia, and Canaanites of Phœnicians, the great trading race (Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, _And Ephraim saith, Surely I have become wealthy; I have gotten me substance_ (_i.e.,_ by legitimate means, not robbery): _all my earnings bring me not guilt as would be sin_ (_i.e.,_ requiring expiation). Such a coarse pursuit of wealth, and such glorying in the innocence of the entire p... [ Continue Reading ]
TABERNACLES. — The prophet here speaks of Israel’s moral restoration under the form of a return to “the old ideal of simple agricultural life, in which every good gift is received directly from Jehovah’s hand.” To the true theocratic spirit the condition here spoken of is one of real blessedness, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, _If Gilead be worthless, surely they have become nought. In Gilgal they sacrificed bullocks; their altars also are like heaps upon the field’s furrows,_ referring to a past event, the desolating invasion of Gilead by Tiglath-pileser, in 734 B.C. To this military expedition we have undoubt... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB... ISRAEL. — Resuming the retrospect over early patriarchal history, begun in Hosea 12:4. Notwithstanding the loneliness and humble position of the patriarch, God took care of him, and he won the mighty name of Israel, and gave it to his descendants. COUNTRY. — More accurately, _plain. _... [ Continue Reading ]
A PROPHET. — Moses is here referred to, and there is, perhaps, a hint that the Lord would yet again save Israel from worse than Egyptian bondage by the words and warnings of a prophet.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the rift in the clouds closes again, and another severe rebuke follows. “Jacob” and “Israel” give place to the proud tribal name of Ephraim. This portion of the whole house of Israel incurs the charge. Read, _Ephraim hath provoked bitter feeling._ The bloodguiltinese of Moloch sacrifices and oth... [ Continue Reading ]