THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET HOSEA _Chronological Notes relative to the commencement of Hosea's_ _prophesying, upon the supposition that this event took place_ _in the last year of the reign of Jeroboam II., king of Israel_ -Year of the world, according to the Usherian account, 3219. -Year of the Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:2. _A WIFE OF WHOREDOMS_] That is, says _Newcome_, a wife from among the _Israelites_, who were remarkable for spiritual fornication, or idolatry. God calls himself the _husband_ of Israel; and this chosen nation owed him the fidelity of a wife. See Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 31:16; Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:3. _HE WENT AND TOOK GOMER_] All this appears to be a real transaction, though having a typical meaning. If he took an _Israelite_, he must necessarily have taken an _idolatress_; one who had worshipped the calves of Jeroboam at Dan or at Bethel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:4. _CALL HIS NAME JEZREEL_] יזרעאל that is, _God will_ _disperse_. This seems to intimate that a dispersion or sowing of Israel shall take place; which happened under Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, 2 Kings 17:5. But the word refers also to the name of _a city_, where Jehu slew Jezebel a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:5. _IN THE VALLEY OF JEZREEL_] This also is supposed to relate either to some signal defeat of the Israelites by the Assyrians, which took place in the valley of Jezreel; or to the death of Zechariah, the fourth lineal descendant of Jehu, which may have happened here. See 2 Kings 15:10... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:6. _CALL HER LO-RUHAMAH_] לא רהמה, "Not having obtained mercy." This also was a _prophetic_ or _typical_ name; and the reason of its imposition is immediately given: _FOR I WILL NO MORE HAVE MERCY_] כי לא אושיף עיד ארחם _ki lo osiph_ _od arachem_, "For I will no more add to have mercy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:7. _BUT I WILL HAVE MERCY UPON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH_] I will spare them as a kingdom after Israel has been carried away into captivity by the Assyrians. _AND WILL SAVE THEM BY THE LORD THEIR GOD_] Remarkably fulfilled in the supernatural defeat of the army of the Assyrians, see 2 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:9. _CALL HIS NAME LO-AMMI_] לא עמי _Lo-ammi_, "Not my people;" for which the reason is immediately given: _YE_ ARE _NOT MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL NOT BE YOUR_ GOD.] The word GOD is not added here by any of the ancient versions or MSS.; and yet the construction absolutely requires it, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:10. _YET THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL_] God had promised that the children of Israel should be as the sand of the sea. See Genesis 32:12; Romans 9:25. And though for their iniquities he had thinned and scattered them, yet the spirit and design of his promise and covenant shall... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 1:11. _THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL_] After the return from Babylon, the distinction between Israel and Judah was entirely destroyed; and those of them that did return were all included under one denomination, _Jews_; and the _one head_ may refer to Zerubbabel their l... [ Continue Reading ]