CHAPTER XIII _Thus chapter begins with observing that the fear of God leads_ _to prosperity, but sin to ruin; a truth most visibly_ _exemplified in the sin and punishment of Ephraim_, 1-3. _As an aggravation of their guilt, God reminds them of his_ _former favours_, 4, 5; _which they had shame... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:2. _AND NOW THEY SIN MORE AND MORE_] They increase in every kind of vice, having abandoned the great Inspirer of virtue. _LET THE MEN THAT SACRIFICE KISS THE CALVES._] This was the _test_. If there be a Jew that pretends to sacrifice, and whose conversion is dubious, let him come ope... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:3. _THEREFORE THEY SHALL BE AS THE MORNING CLOUD - AS THE_ _EARLY DEW - AS THE CHAFF - AS THE SMOKE_] _Four_ things, most easy to be driven about and dissipated, are employed here to show how they should be _scattered_ among the nations, and dissipated by captivity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:4. _I_ AM _THE LORD THY GOD_] This was the first discovery I made of myself to you, and the _first commandment_ I gave; and I showed you that besides me there was no Saviour. There is a remarkable addition in the Septuagint here: "But I am Jehovah thy God, who stretched out the heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:5. _I DID KNOW THEE_] I _approved_ of thee; I _loved_ thee; and by miraculously providing for thee in that land of _drought_, I demonstrated my love.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:6. _ACCORDING TO THEIR PASTURE_] They had a rich pasture, and were amply supplied with every good. They became _exalted in_ _their heart, forgat their God_, and became a prey to their enemies. "He that exalteth himself shall be abased.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:7. _I WILL BE UNTO THEM AS A LION_] שחל _shachal_ is supposed to mean here the _black lion_, frequent in Ethiopia. _AS A LEOPARD_] נמר _namar_, so termed from its _spotted skin_, for _to be spotted_ is the signification of the root. _WILL I OBSERVE THEM_] The leopard, tiger, and pan... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:8. _AS A BEAR - BEREAVED_] This is a figure to denote excessive ferocity. 2 Samuel 17:8, where a remarkable instance is given. _AND WILL REND THE CAUL OF THEIR HEART_] Every savage beast goes first to the _seat of the blood_ when it has seized its prey; as in this fluid they delight... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:9. _O ISRAEL, THOU HAST DESTROYED THYSELF_] These evils come not by my _immediate infliction_; they are the consequences of _thy_ _own crimes_. In the above terrifying figures of the ferocious beasts, the prophet only shows what they would meet with from the hand of the _Assyrians_ in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:10. _GIVE ME A KING AND PRINCES?_] Referring to the time in which they cast off the Divine theocracy and chose _Saul_ in the place of _Jehovah_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:11. _I GAVE THEE A KING IN MINE ANGER_] Such was _Saul_; for they highly offended God when they clamored to have a king like the heathen nations that were around them. _TOOK_ HIM _AWAY IN MY WRATH._] Permitted _him_ and the _Israelites_ to fall before the Philistines. Others think th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:12. _THE INIQUITY OF EPHRAIM_ IS _BOUND UP_] It is _registered_ in my court of justice; the _death warrant_ is in store, and will be produced in due time. Though there be not at present the judgment inflicted which such glaring transgressions demand, yet it will surely come. Such crim... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:13. _THE SORROWS OF A TRAVAILING WOMAN_] These judgments shall come suddenly and _unavoidably_. THE PLACE OF _THE BREAKING FORTH OF CHILDREN._] As there is a critical time in parturition in which the mother in hard labour may by skilful assistants be eased of her burden, which, if n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:14. _I WILL RANSOM THEM FROM THE POWER OF THE GRAVE_] In their captivity they are represented as _dead_ and _buried_, which is a similar view to that taken of the Jews in the Babylonish captivity by Ezekiel in his _vision of the valley of dry bones_. They are now lost as to the purpo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:15. _THOUGH HE BE FRUITFUL_] יפריא _yaphri_; a paronomasia on the word אפרים _ephrayim_, which comes from the same root פרה _parah_, to be fruitful, to _sprout_, to _bud_. _AN EAST WIND SHALL COME_] As the east wind parches and blasts all vegetation, so shall _Shalmaneser_ blast and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 13:16. _SAMARIA SHALL BECOME DESOLATE_] This was the capital of the Israelitish kingdom. What follows is a simple prophetic declaration of the cruelties which should be exercised upon this hapless people by the Assyrians in the sackage of the city.... [ Continue Reading ]