CHAPTER IV _The prophet charges his people with their enormous sins_, 1, 2; _in consequence of which they are threatened with heavy_ _judgments_, 3-5. _God himself is then introduced complaining of the ignorance and_ _obstinacy of Israel; and as their priests had a large share in_ _the common... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:2. _BY SWEARING, AND LYING_] Where there is no _truth_ there will be _lies and perjury_; for false swearing is brought in to confirm lying statements. And when there is no _mercy, killing,_ _slaying_, and _murders_, will be frequent. And where there is _no_ _knowledge of God_, no conv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:3. _THEREFORE SHALL THE LAND MOURN_] Fruitful seasons shall be denied. _THAT DWELLETH THEREIN SHALL LANGUISH_] _Endemic_ and _epidemic_ _disorders_ shall prevail, and multitudes shall die; so that _mourning_ shall be found in all quarters. _THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, AND WITH THE FOWLS... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:4. _YET LET NO MAN STRIVE_] Or, _no man contendeth_. All these evils stalk abroad unreproved, for all are guilty. None can say, "Let me pluck the _mote_ out of thy eye," because he knows that "there is a _beam_ in his own." _FOR THY PEOPLE_ ARE] The _people_ and the _priest_ are alik... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:5. _THEREFORE SHALT THOU FALL IN THE DAY_] In the most open and public manner, without _snare_ or _ambush_. _AND THE PROPHET ALSO SHALL FALL - IN THE NIGHT_] The false prophet, when employed in taking prognostications from stars, meteors, c. _AND I WILL DESTROY THY MOTHER._] The _met... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:6. _MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE_] They have not the knowledge of God, nor of sacred things, nor of their own interest, nor of the danger to which they are exposed. They walk on blindly, and perish. _BECAUSE THOU HAST REJECTED KNOWLEDGE_] So they might have become wis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:7. _WILL I CHANGE THEIR GLORY INTO SHAME._] As the idolaters at Dan and Bethel have changed my glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass, (Romans 1:23,) so will I change their _glory_ into _shame_ or ignominy. In the day of my wrath, their calf-gods shall not deliver them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:8. _THEY EAT UP THE SIN OF MY PEOPLE_] חטאת _chattath_, the _sin-offering_, though it be offered contrary to the law; for their _hearts are set on iniquity_, they _wish_ to do whatever is contrary to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:9. _LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE PRIEST_] "The priest a wanderer from the narrow way; The silly sheep, no wonder that they stray." _I WILL PUNISH THEM_] Both priest and people; both equally bad.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:10. _THEY SHALL EAT, AND NOT HAVE ENOUGH_] Whatever means they may use to _satisfy_ or _gratify_ themselves shall be ineffectual.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:11. _WHOREDOM AND WINE_] These debaucheries go generally _together_. _TAKE AWAY THE HEART._] Darken the understanding, deprave the judgment, pervert the will, debase all the passions, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:12. _AT THEIR STOCKS_] They consult their _wooden gods_. _AND THEIR STAFF DECLARETH_] They use divination by _rods_; see the note on Ezekiel 21:21, where this sort of divination (_rabdomancy_) is explained.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:13. _UNDER OAKS_] אלון _allon_, from אלל _alal_, he was _strong_. Hence, the _oak_, in Latin, is called _robur_; which word means also, _strength_, the oak being the strongest of all the trees of the forest. _THE SHADOW THEREOF_ IS _GOOD_] Their "daughters committed whoredom, and thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:14. _I WILL NOT PUNISH_] Why should you be stricken any more; ye will revolt more and more. When God, in judgment, removes his judgments, the case of that people is desperate. While there is _hope_, there is _correction_. _THEMSELVES ARE SEPARATED_] There is a reference here to certai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:15. _LET NOT JUDAH OFFEND_] Israel was _totally_ dissolute; Judah was not so. Here she is exhorted to maintain her integrity. If the former will go to what was once _Beth-el_, the _house of God_, now _Beth-aven_, the _house of iniquity_, because Jeroboam has set up his calves there, le... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:16. _ISRAEL SLIDETH BACK_] They are untractable, like an unbroken heifer or steer, that _pulls back_, rather than _draw in the_ _yoke_. _WILL FEED THEM AS A LAMB IN A LARGE PLACE._] A species of irony. Ye shall go to Assyria, and be scattered among the nations; ye may _sport yourselve... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:17. _EPHRAIM_] The ten tribes. IS _JOINED TO IDOLS_] Is become incorporated with false gods. _LET HIM ALONE._] They are irreclaimable, leave them to the consequences of their vicious conduct.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:18. _THEIR DRINK IS SOUR_] Or rather, _he is gone after their_ _wine_. The enticements of idolatry have carried them away. _HER RULERS_ WITH _SHAME DO LOVE_] Rather, _have loved shame_; they glory in their abominations. _GIVE YE._] Perhaps it would be better to read, _Her rulers have... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 4:19. _THE WIND HATH BOUND HER_] A parching wind has blasted them in their _wings _- coasts, borders; or they are carried away into captivity, as with the most rapid blight. These two last verses are very obscure.... [ Continue Reading ]