CHAPTER VII _Here God complains that though he had employed every means for_ _reforming Israel, they still persisted in their iniquity,_ _without fearing the consequences_, 1, 2; _that those who ought to check their crimes were pleased with_ _them_, 3; _and that they all burned with adultery,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:2. _THEY CONSIDER NOT IN THEIR HEARTS_] They do not consider that _my eye is upon all their ways_; they do not think that I _record_ all their wickedness; and they know not their _own_ evil _doings_ are as a _host of enemies encompassing_ them about.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:3. _THEY MAKE THE KING GLAD_] They pleased Jeroboam by coming readily into his measures, and heartily joining with him in his idolatry. And they professed to be perfectly happy in their change, and to be greatly advantaged by their new gods; and that the religion of the state now was b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:4. _AS AN OVEN HEATED BY THE BAKER_] _Calmet's_ paraphrase on this and the following verses expresses pretty nearly the sense: Hosea makes a twofold comparison of the Israelites; to an _oven_, and to _dough_. Jeroboam set fire to his own _oven_-his kingdom-and put the leaven in his do... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:7. _ALL THEIR KINGS ARE FALLEN_] There was a pitiful slaughter among the idolatrous kings of Israel; _four_ of them had fallen in the time of this prophet. Zechariah was slain by Shallum; Shallum, by Menahem; Pekahiah, by Pekah; and Pekah, by Hoshea, 2 Kings 15:8. All were idolaters, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:8. _A CAKE NOT TURNED._] In the East having heated the _hearth_, they sweep one corner, put the cake upon it, and cover it with embers; in a short time they _turn_ it, cover it again, and continue this several times, till they find it sufficiently baked. All travellers into Asiatic cou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:9. _GRAY HAIRS ARE HERE AND THERE UPON HIM, YET HE KNOWETH_ _NOT._] The kingdom is grown old in iniquity; the time of their captivity is at hand, and they are apprehensive of no danger. They are in the state of a _silly old man_, who through age and infirmities is become nearly _bald_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:10. _THE PRIDE OF ISRAEL_] The same words as at Hosea 5:6, where see the note. Hosea 5:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:11. _EPHRAIM ALSO IS LIKE A SILLY DOVE WITHOUT HEART_] A bird that has _little understanding_; that is _easily snared_ and taken; that is careless about its _own young_, and seems to live without _any kind of thought_. It has been made, by those who, like itself, are _without heart_, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:12. _WHEN THEY SHALL GO_] To those nations for help - _I WILL SPREAD MY NET UPON THEM_] I will cause them to be taken by those in whom they trusted. _I WILL BRING THEM DOWN_] They shall no sooner set off to seek this foreign help, than _my net_ shall _bring them down to the earth_. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:13. _WO UNTO THEM!_] They shall have _wo_, because they _have_ _fled from me_. They shall have _destruction_, because they _have_ _transgressed against me_. _THOUGH I HAVE REDEEMED THEM_] Out of Egypt; and given them the fullest proof of my love and power. _YET THEY HAVE SPOKEN LIES... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 7:14. _THEY HAVE NOT CRIED UNTO ME WITH THEIR HEART_] They say they have sought me, but could not find me; that they have cried unto me, but I did not answer. I know they have _cried_, yea, _howled_; but could I hear them when all was forced and hypocritical, not one sigh coming from the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _THOUGH I HAVE BOUND AND STRENGTHENED THEIR ARMS_] Whether I dealt with them in _judgment_ or _mercy_, it was all one; in all circumstances they rebelled against me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _THEY RETURN_, BUT _NOT TO THE MOST HIGH_] They go to their idols. _THEY ARE LIKE A DECEITFUL BOW_] Which, when it is _reflexed_, in order to be strung, suddenly _springs back_ into its _quiescent_ _curve_; for the _eastern bows_ stand in their quiescent state in a curve, something like ... [ Continue Reading ]