CHAPTER VIII _This chapter begins with threatening some hostile invasion in_ _short and broken sentences, full of rapidity, and expressive of_ _sudden danger and alarm: "The trumpet to thy mouth; he cometh_ _as an eagle,"_ 1. _And why? For their hypocrisy_, 2; _iniquity_, 3; _treason_ (see 2... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:2. _ISRAEL SHALT CRY_] The rapidity of the eagle's flight is well imitated in the rapidity of the sentences in this place. _MY GOD, WE KNOW THEE._] The same sentiment, from the same sort of persons, under the same feelings, as that in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Matthew 7:22: "Lord, ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:4. _THEY HAVE SET UP KINGS, BUT NOT BY ME_] Properly speaking, not one of the kings of Israel, from the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David, was the _anointed_ of the Lord. _I KNEW_ IT _NOT_] It had not my _approbation_. In this sense the word _know_ is frequently unde... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:5. _THY CALF, O SAMARIA, HATH CAST_ THEE _OFF_] Bishop _Newcome_ translates: "Remove far from thee thy calf, O Samaria!" Abandon thy idolatry; for _my anger is kindled against thee_. _HOW LONG_ WILL IT BE _ERE THEY ATTAIN TO INNOCENCY?_] How long will ye continue your guilty practice... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:6. _THE WORKMAN MADE IT; THEREFORE IT_ IS _NOT GOD_] As God signifies the supreme eternal Good, the Creator and Upholder of all things, therefore the workman cannot make Him who made all things. This is an overwhelming argument against all idols. Nothing need be added. _The workman has... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:7. _THEY HAVE SOWN THE WIND, AND THEY SHALL REAP THE_ _WHIRLWIND_] As the husbandman reaps the same kind of grain which he has sown, but in far greater abundance, _thirty, sixty_, or _one_ _hundred_ fold; so he who sows the wind shall have a whirlwind to reap. The _vental_ seed shall b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:8. _NOW SHALL THEY BE AMONG THE GENTILES_] They shall be carried into captivity, and there be as a vessel wherein there is no pleasure; one soiled, unclean, infectious, to be despised, abhorred, not used. The allusion is to a rotten, corrupted skin-bottle; a bottle made of goat, deer,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:9. _THEY ARE GONE UP TO ASSYRIA_] For succour. _A WILD ASS ALONE BY HIMSELF_] Like that animal, jealous of its liberty, and suffering no rival. If we may credit _Pliny_ and others, one male wild ass will keep a whole flock of females to himself, suffer no other to approach them, and e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:10. _FOR THE BURDEN OF THE KING OF PRINCES._] The exactions of the Assyrian king, and the princes of the provinces.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:11. _MANY ALTARS TO SIN_] Though it does not appear that the Jews in Babylon were obliged to worship the idols of the country, except in the case mentioned by Daniel, yet it was far otherwise with the Israelites in Assyria, and the other countries of their dispersion. Because they had... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:12. _I HAVE WRITTEN TO HIM THE GREAT THINGS OF MY LAW_] I have as it were inscribed my laws to them, and they have treated them as matters in which they had no interest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:13. _THEY SACRIFICE FLESH_] Bp. _Newcome_ translates thus: "They sacrifice gifts appointed unto me, and eat flesh." They offer to their idols the things which belong to Jehovah; or, while pretending to offer unto the Lord, they eat and drink idolatrously; and therefore the Lord will no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hosea 8:14. _ISRAEL HATH FORGOTTEN HIS MAKER_] And therefore built _temples_ to other gods. _Judah_ had lost all confidence in the Divine protection, and therefore built many fenced cities. But the _fire_ of God's anger burnt up both the temples and the fortified cities.... [ Continue Reading ]