When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. This chapter and Hosea 14:1 probably belong to the troubled times that followed Pekah's murder by Hoshea (cf. ; ). The subject is the idolatry of Ephraim, notwithstanding God's past benefits, destin... [ Continue Reading ]
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. AND NOW THEY ... HAVE MADE THEM ... IDOLS ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN UN... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. THEREFORE THEY SHALL BE AS THE MORNING CLOUD, AND AS THE EARLY DEW. - ( "Your goodness is as a morning cloud... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. YET I AM THE LORD THY GOD FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT - (; , "I, even I, am the Lord; and besides me there is no saviour"). NO SAVIOUR (temporal as well as spiritual) BESIDES ME... [ Continue Reading ]
I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. I DID KNOW THEE IN THE WILDERNESS - i:e., did acknowledge thee as mine, and so took care of thee (; ). As I knew thee as mine, so thou shouldest know no God but me" (). IN THE LAND OF GREAT DROUGHT - ().... [ Continue Reading ]
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. ACCORDING TO THEIR PASTURE, SO WERE THEY FILLED. Image from cattle waxing wanton in abundant pasture (cf. ; ; ). In proportion as I fed them to the full, they were so... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: THEREFORE I WILL BE UNTO THEM AS A LION - (Hosea 5:14; Lamentations 3:10, "He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places"). AS A LEOPARD BY THE WAY. The Hebrew [ kªnaameer (H5246)] co... [ Continue Reading ]
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. I WILL MEET THEM AS A BEAR THAT IS BEREAVED OF HER WHELPS - (). 'Writers on the natures of beasts say that none is more sava... [ Continue Reading ]
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. O ISRAEL, THOU HAST DESTROYED THYSELF; BUT IN ME. Thou and ME stand in contrast. HAST DESTROYED THYSELF - Literally, thy destruction is of thyself (, "He that doeth it (adultery) destroyeth his own soul;" ). IN ME is THINE HELP... [ Continue Reading ]
I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? I WILL BE THY KING: WHERE - rather, as margin and the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, 'where now is thy king?' (Maurer.) The English version is, however, favo... [ Continue Reading ]
I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. I GAVE THEE A KING IN MINE ANGER, AND TOOK HIM AWAY IN MY WRATH - true both of Saul (; ) and of Jeroboam's line (; ). Pekah was taken away through Hoshea, as himself took away Pekahiah, and as Hoshea was soon to be taken away by th... [ Continue Reading ]
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. THE INIQUITY OF EPHRAIM IS BOUND UP; HIS SIN IS HID - treasures, meant to be kept, are bound up and hidden; i:e., do not flatter yourselves, because of the delay, that I have forgotten your sin. Nay (), Ephraim's iniquity is kept as it were saf... [ Continue Reading ]
The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. THE SORROWS OF A TRAVAILING WOMAN - calamities sudden and agonizing (). HE IS AN UNWISE SON - in not foreseeing the impending judgment and ave... [ Continue Reading ]
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. I WILL RANSOM THEM FROM THE POWER OF THE GRAVE; I WILL REDEEM THEM FROM DEATH: O DEATH, I WILL BE THY PLAGUES;... [ Continue Reading ]
Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. THOUGH HE BE FRUITFUL - referring to the meaning of... [ Continue Reading ]
Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up. SAMARIA SHALL BECOME DESOLATE. This verse and foretell the calamities about to befall Israel before her rest... [ Continue Reading ]