_The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel._ Ver. 1. _The word of the Lord_] Not "cunningly devised fables," 2 Peter 1:16, or human testimonies, that... [ Continue Reading ]
The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, [departing] from the LORD. Ver. 2. _The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea_] Heb. in Hosea: to note, that... [ Continue Reading ]
So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. Ver. 3. _So he went_] He said not, "This is a hard saying, who can hear it?" John 6:60. _Dura mihi praecipit, et paene terret._ He doth not reason but run, dispute but despatch. God must be obeyed, though we see... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little [while], and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. Ver. 4. _Call his name Jezreel_] For the honourable name of Israel is too good for this people; cal... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. Ver. 5. _I will break the bow of Israel_] Though it may seem to have a back of steel, and though it be drawn by Jehu himself, with his full strength, as once against Jehoram, to the piercing of his... [ Continue Reading ]
And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And [God] said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. Ver. 6. _And she conceived again_] To show, in a continued allegory, the weak and woeful state of the ten tribes... [ Continue Reading ]
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. Ver. 7. _But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah_] The ark and the mercy seat were never separated. Judah had not ut... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Ver. 8. _Now when she had weaned Loruhamah_] That is, after that the patience of God had waited and long looked for their conversion; but all in vain, he resolved upon their utter rejection. And first he sent for his love tokens back... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said [God], Call his name Loammi: for ye [are] not my people, and I will not be your [God]. Ver. 9. _Call his name Loammi_] _Nomen extremum et deploratum,_ saith Pareus, the last and most lamentable name of all, containing a most heavy, but spiritual, and therefore less sensible, punishment, v... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people, [there] it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God. Ver. 10. _Yet... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great [shall be] the day of Jezreel. Ver. 11. _Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together_] _i.e._ the... [ Continue Reading ]