Hosea 8:1 [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. [He shall come] as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. Ver. 1. _Set the trumpet to thy mouth_] Heb. The trumpet to thy palate. A hasty expression, an abrupt and imperfect speech,... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Ver. 2. _Israel shall cry unto me_] It is their course and custom to do so; they will needs do it, though I take no delight in it. Hypocrisy is impudent, as Hos 5:6 Jeremiah 3:4,5. No, nay, but it will despite God with seeming honour; and present him... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel hath cast off [the thing that is] good: the enemy shall pursue him. Ver. 3. _Israel hath cast off the thing that is good_] Heb. the good: as, first, the good God, who is good, original, universal, all-sufficient, and satisfactory, proportionable and fitting to our soul. He both is good and d... [ Continue Reading ]
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew [it] not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. Ver. 4. _They have set up kings, but not by me, &c._] The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin render it, "They have reigned themselves"; l... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast [thee] off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long [will it be] ere they attain to innocency? Ver. 5. _Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off_] That is, it can do thee no stead, nor deliver thee from the destroyer. "Be not afraid of such idols" (saith Jeremiah)... [ Continue Reading ]
For from Israel [was] it also: the workman made it; therefore it [is] not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. Ver. 6. _For from Israel was it also_] There is an emphasis in "also," and it is as if the prophet should say, This calf of Samaria is no less from Israel, and came out... [ Continue Reading ]
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Ver. 7. _For they have sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind_] To sow the wind is to labour in vain, as Ecclesiastes 5:16, to la... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure. Ver. 8. _Israel is swallowed up_] Not their meal only, as Hosea 8:7, but themselves also are devoured by those workers of iniquity, that eat up God's people as they eat bread, Psalms 14:4. Persecutors... [ Continue Reading ]
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. Ver. 9. _For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself_] This was that that most moved the Lord to denounce and determine hard and heavy things against Israel, they had suspicious thoughts of God... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. Ver. 10. _Yea, though they have hired among the nations_] The uncircumcised; strangers to the promises, and aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, that they... [ Continue Reading ]
Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. Ver. 11. _Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin_] Because he hath multiplied altars against God's express command, Lev 17:3-9 Deu 12:5-7 Joshua 22:22,23 Jeremiah 11:13; and that, to sin; as if it were on purpose t... [ Continue Reading ]
I have written to him the great things of my law, [but] they were counted as a strange thing. Ver. 12. _I have written to him the great things of my law_] _magnalia legis; _ great things of the law, there are also _minutula legis,_ small things of the law, Matthew 5:22; both must be looked to: for... [ Continue Reading ]
They sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat [it; but] the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. Ver. 13. _They sacrifice flesh in the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it_] _q.d._ They would seem... [ Continue Reading ]
For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof. Ver. 14. _For Israel hath forgotten his maker_] Not more his factor than his benefactor, as, 1 Samuel 12:6, the Lord m... [ Continue Reading ]