Hosea 11:3

I taught Ephraim also to go Rather, Whereas I taught Ephraim to go. A figure for the special providence watching over Ephraim. Not Judah, but Ephraim, is spoken of, for the kingdom of Israel embraced the fairer part of the territory, and was far stronger than that of Judah.

taking them by their arms Rather, if we accept the Massoretic reading, -he took them up in his arms." There are however grave philological objections to this rendering, and we should probably, with most of the versions, correct the reading, and translate, I took them up in my arms. There is a beautiful climax in this part of the figure; not only did Jehovah train Israel to walk, but when he was tired, Jehovah carried him in his arms, comp. Isaiah 63:9; Deuteronomy 1:31, (Deuteronomy 32:11), and comp. a parallel passage in the Rig-Veda (x. 69, 10, Max Müller), -Thou barest him as a father bears his son in his lap."

they knew not i.e. they recognized not (as Hosea 1:3).

that I healed them The same figure as in Hosea 5:13; Hosea 6:1; Hosea 7:1. Comp. Exodus 15:26, -for I am Jehovah thy healer."