Hosea 13:15

Though he be fruitful, &c. Rather, For though he bear fruit, &c. Evidently there is an allusion to the meaning of the word Ephraim (-fruitfulness"?); for another see Hosea 14:8. The verse carries on the idea of the last clause of the previous verse. -In fact, though his name and his nature indicate fruitfulness, yet a remorselessly severe punishment shall come upon him." His -brethren" are his fellow tribes, which are compared to trees. There is another reading ("âkhîmfor "akhîm) -among reed-plants", comp. Genesis 41:2; Genesis 41:18. This is adopted by Delitzsch, and has considerable Rabbinic authority (e.g. that of Rashi and Abulwalîd), but is found in extremely few extant manuscripts. It certainly completes the figure, but is philologically difficult.

the wind of the Lord, &c. Rather, a wind of Jehovah, coming up from the desert. The parching and destructive east or south-east wind is referred to, which blew from the desert (comp. Jeremiah 4:11; Jeremiah 13:24; Job 1:19). It is a figure for the Assyrian conqueror (somewhat as Isaiah 21:1), who at the end of the verse comes forward in his undisguised awfulness.

spring Rather perhaps, reservoir.

he shall spoil -He" is emphatically expressed; -he" whom the east wind figures -shall spoil" (or, plunder).

pleasant vessels Rather, precious vessels (whether jewels, or objects of worked gold or silver, or rarities of any kind).