Hosea 2:8

For she did not know that I Rather, and she (the recipient of such favours) hath not taken notice that it was I who gave her the corn, and the new wine, and the fresh oil. Corn, new wine, and fresh oil, are the three great material blessings of the land of Canaan (see Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 11:14; Deuteronomy 12:17, &c.).

silver and gold The fruits of commerce, then, are also the gifts of Jehovah (contrast the language of Isaiah in a different mood, Isaiah 2:7). The riches of N. Israel are testified to by the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser II., where -silver and gold, bowls of gold, cups of gold, bottles of gold, vessels of gold" are mentioned in the tribute paid by Yahua habal Khumri(Jehu, son of Omri) to the Assyrian king.

which they prepared for Baal Rather, which they have used in the service of the Baal, (i.e. the pretended Baal or -lord" whom they worship). This mayallude partly to the overlaying of images with silver and gold, as was the practice in Judah in the time of Isaiah (Isaiah 30:22), but no doubt refers chiefly to the molten images in the form of a calf (i.e. a small bull), which the first Jeroboam placed on the bâmôthor high places at Bethel and at Dan, and doubtless elsewhere. It is possible, however, to render -and who multiplied silver for her, and gold, which (viz. which gold) they have used," &c. In this case the reference will be exclusively to the golden bulls. This view is favoured by the Hebrew accentuation.