_Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel_ “The prophet here begins a third discourse, which is manifestly distinct from the preceding, both as to matter and manner. He was before predicting what should happen in future times, by way of prophetic vision; here he reproves those of the present... [ Continue Reading ]
_By swearing_ False swearing seems to be here chiefly intended, which is here, as it is also elsewhere, joined with _lying_ and _stealing;_ because, in the Jewish courts of justice, men that were suspected of theft were obliged to purge themselves by an oath; and they often ventured to forswear them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore shall the land mourn_ “Desolation, drought, and dearth shall come upon the whole land; shall consume both men, and beasts, and fowls, and shall even extend itself to the inhabitants of the waters.” A land is said, in Scripture language, to _mourn_, when it is deprived of its inhabitants,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another_ Bishop Horsley translates this clause, _By no means let any one expostulate, nor let any one reprove;_ adding, by way of paraphrase, “For all expostulation and reproof will be lost upon this people, such are their stubbornness anal obstinacy. _For my peop... [ Continue Reading ]
_My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge_ The ignorance of the nature, necessity, and excellence of true religion, which prevailed among the Jews and Israelites, was one principal cause of those sins which drew down such heavy judgments upon them. _Because thou hast rejected knowledge_ That is... [ Continue Reading ]
_As they were increased, so they sinned_ Or, _The more they were increased, the more they sinned against me_ The greater the favours were which I heaped upon them, and the more I multiplied them, the more presumptuously they sinned against me: see Hosea 13:6. Instead of, _as they were increased_, Bi... [ Continue Reading ]
_They eat up the sin of my people_ These priests, mentioned Hosea 4:6, live upon the sin-offerings of the people; and are so far from restraining them, that they take delight in seeing them commit iniquity, because the more they sin, the greater is the number of their sin-offerings, which are the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_My people ask counsel at their stocks_ Hebrew, בעצו, at their wood, that is, the images of their idols made of wood; these they consulted as oracles, that they might foretel to them what was to come, or give them advice, what measures to take. _And their staff declares unto them_ They seek to know... [ Continue Reading ]
_They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains_ The sacrificing upon the mountains and in shady groves was an ancient piece of idolatry, often mentioned and reproved by the prophets. They seem to have made choice of the tops of hills and mountains for their sacrifices and religious rites, as places... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will not punish your daughters_, &c. I will suffer your daughters to go on in their iniquity, and to fall from one degree of wickedness to another. _For themselves_ That is, for yourselves; _are separated with whores_ That is, you go aside and retire with the women who prostitute themselves in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though_, &c. “Here,” says Bishop Horsley, “a transition is made, with great elegance and animation, from the general subject of the whole people, in both its branches, to the kingdom of the ten tribes in particular.” _Though thou, Israel, play the harlot_ Though thou followest after idols; _yet let... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Israel slideth back_, &c. As if the Lord had said, As for Israel, I give him up to a reprobate mind. And now the discourse passes naturally into the detail and amplification of Israel's guilt. Bishop Horsley renders this clause, _Truly Israel is rebellious like an unruly heifer;_ observing, “I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ephraim_, &c. The Ephraimites were numerous and potent, and are here put for the whole ten tribes. _Is joined to idols_ The word עצבים, here rendered _idols_, properly means, _sorrows_ and _pains_, idols being the cause of much misery to their worshippers. Bishop Horsley reads the verse, _A compani... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wind hath bound her up in her wings_ Or rather, _binds_, or, _is binding her up_, the present tense being put to denote instant futurity. The passage is strongly figurative, to signify that they should be suddenly taken away out of their country, and carried with irresistible force, and incredi... [ Continue Reading ]