Hosea 4 - Introduction
_GOD'S JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE PRIESTS, AND AGAINST THEIR IDOLATRY. JUDAH IS EXHORTED TO TAKE WARNING BY ISRAEL'S CALAMITY._ _Before Christ 870._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD'S JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE PRIESTS, AND AGAINST THEIR IDOLATRY. JUDAH IS EXHORTED TO TAKE WARNING BY ISRAEL'S CALAMITY._ _Before Christ 870._... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, &C.— The prophet here begins a third discourse, according to the rabbies; which is manifestly distinct from the preceding, both as to the matter and manner. He was before predicting what should happen in future times, by way of prophetic vision; here he reproves those of t... [ Continue Reading ]
BY SWEARING, &C.— _Swearing, and lying, and murther, and theft, and adultery break out,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SHALL THE LAND MOURN, &C.— _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._... [ Continue Reading ]
YET LET NO MAN STRIVE, &C.— _Let no one expostulate or reprove;_ for all expostulation and reproof will be lost upon this people, such is their stubbornness and obstinacy. _FOR THY PEOPLE ARE AS THEY THAT STRIVE,_ &C.— "It is in vain for you to reproach one another. You are given up as to an incurab... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAY— "Not for want of light to see thy way; but in the full day-light of divine instruction thou shalt fall: even at the rising of that light, which is for the lighting of every man that cometh into the world." In this day-time, when our Lord himself visited them, the Jews made their last gra... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE— "The ignorance of the true principles of religion which prevails among the people of the ten tribes is the cause of those sins which draw down such heavy judgments upon them." Houbigant, instead of, _Thou shalt be no priest to me,_ reads, _That thou shalt not have an... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK COUNSEL AT THEIR STOCKS— _Consult their wood;_ that is to say, the images of their idols, made of wood, _consult,_ as oracles, to foretel what is to come to pass, or to advise what measures should be taken.... [ Continue Reading ]
OAKS— That is to say, the _evergreen oak,_ or _ilex. And elms_] The _acorn-tree,_ or the _common oak._... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE SEPARATED— _Take part._ The chapter ought to end with this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH THOU, ISRAEL, &C.— Here 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. "Whatever the obstinacy of the house of Israel may be in her corruptions, at least let Judah kee... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ISRAEL SLIDETH, &C.— Houbigant renders it, _As an untamed heifer, when the Lord would have fed them,_ &c. Dr. Chandler observes, that the word סררה _sorerah,_ rendered _backsliding,_ properly signifies an untamed, refractory, mischievous heifer, wantonly running and frisking about, or stung by t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR DRINK IS SOUR— _Drunkenness hath turned them away._ Houbigant. Those who understand it according to our translation, suppose that the prophet means the wine which was poured out in libations to their false gods. The Chaldee renders it, _Their princes have multiplied banquets by rapine._ See Po... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WIND HATH BOUND HER UP, &C.— _A whirlwind shall involve her in its eddies._ Houbigant. One of the Jewish expositions is, "The wind is joined to her wings, as it is with a bird which it suffereth not to rest till it hath carried her afar off: so shall the armies of the enemy come against them, an... [ Continue Reading ]