THE SHALLOWNESS OF ISRAEL'S REPENTANCE Hosea now represents the people as counselling one another to repentance in presence of the impending danger; and goes on to point out the futility of a hurried repentance, and the greatness of their sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER TWO DAYS] This is probably a proverbial expression for a very short time. 3. THEN.. KNOW, etc.] RV 'And let us know, let us follow on.' HIS GOING FORTH] Just as the morning will dawn after the darkest night, so God will arise bringing brightness and hope. AS THE RAIN] The land of Palestine wa... [ Continue Reading ]
HEWED.. SLAIN THEM] The prophets are here spoken of as themselves doing what their language threatened. THY JUDGMENTS.. FORTH] It is better to read with LXX, 'My judgment goeth forth as the light.' The reference is to the clear manifestation of the judgment. 6. God cared more for goodness and piety... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE MEN] RV 'like Adam.' In regarding mere sacrifice as a substitute for goodness which God had made the condition of His covenant they had broken it as much as Adam had done by his disobedience: cp. Genesis 2:16; Exodus 20:21 to Exodus 24:11. THERE] in the land given them on condition of a good an... [ Continue Reading ]
GILEAD] cp. Hosea 12:11. Probably Ramoth-Gilead. Being a city of refuge it was doubtless the place of an early sanctuary. But holy cities were now become notorious for their wickedness.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WAY BY CONSENT] RV 'in the way toward Shechem.' At Shechem also, as we know from Joshua 24:1, there was an ancient sanctuary. In the time of Jeroboam I it was the capital of the northern kingdom. Hosea here appears to refer to some definite act of robbery and murder in which some priests were... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SET] RV 'there is appointed.' WHEN I RETURNED] RV 'when I bring again.' This v. is often understood of the harvest of judgment (cp. Joel 3:13), but the phrase 'to turn, or bring again, a nation's captivity,' means its restoration. The words, however, should probably be taken with what follow... [ Continue Reading ]