Hosea 1:1
IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH. — On the historical questions involved in this verse, see _Introduction. _... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH. — On the historical questions involved in this verse, see _Introduction. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BEGINNING OF THE WORD... — More correctly, _In the beginning when the Lord spoke to Hosea, the Lord said_... GO, TAKE UNTO THEE A WIFE OF WHOREDOMS. — How are we to interpret the prophet’s marriage to the licentious Gomer? Is it an historic occurrence, the only too real tragedy of the author’s p... [ Continue Reading ]
GOMER THE DAUGHTER OF DIBLAIM. — Gomer means complete, or perfect, but whether in external beauty or in wickedness of character is not easy to determine.... [ Continue Reading ]
JEZREEL means “God shall sow.” The prophet had already discovered the faithlessness of his spouse, and that his married life was symbolic of his nation’s history. Observe the resemblance in sound between Jezreel and Israel, and the historic associations of the former. It was the name of a very ferti... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BREAK THE BOW OF ISRAEL IN THE VALLEY OF JEZREEL. — Jehu was to be punished for the assassination of Ahab’s descendants. Though the destruction of the house of Ahab was divinely appointed, its value was neutralised by Jehu’s tolerance of the calf-worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
LO-RUHAMAH. — “Unloved,” or, perhaps, “unpitied.” The prophet’s growing despondency about his country’s future is revealed in her name. The rest of the verse is best rendered — _For I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel, that I should indeed forgive them. _... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL SAVE THEM... — We may consider this verse to have been literally fulfilled in the destruction of Sennacherib’s army. The prophetic outlook anticipates the fact that when Judah is captive and exiled, her restoration by the divine hand would take the form of mercy and forgiveness. (Comp. Psalms 7... [ Continue Reading ]
Closes the chapter in the Hebrew text. The episode above described is, in some particulars, the model for Ezekiel 16. Gomer’s child _Lo ‘Ammi_ (not my people), is type of utter and final repudiation.... [ Continue Reading ]
An abrupt transition from dark presage to bright anticipation. The covenant-blessings promised to Abraham shall yet be realised.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL COME UP OUT OF THE LAND. — Better, _shall go up out of,_ &c., a phrase frequently occurring in Scripture, to denote the marching forth to war. Israel shall then be united. The envy of Israel and Judah shall cease. (Isaiah 11:12; Ezekiel 34:24; Ezekiel 37:24). A world-wide dominion shall be est... [ Continue Reading ]