Hosea 4:1

CHAPTER IV

The prophet charges his people with their enormous sins, 1, 2;

in consequence of which they are threatened with heavy

judgments, 3-5.

God himself is then introduced complaining of the ignorance and

obstinacy of Israel; and as their priests had a large share in

the common guilt, it is declared that they shall be visited

with a proportionable share of the common ruin, 6-11.

The sins of idolatry and divination are then particularly

reproved, 12-14;

and Judah admonished to beware of these sins, which would leave

her rebellious sister Israel helpless and desolate as a lamb in

a desert, 15, 16.

In the remaining verses the style is varied, but the subject is

the same. Ephraim is given up to idolatry, and the necessary

consequence declared to be a bitter draught! Immediately we see

him bound in the wings of a mighty tempest, and driven as chaff

before the wind, either to destruction or captivity, 17-19.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV

Verse Hosea 4:1. The Lord hath a controversy] ריב rib, what we should call a lawsuit, in which God is plaintiff, and the Israelites defendants. It is Jehovah versus Israel and Judah.

But when has God a controversy with any land? - Answer. When there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. These refer to the minds of the people. But wherever these righteous principles are wanting, there will soon be a vicious practice; hence it is added,