Hosea 7:12

When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. WHEN THEY SHALL GO - to seek aid from this or that foreign state. I WILL SPREAD MY NET UPON THEM - as on birds taken on the ground (); as contrasted with -- I WILL BRING THEM DOWN AS THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN - namely, by the use of missiles. I WILL CHASTISE THEM, AS THEIR CONGREGATION HATH HEARD - namely, by my prophets, through whom I threatened 'chastisement' (; )....

But a denunciation of punishment afterwards follows, _Wheresoever, _he says, _they shall go, I will expand over them my net, and will draw them down as the birds of heaven _God shows that though the Israelites might turn about here and there, yet their end would be unhappy; for he would have his expanded net: and he follows up the simile he used in the last verse. He had said that they were like doves, which are carried by a sudden instinct to the bait, and consider not the expanded net. If then the dove sees only the lure, and at the same time shuns not the danger, it is a proof of foolish simplicity. Hence God says, _I will expand my net; _that is, I will cause all your endeavors and purposes to be disappointed, and all your hopes to be vain; for_wheresoever they shall fly, my net shall be expanded. _ This is a remarkable passage; for we hence learn, that the issue will always be unfor...

8-16 Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Though they may howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, they seldom cry to God with their hearts. Even their prayers for earthly mercies only seek fuel for their lusts. Their turning from one sect, sentiment, form, or vice, to another, still leaves them far short of Christ and holiness. Such are we by nature. And such shall we prove if left to ourselves. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us....

Verse Hosea 7:12. _WHEN THEY SHALL GO_] To those nations for help - _I WILL SPREAD MY NET UPON THEM_] I will cause them to be taken by those in whom they trusted. _I WILL BRING THEM DOWN_] They shall no sooner set off to seek this foreign help, than _my net_ shall _bring them down to the earth_. The allusion to the _dove_, and to the mode of taking the _fowls of_ _heaven_, is still carried on. _AS THEIR CONGREGATION HATH HEARD._] As in their _solemn assemblies_ they before have heard; in the _reading of my law_, and the denunciation of my wrath against _idolaters_. Bishop _Newcome_ translates: "I will chastise them when they hearken to their assembly." That is, when they take the counsel of their elders to go down to Egypt for help, and trust i

WHEN THEY GO - (Literally, “according as” they go, in all circumstances of time or place or manner, when whithersoever or howsoever they shall go,) I “will spread My net upon them,” so as to surround and envelop them on all sides and hold them down. The “dove” soaring aloft, with speed like the storm-wind Psalms 55:6, is a picture of freedom, independence, impetuous, unhindered, following on its own course; weak and timid, it trusts in the skillfulness with which it guides its flight, to escape pursuit; the “net,” with its thin slight meshes, betokens how weak instruments become all-sufficient in the hands of the Almighty; the same dove, brought down from its almost viewless height, fluttering weakly, helplessly and hopelessly, under those same meshes, is a picture of that same self-dependent spirit humiliated, overwhelmed by inevitable evils, against which it im

EXPOSITION This chapter may be divided into three sections. In the first section, including Hosea 7:1, the prophet reproves with much but deserved severity the depraved morals of king and princes. In the second section, consisting of Hosea 7:8, he rebukes their sinfulness, silliness, pride, and stupid obstinacy, notwithstanding the many manifest tokens of decay. Otherwise the first section deals with the internal corruption of the northern kingdom, and the second exposes their sinful and harmful foreign policy. The third section, continuing from the twelfth verse to the end of the chapter, that is, Hosea 7:12, threatens the infliction of punishment incurred by their gross wicked. Hess and base ingratitude to God....

WHEN THEY SHALL GO,.... That is, to Egypt or Assyria: I WILL SPREAD MY NET UPON THEM; bring them into great straits and difficulties; perhaps the Assyrian army is meant, which was the Lord's net, guided, and directed, and spread by his providence, and according to his will, to take this silly dove in; and which enclosed them on all sides, that they could not escape; see Ezekiel 12:13. Hoshea the king of Israel was taken by the Assyrian, and bound and shut up in prison; Samaria the capital city was besieged three years, and then taken, 2 Kings 17:4; I WILL BRING THEM DOWN AS THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN; though they fly on high, soar aloft, and behave proudly, and fancy themselves out of all danger; yet, as the flying fowl, the eagle, and other birds, may be b

CHAPTER 7 The Moral Depravity of Israel _ 1. Their moral depravity (Hosea 7:1) _ 2. Mingling with heathen nations (Hosea 7:8) Hosea 7:1. All the gracious efforts of the Lord to heal Israel resulted in a greater manifestation of the iniquity of Ephraim. Instead of turning to Him in true repentance and self-judgment their evil heart turned away from Jehovah, and they continued in their downward course. They did not consider that the Lord would remember all their evil deeds and punish them for it. The king and the princes, the political heads were as corrupt as the priests, they were pleased with the impenitence and wickedness of their subjects. Then follows a graphic description of their moral depravity. They w

HOSEA 7:8 TO HOSEA 8:3. POLITICAL DECAY THE OUTWARD SIGN OF ISRAEL'S MORAL DECAY. The attempts to cure national ills and secure safety by foreign aid, instead of by turning to Yahweh, are foredoomed to failure; Yahweh Himself frustrates them and will bring the misguided people to punishment and ruin (Hosea 7:8). Their doom is sealed, for they have been disloyal to Yahweh; they do not turn to Him with a true heart, but use heathen devices (cut themselves, Hosea 7:14 _mg._, see p. 110) when they appeal to Him. Their shallow hearts are incapable of real and acceptable repentance; therefore their princes shall fall by the sword, and this shall be their derision i

WHEN. Howsoever. AS THEIR CONGREGATION HATH HEARD. Those who know not the Pentateuch may call this "unintelligible"; but see Leviticus 26:14; Leviticus 26:28; Deuteronomy 27:14. CONGREGATION. Hebrew. _'edah_ is. technical Pentateuchal word which occurs in Exodus fourteen times, in Leviticus twelve times, in Numbers over eighty times, in Joshua fifteen times, in Judges four times, and twice in Kings and Jeremiah. Elsewhere used of any multitude only. few times....