HOSEA

1 See of the Hebrew word Jer. 1 on verse 6. The sense is: When I first chose Israel to be My people and made a My covenant with them. Compare Jer. 2:2, and see the annotation there.

2 And brought him forth by My Divine power out of the slavery of Egypt, through the wilderness into the land of promise.

a Mat. 2:15.

3 Namely, Israel, whom God frequently but especially Exod. 4:22 by Moses in his speech to Pharaoh calls His son, yea, His firstborn son; which place may be compared with this. But that moreover under these words there is hidden a prophecy touching the only begotten Son of the Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Head of all the spiritual Israel or church, appears clearly by Mat. 2:15. Other, Because Israel was a child, whom I loved, therefore I called my son forth out of Egypt. Or, Though Israel be a child, yet do I love him; therefore I called, etc., understanding the first clause of Israel’s want of understanding and dullness, and the second of Christ alone, Whom the Father had called out of Egypt to execute the work of redemption in Judea. Others thus: Because he is a child of Israel, and I do love him, therefore have I called my son out of Egypt, understanding both clauses of Christ.

4 This is inserted here to complete the sense, agreeing with the particle so in the sequel. See Psalm 48 on verse 5. The sense is: The more Moses and other true servants of God did call upon the Israelites to keep close to their God and to cleave unto Him, the more did they on the contrary turn away from God, even in the sight of those good prophets, unto all manner of idolatry, turning their back to God and His messengers, and lending them but a deaf ear to all their exhortations. Compare verse 7; Hosea 4:7.

5 From the face of the prophets, who called them to God.

6 That is, I taught him how to guide and use his feet, as a mother does with her child.

7 These are the prophet’s words which he inserts here between God’s words, being amazed at the kindness and tenderness of God, as if He said: It is very true indeed, that He took them up and carried them upon His arms, as a father or mother does their child (see verse 1), especially being weary of going. See Exod. 19:4; Deut. 1:31; 32:11, 12; Isa. 63:9, and of Moses, Num. 11:12. Other, I took them by their (Hebr. his) arms; there is the like interchange of the singular and plural of Ephraim used in the sequel.

8 That is, that in all their distresses and troubles I did sweetly and familiarly assist and deliver them. Psalm 30 on verse 2, etc. Compare Exod. 15:26; Hosea 7:1.

9 That is, with such as men are or may be drawn withal, kindly, sweetly, as one may well endure without hurt or annoyance. Compare the phrase with 2 Sam. 7:14; Isa. 8:1. These words do very lively set out the sweetness, kindness and longsuffering or forbearance of God in leading His people.

10 That is, the halter or muzzle, which bears much upon the cheek of the beasts whiles they labor, and which men use to remove or lift up when they are to rest or feed. Such, will God say, have I also dealt with Israel, giving them much ease and rest and food, as follows.

11 Ephraim. Hebr. I caused meat or feed to incline to him, that is, as we use to say: I reached it to him. Notwithstanding all this they were so disobedient to Him as is related in the foregoing and following words; therefore, etc., as follows.

12 Ephraim.

13 Although they rather wish to return into Egypt and shall also descend thither for help and shelter against the Assyrians, yet it shall be all in vain, but the generality of the ten tribes shall be carried away by the Assyrian out of their own land, and be more grievously plagued there, than they were before in Egypt. See Hosea 8:13; 9:6, and the annotations there, and compare Hosea 10 on verse 9.

14 That is, war, with all its consequences. See Lev. 26 on verse 7; Psalm 22 on verse 20.

15 Of Ephraim.

16 Other, members, namely, devouring and swallowing up the parts and members of his country as a savage beast; or, his branches (as Ezek. 17:6), that is, the villages , situated outside the cities, and being in respect of the cities, as so many branches of the trees.

17 See Hosea 10 on verse 6.

18 Hebr. to my turning away, that is, to the turning away or backsliding whereby they are continually turning away from Me, or while they practice against Me. Other, hang (namely, in uncertainty and doubtfulness) for their turning away from me, that is, they know not which way to turn themselves, running now this, now that way for help; both in a good sense.

19 The prophets. Compare verse 2; Hosea 7:16.

20 My people. Other, they call him indeed upwards.

21 That is, no one. See of the like use of the Hebrew word Ezra 4 on verse 3. Other, together the (people) doth not exalt him. Understand: they do not honor God in their assemblies.

22 The Most High, that he would give Him the honor, repenting himself, seeking comfort and assistance with Him, or of giving Him thanks for His benefits. Other, exalts or lifts up himself, that is, none bestirs himself, or gives himself just once thereto, that he would hear or listen as good observers are apt to do, showing by outward behavior of the body the inward stirrings of the heart.

23 As if God said: Though ye had well deserved that I should destroy you all at once, as I have done Sodom and Gomorrah, etc., Gen. 19:24; Deut. 29:23, but My compassion and faithfulness, which I promised you in the Messiah (whereof in the sequel) do not permit me so to do.

24 Understand: and the other neighboring cities.

b Gen. 19:24.

25 Spoken of God after the manner of men to set forth in some way the greatness and incomprehensibleness of His compassion. See Gen. 43:30; 1 Kings 3:26; Lam. 1:20.

26 Hebr. as if one would say: my repentings or repentnesses or comfortablenesses are a burning together. Other, my bowels. God is said to repent, when He withholds, mitigates or removes the deserved and threatened punishments, and consequently by repentings here may be understood the compassions and the bowels which through compassion are warmed, affected and moved. See Gen. 6 on verse 6; Gen. 43 on verse 30.

27 That is, I will not do so again now unto Ephraim, that I would utterly destroy him, as once I did the foresaid cities. Compare Isa. 12:6; 54:5; Ezek. 16:53, with the annotation there.

28 True and unchangeable in My promises, Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6, etc.

29 See Psalm 71 on verse 22, and consequently, I will keep yet a people for Myself to remain among you, and sanctify them to serve Me, etc. Compare Ezek. 16:60.

30 As an enemy, which invades a city and destroys all things in it; or, as in former times I came into the city of Sodom to destroy it, as verse 8, which agrees very well with the words foregoing. I will not return, or, come again, etc. See the annotation there. Other, I shall not come into the city, that is, I shall dwell no more in any material places, but in your hearts. Compare John 4:21.

31Jesus Christ, the Messiah, their Head and King. Compare Hosea 3:5.

32 By the public, clear and powerful preaching of the Gospel, whereby He shall call His elect together, as a lion does his young ones, as follows. Compare Isa. 27:13; Amos 3:8. Whereby He shall likewise not only proclaim unto His own His work of grace, but also unto His enemies of His church His vengeance and victory, especial of all spiritual enemies, whom He, as the true Lion of Judah, shall conquer and lead in triumph. See Gen. 49 on verse 9; Col. 2:15; Rev. 5:5, and compare further Isa. 31:4, 5; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2.

33 That is, the elect, whom the Father gave Him, John 17:6; Heb. 2:13.

34 Hebr. shall tremble or shake from the sea or from the west, that is, come and approach trembling to His and His church’s communion. Compare Isa. 24:14; 49:12; Hosea 3:5, and see the annotations. Also in the next verse. Concerning the phrase trembling or shaking, for going or coming in a trembling manner, etc., compare 1 Sam. 13:7; 16:4.

35 Quickly flying after her food or to her nest, or to escape the fowler’s net.

36 That is, in all places where they are scattered, they shall eagerly repair to Him, Who delivers them out of the spiritual Egypt and Assyria, that is, out of the slavery of sin and Satan. Compare Isa. 27:13; Zech. 10:10.

37 See Isa. 60:8.

38 That is, (according to the style of the prophets), I will plant them in My church, and give them rest and peace in their conscience through Christ, and after this life their place in the heavenly habitations. See Hosea 2:13, 17, with the annotations; Hosea 12:10.

39 Hebr. Ephraim have, that is, those of Ephraim, the Ephraimites, whereby are understood the ten tribes, or Israel, as follows.

40 They were such insolent hypocrites that they meant to force al their idolatry upon Me, as if they used the same for My honor and service and had still the true religion among them. Some take it as the prophet’s complaint of the bad experience he found among his wicked countrymen; according as God and the prophet’s words are sometimes intermingled.

41 Some are of the opinion that the prophet here describes the time when the ten tribes first separated themselves from Judah, and some while after. Other, but Judah is yet reigning, etc. Though Judah was also much declined, and is therefore sharply rebuked of God by this very prophet in several places, yet, they had still (besides the lawful kingdom) the lawful priesthood and the outward worship ordained by God, insomuch that the pious remnant among the ten tribes, now and then, privily journeyed to Jerusalem to attend the true worship there, as above in sundry places has been observed. But among the ten tribes, there was nothing of this at all. See 2 Chron. 12:12; 13:6, etc.; 15:3, with the annotations.

42 Subjecting himself to God, and keeping close to Him and His worship, which is truly to reign and to govern; as the contrary, which the world accounts freedom and dominion, is the basest slavery. Compare the phrase with Hosea 9:8 and the annotation. Otherwise these words may also (in respect of the kingdom) be compared with Hosea 8:4 (see there) and Hosea 13:10, 11.

43 That is, following the footsteps of the holy forefathers, and hearkening to the pious priests and prophets who were among them. Some do understand here the three Persons of the holy Trinity, comparing it with the words foregoing and Joshua 24:19.