4 I drew H4900 them with cords H2256 of a man, H120 with bands H5688 of love: H160 and I was to them as they that take off H7311 the yoke H5923 on their jaws, H3895 and I laid H5186 meat H398 unto them.
I am the LORD H3068 your God, H430 which brought you forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 that ye should not be their bondmen; H5650 and I have broken H7665 the bands H4133 of your yoke, H5923 and made you go H3212 upright. H6968
And I, G2504 if G1437 I be lifted up G5312 from G1537 the earth, G1093 will draw G1670 all G3956 men unto G4314 me. G1683
And Moses H4872 said, H559 This is the thing H1697 which the LORD H3068 commandeth, H6680 Fill H4393 an omer H6016 of it to be kept H4931 for your generations; H1755 that they may see H7200 the bread H3899 wherewith I have fed H398 you in the wilderness, H4057 when I brought you forth H3318 from the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
I will be his father, H1 and he shall be my son. H1121 If he commit iniquity, H5753 I will chasten H3198 him with the rod H7626 of men, H582 and with the stripes H5061 of the children H1121 of men: H120
Though he had commanded H6680 the clouds H7834 from above, H4605 and opened H6605 the doors H1817 of heaven, H8064 And had rained down H4305 manna H4478 upon them to eat, H398 and had given H5414 them of the corn H1715 of heaven. H8064 Man H376 did eat H398 angels' H47 food: H3899 he sent H7971 them meat H6720 to the full. H7648
Draw H4900 me, we will run H7323 after H310 thee: the king H4428 hath brought H935 me into his chambers: H2315 we will be glad H1523 and rejoice H8055 in thee, we will remember H2142 thy love H1730 more than wine: H3196 the upright H4339 love H157 thee.
In all their affliction H6869 he was afflicted, H6862 and the angel H4397 of his presence H6440 saved H3467 them: in his love H160 and in his pity H2551 he redeemed H1350 them; and he bare H5190 them, and carried H5375 them all the days H3117 of old. H5769
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 The people H5971 which were left H8300 of the sword H2719 found H4672 grace H2580 in the wilderness; H4057 even Israel, H3478 when I went H1980 to cause him to rest. H7280 The LORD H3068 hath appeared H7200 of old H7350 unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved H157 thee with an everlasting H5769 love: H160 therefore with lovingkindness H2617 have I drawn H4900 thee.
For she did not know H3045 that I gave H5414 her corn, H1715 and wine, H8492 and oil, H3323 and multiplied H7235 her silver H3701 and gold, H2091 which they prepared H6213 for Baal. H1168
Then G3767 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Moses G3475 gave G1325 you G5213 not G3756 that bread G740 from G1537 heaven; G3772 but G235 my G3450 Father G3962 giveth G1325 you G5213 the true G228 bread G740 from G1537 heaven. G3772 For G1063 the bread G740 of God G2316 is he G2076 which G3588 cometh down G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 and G2532 giveth G1325 life G2222 unto the world. G2889 Then G3767 said they G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Lord, G2962 evermore G3842 give G1325 us G2254 this G5126 bread. G740 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 I G1473 am G1510 the bread G740 of life: G2222 he that cometh G2064 to G4314 me G3165 shall never G3364 hunger; G3983 and G2532 he that believeth G4100 on G1519 me G1691 shall G1372 never G3364 G4455 thirst. G1372 But G235 I said G2036 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G3708 also G2532 have seen G3708 me, G3165 and G2532 believe G4100 not. G3756 All G3956 that G3739 the Father G3962 giveth G1325 me G3427 shall come G2240 to G4314 me; G1691 and G2532 him that cometh G2064 to G4314 me G3165 I will G1544 in no wise G3364 cast G1544 out. G1854 For G3754 I came down G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 not G3756 to G2443 do G4160 mine own G1699 will, G2307 but G235 the will G2307 of him that sent G3992 me. G3165 And G1161 this G5124 is G2076 the Father's G3962 will G2307 which G3588 hath sent G3992 me, G3165 that G2443 of all G3956 which G3739 he hath given G1325 me G3427 I should lose G622 nothing, G3361 G1537 G846 but G235 should raise G450 it G846 up again G450 at G1722 the last G2078 day. G2250 And G1161 this G5124 is G2076 the will G2307 of him that sent G3992 me, G3165 that G2443 every one G3956 which G3588 seeth G2334 the Son, G5207 and G2532 believeth G4100 on G1519 him, G846 may have G2192 everlasting G166 life: G2222 and G2532 I G1473 will raise G450 him G846 up G450 at the last G2078 day. G2250 The Jews G2453 then G3767 murmured G1111 at G4012 him, G846 because G3754 he said, G2036 I G1473 am G1510 the bread G740 which G3588 came down G2597 from G1537 heaven. G3772 And G2532 they said, G3004 Is G2076 not G3756 this G3778 Jesus, G2424 the son G5207 of Joseph, G2501 whose G3739 father G3962 and G2532 mother G3384 we G2249 know? G1492 how is it G4459 then G3767 that he G3778 saith, G3004 G3754 I came down G2597 from G1537 heaven? G3772 Jesus G2424 therefore G3767 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto them, G846 Murmur G1111 not G3361 among G3326 yourselves. G240 No man G3762 can G1410 come G2064 to G4314 me, G3165 except G3362 the Father G3962 which G3588 hath sent G3992 me G3165 draw G1670 him: G846 and G2532 I G1473 will raise G450 him G846 up G450 at the last G2078 day. G2250 It is G2076 written G1125 in G1722 the prophets, G4396 And G2532 they shall be G2071 all G3956 taught G1318 of God. G2316 Every man G3956 therefore G3767 that hath heard, G191 and G2532 hath learned G3129 of G3844 the Father, G3962 cometh G2064 unto G4314 me. G3165 Not G3756 that G3754 any man G5100 hath seen G3708 the Father, G3962 save G1508 he which G3588 is G3844 G5607 of God, G2316 he G3778 hath seen G3708 the Father. G3962 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 He that believeth G4100 on G1519 me G1691 hath G2192 everlasting G166 life. G2222 I G1473 am G1510 that bread G740 of life. G2222 Your G5216 fathers G3962 did eat G5315 manna G3131 in G1722 the wilderness, G2048 and G2532 are dead. G599 This G3778 is G2076 the bread G740 which G3588 cometh down G2597 from G1537 heaven, G3772 that G3363 a man G5100 may eat G5315 thereof, G1537 G846 and G2532 not G3363 die. G599 I G1473 am G1510 the living G2198 bread G740 which G3588 came down G2597 from G1537 heaven: G3772 if G1437 any man G5100 eat G5315 of G1537 this G5127 bread, G740 he shall live G2198 for G1519 ever: G165 and G1161 G2532 the bread G740 that G3739 I G1473 will give G1325 is G2076 my G3450 flesh, G4561 which G3739 I G1473 will give G1325 for G5228 the life G2222 of the world. G2889 The Jews G2453 therefore G3767 strove G3164 among G4314 themselves, G240 saying, G3004 How G4459 can G1410 this man G3778 give G1325 us G2254 his flesh G4561 to eat? G5315 Then G3767 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Except G3362 ye eat G5315 the flesh G4561 of the Son G5207 of man, G444 and G2532 drink G4095 his G846 blood, G129 ye have G2192 no G3756 life G2222 in G1722 you. G1438 Whoso eateth G5176 my G3450 flesh, G4561 and G2532 drinketh G4095 my G3450 blood, G129 hath G2192 eternal G166 life; G2222 and G2532 I G1473 will raise G450 him G846 up G450 at the last G2078 day. G2250 For G1063 my G3450 flesh G4561 is G2076 meat G1035 indeed, G230 and G2532 my G3450 blood G129 is G2076 drink G4213 indeed. G230 He that eateth G5176 my G3450 flesh, G4561 and G2532 drinketh G4095 my G3450 blood, G129 dwelleth G3306 in G1722 me, G1698 and I G2504 in G1722 him. G846 As G2531 the living G2198 Father G3962 hath sent G649 me, G3165 and I G2504 live G2198 by G1223 the Father: G3962 so G2532 he that eateth G5176 me, G3165 even he G2548 shall live G2198 by G1223 me. G1691 This G3778 is G2076 that bread G740 which G3588 came down G2597 from G1537 heaven: G3772 not G3756 as G2531 your G5216 fathers G3962 did eat G5315 manna, G3131 and G2532 are dead: G599 he that eateth G5176 of this G5126 bread G740 shall live G2198 for G1519 ever. G165
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hosea 11
Commentary on Hosea 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Ho 11:1-12. God's Former Benefits, and Israel's Ingratitude Resulting in Punishment, Yet Jehovah Promises Restoration at Last.
Ho 11:5 shows this prophecy was uttered after the league made with Egypt (2Ki 17:4).
1. Israel … called my son out of Egypt—Bengel translates, "From the time that he (Israel) was in Egypt, I called him My son," which the parallelism proves. So Ho 12:9 and Ho 13:4 use "from … Egypt," for "from the time that thou didst sojourn in Egypt." Ex 4:22 also shows that Israel was called by God, "My son," from the time of his Egyptian sojourn (Isa 43:1). God is always said to have led or brought forth, not to have "called," Israel from Egypt. Mt 2:15, therefore, in quoting this prophecy (typically and primarily referring to Israel, antitypically and fully to Messiah), applies it to Jesus' sojourn in Egypt, not His return from it. Even from His infancy, partly spent in Egypt, God called Him His son. God included Messiah, and Israel for Messiah's sake, in one common love, and therefore in one common prophecy. Messiah's people and Himself are one, as the Head and the body. Isa 49:3 calls Him "Israel." The same general reason, danger of extinction, caused the infant Jesus, and Israel in its national infancy (compare Ge 42:1-43:34; 45:18; 46:3, 4; Eze 16:4-6; Jer 31:20) to sojourn in Egypt. So He, and His spiritual Israel, are already called "God's sons" while yet in the Egypt of the world.
2. As they called them—"they," namely, monitors sent by Me. "Called," in Ho 11:1, suggests the idea of the many subsequent calls by the prophets.
went from them—turned away in contempt (Jer 2:27).
Baalim—images of Baal, set up in various places.
3. taught … to go—literally, "to use his feet." Compare a similar image, De 1:31; 8:2, 5, 15; 32:10, 11; Ne 9:21; Isa 63:9; Am 2:10. God bore them as a parent does an infant, unable to supply itself, so that it has no anxiety about food, raiment, and its going forth. Ac 13:18, which probably refers to this passage of Hosea; He took them by the arms, to guide them that they might not stray, and to hold them up that they might not stumble.
knew not that I healed them—that is, that My design was to restore them spiritually and temporally (Ex 15:26).
4. cords of a man—parallel to "bands of love"; not such cords as oxen are led by, but humane methods, such as men employ when inducing others, as for instance, a father drawing his child, by leading-strings, teaching him to go (Ho 11:1).
I was … as they that take off the yoke on their jaws … I laid meat—as the humane husbandman occasionally loosens the straps under the jaws by which the yoke is bound on the neck of oxen and lays food before them to eat. An appropriate image of God's deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian yoke, and of His feeding them in the wilderness.
5. He shall not return into … Egypt—namely, to seek help against Assyria (compare Ho 7:11), as Israel lately had done (2Ki 17:4), after having revolted from Assyria, to whom they had been tributary from the times of Menahem (2Ki 15:19). In a figurative sense, "he shall return to Egypt" (Ho 9:3), that is, to Egypt-like bondage; also many Jewish fugitives were literally to return to Egypt, when the Holy Land was to be in Assyrian and Chaldean hands.
Assyrian shall be his king—instead of having kings of their own, and Egypt as their auxiliary.
because they refused to return—just retribution. They would not return (spiritually) to God, therefore they shall not return (corporally) to Egypt, the object of their desire.
6. abide—or, "fall upon" [Calvin].
branches—that is, his villages, which are the branches or dependencies of the cities [Calvin]. Grotius translates, "his bars" (so La 2:9), that is, the warriors who were the bulwarks of the state. Compare Ho 4:18, "rulers" (Margin), "shields" (Ps 47:9).
because of their own counsels—in worshipping idols, and relying on Egypt (compare Ho 10:6).
7. bent to backsliding—Not only do they backslide, and that too from Me, their "chief good," but they are bent upon it. Though they (the prophets) called them (the Israelites) to the Most High (from their idols), "none would exalt (that is, extol or honor) Him." To exalt God, they must cease to be "bent on backsliding," and must lift themselves upwards.
8. as Admah … Zeboim—among the cities, including Sodom and Gomorrah, irretrievably overthrown (De 29:23).
heart is turned within me—with the deepest compassion, so as not to execute My threat (La 1:20; compare Ge 43:30; 1Ki 3:26). So the phrase is used of a new turn given to the feeling (Ps 105:25).
repentings—God speaks according to human modes of thought (Nu 23:19). God's seeming change is in accordance with His secret everlasting purpose of love to His people, to magnify His grace after their desperate rebellion.
9. I will not return to destroy Ephraim—that is, I will no more, as in past times, destroy Ephraim. The destruction primarily meant is probably that by Tiglath-pileser, who, as the Jewish king Ahaz' ally against Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Syria, deprived Israel of Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali (2Ki 15:29). The ulterior reference is to the long dispersion hereafter, to be ended by God's covenant mercy restoring His people, not for their merits, but of His grace.
God, … not man—not dealing as man would, with implacable wrath under awful provocation (Isa 55:7-9; Mal 3:6). I do not, like man, change when once I have made a covenant of everlasting love, as with Israel (Nu 23:19). We measure God by the human standard, and hence are slow to credit fully His promises; these, however, belong to the faithful remnant, not to the obstinately impenitent.
in the midst of thee—as peculiarly thy God (Ex 19:5, 6).
not enter into the city—as an enemy: as I entered Admah, Zeboim, and Sodom, utterly destroying them, whereas I will not utterly destroy thee. Somewhat similarly Jerome: "I am not one such as human dwellers in a city, who take cruel vengeance; I save those whom I correct." Thus "not man," and "in the midst of thee," are parallel to "into the city." Though I am in the midst of thee, it is not as man entering a rebellious city to destroy utterly. Maurer needlessly translates, "I will not come in wrath."
10. he shall roar like a lion—by awful judgments on their foes (Isa 31:4; Jer 25:26-30; Joe 3:16), calling His dispersed "children" from the various lands of their dispersion.
shall tremble—shall flock in eager agitation of haste.
from the west—(Zec 8:7). Literally, "the sea." Probably the Mediterranean, including its "isles of the sea," and maritime coast. Thus as Ho 11:11 specifies regions of Africa and Asia, so here Europe. Isa 11:11-16, is parallel, referring to the very same regions. On "children," see Ho 1:10.
11. tremble—flutter in haste.
dove—no longer "a silly dove" (Ho 7:11), but as "doves flying to their windows" (Isa 60:8).
in their houses—(Eze 28:26). Literally, "upon," for the Orientals live almost as much upon their flat-roofed houses as in them.
12. Maurer joins this verse with the twelfth chapter. But as this verse praises Judah, whereas Ho 12:2 censures him, it must belong rather to the eleventh chapter and a new prophecy begins at the twelfth chapter. To avoid this, Maurer translates this verse as a censure, "Judah wanders with God," that is, though having the true God, he wanders after false gods.
ruleth with God—to serve God is to reign. Ephraim wished to rule without God (compare 1Co 4:8); nay, even, in order to rule, cast off God's worship [Rivetus]. In Judah was the legitimate succession of kings and priests.
with the saints—the holy priests and Levites [Rivetus]. With the fathers and prophets who handed down the pure worship of God. Israel's apostasy is the more culpable, as he had before him the good example of Judah, which he set at naught. The parallelism ("with God") favors Margin, "With THE Most Holy One."