14 For Israel H3478 hath forgotten H7911 his Maker, H6213 and buildeth H1129 temples; H1964 and Judah H3063 hath multiplied H7235 fenced H1219 cities: H5892 but I will send H7971 a fire H784 upon his cities, H5892 and it shall devour H398 the palaces H759 thereof.
But if ye will not hearken H8085 unto me to hallow H6942 the sabbath H7676 day, H3117 and not to bear H5375 a burden, H4853 even entering in H935 at the gates H8179 of Jerusalem H3389 on the sabbath H7676 day; H3117 then will I kindle H3341 a fire H784 in the gates H8179 thereof, and it shall devour H398 the palaces H759 of Jerusalem, H3389 and it shall not be quenched. H3518
According to their pasture, H4830 so were they filled; H7646 they were filled, H7646 and their heart H3820 was exalted; H7311 therefore have they forgotten H7911 me.
But I will kindle H3341 a fire H784 in the wall H2346 of Rabbah, H7237 and it shall devour H398 the palaces H759 thereof, with shouting H8643 in the day H3117 of battle, H4421 with a tempest H5591 in the day H3117 of the whirlwind: H5492
But I will send H7971 a fire H784 into the house H1004 of Hazael, H2371 which shall devour H398 the palaces H759 of Benhadad. H1130
A voice H6963 was heard H8085 upon the high places, H8205 weeping H1065 and supplications H8469 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 for they have perverted H5753 their way, H1870 and they have forgotten H7911 the LORD H3068 their God. H430
Therefore he hath poured H8210 upon him the fury H2534 of his anger, H639 and the strength H5807 of battle: H4421 and it hath set him on fire H3857 round about, H5439 yet he knew H3045 not; and it burned H1197 him, yet he laid H7760 it not to heart. H3820
And he discovered H1540 the covering H4539 of Judah, H3063 and thou didst look H5027 in that day H3117 to the armour H5402 of the house H1004 of the forest. H3293 Ye have seen H7200 also the breaches H1233 of the city H5892 of David, H1732 that they are many: H7231 and ye gathered together H6908 the waters H4325 of the lower H8481 pool. H1295 And ye have numbered H5608 the houses H1004 of Jerusalem, H3389 and the houses H1004 have ye broken down H5422 to fortify H1219 the wall. H2346 Ye made H6213 also a ditch H4724 between the two walls H2346 for the water H4325 of the old H3465 pool: H1295 but ye have not looked H5027 unto the maker H6213 thereof, neither had respect H7200 unto him that fashioned H3335 it long ago. H7350
Moreover he built H1129 cities H5892 in the mountains H2022 of Judah, H3063 and in the forests H2793 he built H1129 castles H1003 and towers. H4026
Also he built H1129 towers H4026 in the desert, H4057 and digged H2672 many H7227 wells: H953 for he had much H7227 cattle, H4735 both in the low country, H8219 and in the plains: H4334 husbandmen H406 also, and vine dressers H3755 in the mountains, H2022 and in Carmel: H3760 for he loved H157 husbandry. H127
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing H7043 for him to walk H3212 in the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 that he took H3947 to wife H802 Jezebel H348 the daughter H1323 of Ethbaal H856 king H4428 of the Zidonians, H6722 and went H3212 and served H5647 Baal, H1168 and worshipped H7812 him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hosea 8
Commentary on Hosea 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Ho 8:1-14. Prophecy of the Irruption of the Assyrians, in Punishment for Israel's Apostasy, Idolatry, and Setting Up of Kings without God's Sanction.
In Ho 8:14, Judah is said to multiply fenced cities; and in Ho 8:7-9, Israel, to its great hurt, is said to have gone up to Assyria for help. This answers best to the reign of Menahem. For it was then that Uzziah of Judah, his contemporary, built fenced cities (2Ch 26:6, 9, 10). Then also Israel turned to Assyria and had to pay for their sinful folly a thousand talents of silver (2Ki 15:19) [Maurer].
1. Set the trumpet, &c.—to give warning of the approach of the enemy: "To thy palate (that is, 'mouth,' Job 31:30, Margin) the trumpet"; the abruptness of expression indicates the suddenness of the attack. So Ho 5:8.
as … eagle—the Assyrian (De 28:49; Jer 48:40; Hab 1:8).
against … house of … Lord—not the temple, but Israel viewed as the family of God (Ho 9:15; Nu 12:7; Zec 9:8; Heb 3:2; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 4:17).
2. My God, we know thee—the singular, "My," is used distributively, each one so addressing God. They, in their hour of need, plead their knowledge of God as the covenant-people, while in their acts they acknowledge Him not (compare Mt 7:21, 22; Tit 1:16; also Isa 29:13; Jer 7:4). The Hebrew joins "Israel," not as English Version, with "shall cry," but "We, Israel, know thee"; God denies the claim thus urged on the ground of their descent from Israel.
3. Israel—God repeats the name in opposition to their use of it (Ho 8:2).
the thing that is good—Jerome translates, "God" who is good and doing good (Ps 119:68). He is the chief object rejected, but with Him also all that is good.
the enemy shall pursue him—in just retribution from God.
4. kings … not by me—not with My sanction (1Ki 11:31; 12:20). Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation.
I knew it not—I approved it not (Ps 1:6).
of … gold … idols—(Ho 2:8; 13:2).
that they may be cut off—that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So Jer 27:10, 15; 44:8.
5. hath cast thee off—As the ellipsis of thee is unusual, Maurer translates, "thy calf is abominable." But the antithesis to Ho 8:3 establishes English Version, "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good"; therefore, in just retribution, "thy calf hath cast thee off," that is, is made by God the cause of thy being cast off (Ho 10:15). Jeroboam, during his sojourn in Egypt, saw Apis worshipped at Memphis, and Mnevis at Heliopolis, in the form of an ox; this, and the temple cherubim, suggested the idea of the calves set up at Dan and Beth-el.
how long … ere they attain to innocency?—How long will they be incapable of bearing innocency? [Maurer].
6. from Israel was it—that is, the calf originated with them, not from Me. "It also," as well as their "kings set up" by them, "but not by Me" (Ho 8:4).
7. sown … reap—(Pr 22:8; Ga 6:7). "Sow … wind," that is, to make the vain show of worship, while faith and obedience are wanting [Calvin]. Rather, to offer senseless supplications to the calves for good harvests (compare Ho 2:8); the result being that God will make them "reap no stalk," that is, "standing corn." Also, the phraseology proverbially means that all their undertakings shall be profitless (Pr 11:29; Ec 5:16).
the bud—or, "growth."
strangers—foreigners (Ho 7:9).
8. vessel wherein is no pleasure—(Ps 41:12; Jer 22:28; 48:38).
9. gone … to Assyria—referring to Menahem's application for Pul's aid in establishing him on the throne (compare Ho 5:13; 7:11). Menahem's name is read in the inscriptions in the southwest palace of Nimrod, as a tributary to the Assyrian king in his eighth year. The dynasty of Pul, or Phalluka, was supplanted at Nineveh by that of Tiglath-pileser, about 768 (or 760) B.C. Semiramis seems to have been Pul's wife, and to have withdrawn to Babylon in 768; and her son, Nabonassar, succeeding after a period of confusion, originated "the era of Nabonassar," 747 B.C. [G. V. Smith]. Usually foreigners coming to Israel's land were said to "go up"; here it is the reverse, to intimate Israel's sunken state, and Assyria's superiority.
wild ass—a figure of Israel's headstrong perversity in following her own bent (Jer 2:24).
alone by himself—characteristic of Israel in all ages: "lo, the people shall dwell alone" (Nu 23:9; compare Job 39:5-8).
hired lovers—reversing the ordinary way, namely, that lovers should hire her (Eze 16:33, 34).
10. will I gather them—namely, the nations (Assyria, &c.) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished (Eze 16:37).
a little—rather, "in a little" [Henderson]. English Version gives good sense: They shall sorrow "a little" at the imposition of the tribute; God suspended yet the great judgment, namely, their deportation by Assyria.
the burden of the king of princes—the tribute imposed on Israel (under Menahem) by the Assyrian king Pul, (2Ki 15:19-22), who had many "princes" under his sway (Isa 10:8).
11. God in righteous retribution gives them up to their own way; the sin becomes its own punishment (Pr 1:31).
many altars—in opposition to God's law (De 12:5, 6, 13, 14).
to sin … to sin—Their altars which were "sin" (whatever religious intentions they might plead) should be treated as such, and be the source of their punishment (1Ki 12:30; 13:34).
12. great things of … law—(De 4:6, 8; Ps 19:8; 119:18, 72; 147:19, 20). Maurer not so well translates, "the many things of My law."
my law—as opposed to their inventions. This reference of Hosea to the Pentateuch alone is against the theory that some earlier written prophecies have not come down to us.
strange thing—as if a thing with which they had nothing to do.
13. sacrifices of mine offerings—that is, which they offer to Me.
eat it—Their own carnal gratification is the object which they seek, not My honor.
now—that is, "speedily."
shall return to Egypt—(Ho 9:3, 6; 11:11). The same threat as in De 28:68. They fled thither to escape from the Assyrians (compare as to Judah, Jer 42:1-44:30), when these latter had overthrown their nation. But see on Ho 9:3.
14. forgotten … Maker—(De 32:18).
temples—to idols.
Judah … fenced cities—Judah, though less idolatrous than Israel, betrayed lack of faith in Jehovah by trusting more to its fenced cities than to Him; instead of making peace with God, Judah multiplied human defenses (Isa 22:8; Jer 5:17; Mic 5:10, 11).
I will send … fire upon … cities—Sennacherib burned all Judah's fenced cities except Jerusalem (2Ki 18:13).
palaces thereof—namely, of the land. Compare as to Jerusalem, Jer 17:27.