15 All their wickedness H7451 is in Gilgal: H1537 for there I hated H8130 them: for the wickedness H7455 of their doings H4611 I will drive them out H1644 of mine house, H1004 I will love H160 them no more: H3254 all their princes H8269 are revolters. H5637
Though thou, Israel, H3478 play the harlot, H2181 yet let not Judah H3063 offend; H816 and come H935 not ye unto Gilgal, H1537 neither go ye up H5927 to Bethaven, H1007 nor swear, H7650 The LORD H3068 liveth. H2416
Is there iniquity H205 in Gilead? H1568 surely they are vanity: H7723 they sacrifice H2076 bullocks H7794 in Gilgal; H1537 yea, their altars H4196 are as heaps H1530 in the furrows H8525 of the fields. H7704
And there shall be, like people, H5971 like priest: H3548 and I will punish H6485 them for their ways, H1870 and reward H7725 them their doings. H4611
For the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall abide H3427 many H7227 days H3117 without a king, H4428 and without a prince, H8269 and without a sacrifice, H2077 and without an image, H4676 and without an ephod, H646 and without teraphim: H8655
Hear H8085 ye this, O priests; H3548 and hearken, H7181 ye house H1004 of Israel; H3478 and give ye ear, H238 O house H1004 of the king; H4428 for judgment H4941 is toward you, because ye have been a snare H6341 on Mizpah, H4709 and a net H7568 spread H6566 upon Tabor. H8396 And the revolters H7846 are profound H6009 to make slaughter, H7819 though I have been a rebuker H4148 of them all.
And they consider H559 not in their hearts H3824 that I remember H2142 all their wickedness: H7451 now their own doings H4611 have beset them about; H5437 they are before my face. H6440
Come H935 to Bethel, H1008 and transgress; H6586 at Gilgal H1537 multiply H7235 transgression; H6586 and bring H935 your sacrifices H2077 every morning, H1242 and your tithes H4643 after three H7969 years: H3117
The heads H7218 thereof judge H8199 for reward, H7810 and the priests H3548 thereof teach H3384 for hire, H4242 and the prophets H5030 thereof divine H7080 for money: H3701 yet will they lean H8172 upon the LORD, H3068 and say, H559 Is not the LORD H3068 among H7130 us? none evil H7451 can come H935 upon us.
Three H7969 shepherds H7462 also I cut off H3582 in one H259 month; H3391 and my soul H5315 lothed H7114 them, and their soul H5315 also abhorred H973 me.
And G1161 it came to pass G1096 on G1909 the morrow, G839 that their G846 rulers, G758 and G2532 elders, G4245 and G2532 scribes, G1122 And G2532 Annas G452 the high priest, G749 and G2532 Caiaphas, G2533 and G2532 John, G2491 and G2532 Alexander, G223 and G2532 as many as G3745 were G2258 of G1537 the kindred G1085 of the high priest, G748 were gathered together G4863 at G1519 Jerusalem. G2419 And G2532 when they had set G2476 them G846 in G1722 the midst, G3319 they asked, G4441 By G1722 what G4169 power, G1411 or G2228 by G1722 what G4169 name, G3686 have G4160 ye G5210 done G4160 this? G5124
For G1063 of G1909 a truth G225 against G1909 thy G4675 holy G40 child G3816 Jesus, G2424 whom G3739 thou hast anointed, G5548 both G5037 Herod, G2264 and G2532 Pontius G4194 Pilate, G4091 with G4862 the Gentiles, G1484 and G2532 the people G2992 of Israel, G2474 were gathered together, G4863
Then said H559 God, Call H7121 his name H8034 Loammi: H3818 for ye are not my people, H5971 and I will not be your God.
And I will destroy H8045 your high places, H1116 and cut down H3772 your images, H2553 and cast H5414 your carcases H6297 upon the carcases H6297 of your idols, H1544 and my soul H5315 shall abhor H1602 you.
And the people H5971 came up H5927 out of Jordan H3383 on the tenth H6218 day of the first H7223 month, H2320 and encamped H2583 in Gilgal, H1537 in the east H4217 border H7097 of Jericho. H3405 And those twelve H8147 H6240 stones, H68 which they took out H3947 of Jordan, H3383 did Joshua H3091 pitch H6965 in Gilgal. H1537 And he spake H559 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 When your children H1121 shall ask H7592 their fathers H1 in time to come, H4279 saying, H559 What mean these stones? H68 Then ye shall let your children H1121 know, H3045 saying, H559 Israel H3478 came over H5674 this Jordan H3383 on dry land. H3004 For the LORD H3068 your God H430 dried up H3001 the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 from before H6440 you, until ye were passed over, H5674 as the LORD H3068 your God H430 did H6213 to the Red H5488 sea, H3220 which he dried up H3001 from before H6440 us, until we were gone over: H5674 That all the people H5971 of the earth H776 might know H3045 the hand H3027 of the LORD, H3068 that it is mighty: H2389 that ye might fear H3372 the LORD H3068 your God H430 for ever. H3117
At that time H6256 the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 Make H6213 thee sharp H6697 knives, H2719 and circumcise H4135 again H7725 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 the second time. H8145 And Joshua H3091 made H6213 him sharp H6697 knives, H2719 and circumcised H4135 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 at the hill H1389 of the foreskins. H6190 And this is the cause H1697 why Joshua H3091 did circumcise: H4135 All the people H5971 that came out H3318 of Egypt, H4714 that were males, H2145 even all the men H582 of war, H4421 died H4191 in the wilderness H4057 by the way, H1870 after they came out H3318 of Egypt. H4714 Now H3588 all the people H5971 that came out H3318 were circumcised: H4135 but all the people H5971 that were born H3209 in the wilderness H4057 by the way H1870 as they came forth H3318 out of Egypt, H4714 them they had not circumcised. H4135 For the children H1121 of Israel H3478 walked H1980 forty H705 years H8141 in the wilderness, H4057 till all the people H1471 that were men H582 of war, H4421 which came out H3318 of Egypt, H4714 were consumed, H8552 because they obeyed H8085 not the voice H6963 of the LORD: H3068 unto whom the LORD H3068 sware H7650 that he would not shew H7200 them the land, H776 which the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto their fathers H1 that he would give H5414 us, a land H776 that floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey. H1706 And their children, H1121 whom he raised up H6965 in their stead, them Joshua H3091 circumcised: H4135 for they were uncircumcised, H6189 because they had not circumcised H4135 them by the way. H1870 And it came to pass, when they had done H8552 circumcising H4135 all the people, H1471 that they abode H3427 in their places in the camp, H4264 till they were whole. H2421 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 This day H3117 have I rolled away H1556 the reproach H2781 of Egypt H4714 from off you. Wherefore the name H8034 of the place H4725 is called H7121 Gilgal H1537 unto this day. H3117
And he went H1980 from H1767 year H8141 to year H8141 in circuit H5437 to Bethel, H1008 and Gilgal, H1537 and Mizpeh, H4709 and judged H8199 Israel H3478 in all those places. H4725
Then will I cut off H3772 Israel H3478 out H6440 of the land H127 which I have given H5414 them; and this house, H1004 which I have hallowed H6942 for my name, H8034 will I cast out H7971 of my sight; H6440 and Israel H3478 shall be a proverb H4912 and a byword H8148 among all people: H5971 And at this house, H1004 which is high, H5945 every one that passeth H5674 by it shall be astonished, H8074 and shall hiss; H8319 and they shall say, H559 Why hath the LORD H3068 done H6213 thus unto this land, H776 and to this house? H1004 And they shall answer, H559 Because they forsook H5800 the LORD H3068 their God, H430 who brought forth H3318 their fathers H1 out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and have taken hold H2388 upon other H312 gods, H430 and have worshipped H7812 them, and served H5647 them: therefore hath the LORD H3068 brought H935 upon them all this evil. H7451
And they caused their sons H1121 and their daughters H1323 to pass H5674 through the fire, H784 and used H7080 divination H7081 and enchantments, H5172 and sold H4376 themselves to do H6213 evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 to provoke him to anger. H3707 Therefore the LORD H3068 was very H3966 angry H599 with Israel, H3478 and removed H5493 them out of his sight: H6440 there was none left H7604 but the tribe H7626 of Judah H3063 only. Also Judah H3063 kept H8104 not the commandments H4687 of the LORD H3068 their God, H430 but walked H3212 in the statutes H2708 of Israel H3478 which they made. H6213 And the LORD H3068 rejected H3988 all the seed H2233 of Israel, H3478 and afflicted H6031 them, and delivered H5414 them into the hand H3027 of spoilers, H8154 until he had cast H7993 them out of his sight. H6440
So that he forsook H5203 the tabernacle H4908 of Shiloh, H7887 the tent H168 which he placed H7931 among men; H120
And I saw, H7200 when for all the causes H182 whereby backsliding H4878 Israel H3478 committed adultery H5003 I had put her away, H7971 and given H5414 her a bill H5612 of divorce; H3748 yet her treacherous H898 sister H269 Judah H3063 feared H3372 not, but went H3212 and played the harlot H2181 also.
I will get H3212 me unto the great men, H1419 and will speak H1696 unto them; for they have known H3045 the way H1870 of the LORD, H3068 and the judgment H4941 of their God: H430 but these have altogether H3162 broken H7665 the yoke, H5923 and burst H5423 the bonds. H4147
What hath my beloved H3039 to do in mine house, H1004 seeing she hath wrought H6213 lewdness H4209 with many, H7227 and the holy H6944 flesh H1320 is passed H5674 from thee? when thou doest evil, H7451 then thou rejoicest. H5937
Considerest H7200 thou not what this people H5971 have spoken, H1696 saying, H559 The two H8147 families H4940 which the LORD H3068 hath chosen, H977 he hath even cast them off? H3988 thus they have despised H5006 my people, H5971 that they should be no more a nation H1471 before H6440 them. Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 If my covenant H1285 be not with day H3119 and night, H3915 and if I have not appointed H7760 the ordinances H2708 of heaven H8064 and earth; H776 Then H1571 will I cast away H3988 the seed H2233 of Jacob, H3290 and David H1732 my servant, H5650 so that I will not take H3947 any of his seed H2233 to be rulers H4910 over the seed H2233 of Abraham, H85 Isaac, H3446 and Jacob: H3290 for I will cause their captivity H7622 to return, H7725 H7725 and have mercy H7355 on them.
Her princes H8269 in the midst H7130 thereof are like wolves H2061 ravening H2963 the prey, H2964 to shed H8210 blood, H1818 and to destroy H6 souls, H5315 to get H1214 dishonest gain. H1215
So she discovered H1540 her whoredoms, H8457 and discovered H1540 her nakedness: H6172 then my mind H5315 was alienated H3363 from her, like as my mind H5315 was alienated H5361 from her sister. H269
And Joshua H3091 returned, H7725 and all Israel H3478 with him, unto the camp H4264 to Gilgal. H1537
And G1161 when they heard G191 that, they entered G1525 into G1519 the temple G2411 early in the morning, G5259 G3722 and G2532 taught. G1321 But G1161 the high priest G749 came, G3854 and G2532 they that were with G4862 him, G846 and called G4779 the council G4892 together, G4779 and G2532 all G3956 the senate G1087 of the children G5207 of Israel, G2474 and G2532 sent G649 to G1519 the prison G1201 to have G71 them G846 brought. G71
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hosea 9
Commentary on Hosea 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
Ho 9:1-17. Warning against Israel's Joy at Partial Relief from Their Troubles: Their Crops Shall Fail, and the People Leave the Lord's Land for Egypt and Assyria, Where They Cannot, If So Inclined, Serve God According to the Ancient Ritual: Folly of Their False Prophets.
1. Rejoice not … for joy—literally, "to exultation." Thy exultation at the league with Pul, by which peace seems secured, is out of place: since thy idolatry will bring ruin on thee.
as other people—the Assyrians for instance, who, unlike thee, are in the height of prosperity.
loved a reward upon every corn floor—Thou hast desired, in reward for thy homage to idols, abundance of corn on every threshing-floor (Ho 2:12).
2. (Ho 2:9, 12).
fail—disappoint her expectation.
3. return to Egypt—(See on Ho 8:13). As in Ho 11:5 it is said, "He shall not return into … Egypt." Fairbairn thinks it is not the exact country that is meant, but the bondage state with which, from past experience, Egypt was identified in their minds. Assyria was to be a second Egypt to them. De 28:68, though threatening a return to Egypt, speaks (De 28:36) of their being brought to a nation which neither they nor their fathers had known, showing that it is not the literal Egypt, but a second Egypt-like bondage that is threatened.
eat unclean things in Assyria—reduced by necessity to eat meats pronounced unclean by the Mosaic law (Eze 4:13). See 2Ki 17:6.
4. offer wine offerings—literally, "pour as a libation (Ex 30:9; Le 23:13).
neither shall they be pleasing unto him—as being offered on a profane soil.
sacrifices … as the bread of mourners—which was unclean (De 26:14; Jer 16:7; Eze 24:17).
their bread for their soul—their offering for the expiation of their soul [Calvin], (Le 17:11). Rather, "their bread for their sustenance ('soul' being often used for the animal life, Ge 14:21, Margin) shall not come into the Lord's house"; it shall only subserve their own uses, not My worship.
5. (Ho 2:11).
6. because of destruction—to escape from the devastation of their country.
Egypt shall gather them up—that is, into its sepulchres (Jer 8:2; Eze 29:5). Instead of returning to Palestine, they should die in Egypt.
Memphis—famed as a necropolis.
the pleasant places for their silver—that is, their desired treasuries for their money. Or, "whatever precious thing they have of silver" [Maurer].
nettles—the sign of desolation (Isa 34:13).
7. visitation—vengeance: punishment (Isa 10:3).
Israel shall know it—to her cost experimentally (Isa 9:9).
the prophet is a fool—The false prophet who foretold prosperity to the nation shall be convicted of folly by the event.
the spiritual man—the man pretending to inspiration (La 2:14; Eze 13:3; Mic 3:11; Zep 3:4).
for the multitude of thine iniquity, &c.—Connect these words with, "the days of visitation … are come"; "the prophet … is mad," being parenthetical.
the great hatred—or, "the great provocation" [Henderson]; or, "(thy) great apostasy" [Maurer]. English Version means Israel's "hatred" of God's prophets and the law.
8. The watchman … was with my God—The spiritual watchmen, the true prophets, formerly consulted my God (Jer 31:6; Hab 2:1); but their so-called prophet is a snare, entrapping Israel into idolatry.
hatred—rather, "(a cause of) apostasy" (see Ho 9:7) [Maurer].
house of his God—that is, the state of Ephraim, as in Ho 8:1 [Maurer]. Or, "the house of his (false) god," the calves [Calvin]. Jehovah, "my God," seems contrasted with "his God." Calvin's view is therefore preferable.
9. as in the days of Gibeah—as in the day of the perpetration of the atrocity of Gibeah, narrated in Jud 19:16-22, &c.
10. As the traveller in a wilderness is delighted at finding grapes to quench his thirst, or the early fig (esteemed a great delicacy in the East, Isa 28:4; Jer 24:2; Mic 7:1); so it was My delight to choose your fathers as My peculiar people in Egypt (Ho 2:15).
at her first time—when the first-fruits of the tree become ripe.
went to Baal-peor—(Nu 25:3): the Moabite idol, in whose worship young women prostituted themselves; the very sin Israel latterly was guilty of.
separated themselves—consecrated themselves.
unto that shame—to that shameful or foul idol (Jer 11:13).
their abominations were according as they loved—rather, as Vulgate, "they became abominable like the object of their love" (De 7:26; Ps 115:8). English Version gives good sense, "their abominable idols they followed after, according as their lusts prompted them" (Am 4:5, Margin).
11. their glory shall fly away—fit retribution to those who "separated themselves unto that shame" (Ho 9:10). Children were accounted the glory of parents; sterility, a reproach. "Ephraim" means "fruitfulness" (Ge 41:52); this its name shall cease to be its characteristic.
from the birth … womb … conception—Ephraim's children shall perish in a threefold gradation; (1) From the time of birth. (2) From the time of pregnancy. (3) From the time of their first conception.
12. Even though they should rear their children, yet will I bereave them (the Ephraimites) of them (Job 27:14).
woe … to them when I depart—Yet the ungodly in their madness desire God to depart from them (Job 21:14; 22:17; Mt 8:34). At last they know to their cost how awful it is when God has departed (De 31:17; 1Sa 28:15, 16; compare Ho 9:11; 1Sa 4:21).
13. Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus … in a pleasant place—that is, in looking towards Tyrus (on whose borders Ephraim lay) I saw Ephraim beautiful in situation like her (Eze 26:1-28:26).
is planted—as a fruitful tree; image suggested by the meaning of "Ephraim" (Ho 9:11).
bring forth his children to the murderer—(Ho 9:16; Ho 13:16). With all his fruitfulness, his children shall only be brought up to be slain.
14. what wilt thou give?—As if overwhelmed by feeling, he deliberates with God what is most desirable.
give … a miscarrying womb—Of two evils he chooses the least. So great will be the calamity, that barrenness will be a blessing, though usually counted a great misfortune (Job 3:3; Jer 20:14; Lu 23:29).
15. All their wickedness—that is, their chief guilt.
Gilgal—(see on Ho 4:15). This was the scene of their first contumacy in rejecting God and choosing a king (1Sa 11:14, 15; compare 1Sa 8:7), and of their subsequent idolatry.
there I hated them—not with the human passion, but holy hatred of their sin, which required punishment to be inflicted on themselves (compare Mal 1:3).
out of mine house—as in Ho 8:1: out of the land holy unto Me. Or, as "love" is mentioned immediately after, the reference may be to the Hebrew mode of divorce, the husband (God) putting the wife (Israel) out of the house.
princes … revolters—"Sarim … Sorerim" (Hebrew), a play on similar sounds.
16. The figures "root," "fruit," are suggested by the word "Ephraim," that is, fruitful (see on Ho 9:11, 12). "Smitten," namely, with a blight (Ps 102:4).
17. My God—"My," in contrast to "them," that is, the people, whose God Jehovah no longer is. Also Hosea appeals to God as supporting his authority against the whole people.
wanderers among … nations—(2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26).