Destruction is threatened. HOSEA, VIII, IX. dove without heart: they h call to B. C. 760. Egypt, they go to Assyria. 17.3,4. 12 When they shall go, I will h 2Ki. 15.9. spread my net i upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise k them, i Ec.9.12. as their congregation hath heard. 13 Wo unto them! for they have fled from me: 9 destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have k Re.3.19. 9 spoil. 10 or, chas- (CHAP. 8.) a 2Ki. 15. 13, corn. 15 Though I have 10 bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, but not to the Most High: they are like a deceitful bow their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their 4 or, begin. tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. CHAPTER VIII. 3 loves. Destruction threatened for Israel's 5 or, in a litimpiety and idolatry. tle while. ET the trumpet to 1 thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my jaw. 2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good; the enemy shall pursue Jim. 4 They have set up kings, a but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind it hath no 2 stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 6 or, In the sacrifices of mine offerings, they, &c. (CHAP. 9.) 1 or, in. a ch.S. 13. b Eze.4.13. Is.1.11.15. d Am.8.11,12. Jno.6.51. 3 of spoil. 4 or, their silver shall be desired, the nettle. 5 man of the spirit. 8 Israel is swallowed up; now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, e Je.6.17. a wild ass alone by himself: Eph-6 or, against. raim hath hired 3 lovers. 10 Yea, though they have hired f Ju.19.22. among the nations, now will I g De.32.10. gather them, and they shall 4 sor Distress of Israel. row 5 a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. 136 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof. CHAPTER IX. The distress and captivity of Israel for sin and idolatry. EJOICE not, O Israel, for joy, Ras other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward 1 upon every corn-floor. 2 The floor and the 2 wine-press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 3 They shall not dwell in the LORD's land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, a and b they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. 4 They shall not offer wine-offerings to the LORD, neither c shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread d for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD. 5 What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? 6 For, lo, they are gone because 3 of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: 4 the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles. 7 The days of visitation are come. the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the 5 spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 8 The watchmane of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred 6 in the house of his God. 9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: f therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. 101g found Israel like grapes in Israel is reproved. HOSEA, X, XI. the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first-ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to h Nu.25.3. Baal-peor, h and separated themselves unto that shame; and their i Je.5.31. abominations were according as they loved.i 11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, wo also to them when I depart k from them! 13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, lis planted in a pleasant place: but k De.31.17. Eze.27.2. 7 a womb that casteth the fruit. m ch. 12.11. n Ps.78.60. 8 desires, Eze.24.21. Her ingratitude judged. | Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.c 7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the 6 water. 8 The high places also of Aven, the sind of Israel, shall be destroyed the thorn and the thistle shall come upon their altars; and e they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. 90 Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah; there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. Ephraim shall bring forth his child-o De.28.64,65. chastise them: and the people ren to the murderer. 14 Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them 7 a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 All their wickedness is in m Gilgal for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house,n I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. 16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the 8 beloved fruit of their womb. 17 My God will cast them away, 4 Lehead, because they did not hearken unto I Sa.5.4. him: and they shall be wanderers ob ch.13.11. among the nations. CHAPTER X. Israel reproved and threatened for impiety and idolatry. TSRAEL is 1 an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased a the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly 2 images. 2 3 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall 4 break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. 3 For now they shall say, We b have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? 4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant : thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and 5 the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6 It shall be also carried unto 5 or, Che-: marim, 2Ki.23.5. Zep.1.4. 10 It is in my desire that I should shall be gathered against them, when 7 they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. 11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon 8 her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plough, and Jacob shall break his clods. 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. 15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of 9 your great wickedness in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. CHAPTER XI. 1 The ingratitude of Israel unto God for his benefits. 5 His judgment. 8 God's mercy towards them. gressions, WI loved him, and a called my THEN Israel was a child, then or, in their the beauty the evil of son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to Ephraim reproved. HOSEA, XII, XIII. land of Egypt, 2 but the Assyrian B. C. 725. shall be his king, because they refused to return. 6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the Most High, 3 none at all would exalt him. 2 They be- taries to c Mal.3.6. 8 How shall I give thee up, Eph-d Ps.78.36. raim? how shall I deliver thee, Is- 4 or, most rael? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as holy. Zeboin? mine heart is turned (CHAP. 12.) within me, my repentings are a Is.57.9. kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim for c I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. 10 They shall walk after the LORD he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. b Mi.6.2. 1 visit upon. d Ge.25.26. prince, or, e Ge.32.24, &c. Ephraim's glory. 18 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, h I have found me out substance: in 5 all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me 6 that were sin. 9 And I, that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feasts. 10 I i have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the 7 ministry of the prophets. 11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; k yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. 12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. 13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. 14 Ephraim provoked him to anger 8 most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his 9 blood upon him, and his reproach shall m his Lord return unto him. 35.9-15. 11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of fGe.28.11-19. the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith g Ex.3.15. the LORD. 3 Canaan, Eze. 16.3. 12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, d and the house of Israel 4 or, deceive. with deceit but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the 4 saints. CHAPTER XII. 1 A reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob. 7 Ephraim's sins and ingratitude provoke God. PHRAIM feedeth on wind, and E followeth after the east wind: h Re.3.17. 5 or, all my CHAPTER XIII. 1 Ephraim's glory, by reason of idolatry, vanisheth. 5 God's anger for their unkindness. 9 A promise of God's mercy. W WHEN Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. 2 And now they 1 sin more a and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols achave pun-cording to their own understandishment of ing, all of it the work of the craftsiniquity in whom is men: they say of them, Let the 2 men that sacrifice kiss b the calves. 3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff c that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. sin. he daily increaseth lies and desola- i 2Ki. 17.13, 2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, band will 1 pun-hand. ish Jacob according to his ways; according c to his doings will he recompense him. 14. k Am.5.5. 4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from 3 He d took his brother by the the land of Egypt, and thou shalt heel in the womb, and by his with bitter-know no God but me: for there is strength he 2 had power with God:e 4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el,f and there he spake with us; 5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of 3 great drought. d 6 According to their pasture, so were they filled they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. 7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion as a leopard by the way will I observe them: 8 1 will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and judgments of God. CHAPTER XIV. 1 An exhortation to repentance. 4 A promise of God's blessing. ISRAEL, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast faller by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously so will we render the calves a of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall 2 grow as the lily, and 3 cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall 4 spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow b shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and 5 grow as the the vine: the 6 scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein. A. M. 3201.... Year of Uzziah, king of Judah, 10....Year of Jeroboam II. king of Israel, 25. B. C. 800. hath left hath the locust b eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten. The residue of the palmer-worm. a ch.2.25. b De.28.38. c Is.32.10. d ch.2.2, 11. e Re.9.7-10. ƒ Is.5.6. laid my fig. 2 tree for a barking. 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for c it is cut off from your mouth. 6 For d a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth e are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 7 He hath laid f my vine waste, and 2 barked my fig tree; he hath made it clean bare, and cast it 11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husband-1 Je.30.7. men; howl, O ye vine-dressers, form Is. 13.6,9. the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. 12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree g languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy his withered away from the sons of men. n Ps.43.4. 5 grains. o Ho.4.3. p Ps.50.15. Lu. 18.1-7. q Je.9.10. 6 or, habitations. Ps. 104.21. 13 Gird i yourselves, and lament, ye priests howl, ye ministers of s 1Ki. 18.5. the altar come, lie all night in (CHAP. 2.) sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat-offering and the drink-1 or, cornet. offering is withholden from the a Nu. 10.5,9. house of your God. 11 Sanctify ye a fast, k call a 4 solemn assembly, gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, b ch.1.15. Zep.1.14, 15. c Am.5. 18,20. 15 Alas for the day! for m the d ch.1.6. day of the LORD is at hand, and as e Ex.10.14. Exhortations to repentance. holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for b the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand: 2 A day of darkness c and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; d there hath not been ever the like, e neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of 2 many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden ƒ before them, and behind g them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather 3 blackness.h 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks : 8 Neither shall one thrust another, they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the 4 sword, they shall not be wounded. 9 They shall run to and fro in the a destruction from the Almighty 2 generation city they shall run upon the wall; shall it come. and generation. Is.51.3. LOW ye the 1 trumpet in Zion, s ch.1.9. and sound an alarm a in my they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows i like a thief. k 10 The earth 7 shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun m and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible: and who n can abide it? 12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn o ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend p your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he q is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat-offerings and a drink-offering, unto the LORD your God? |