Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 2:11
I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
11. her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths ] (The Hebrew has the singular, ‘her feast-day’ &c.) These expressions are remarkable, for Hosea is a prophet of northern Israel. It would appear, then, that the separation of north and south did not involve a discontinuance of the festivals in the north (see Hos 9:5). Amos had already predicted the ruin of the ‘feasts’ in N. Israel (Amo 8:10). In addition to the ‘feasts’ which are doubtless those mentioned in the earliest body of legislation (Exo 23:14, &c., Exo 34:18, &c.), Hosea specifies the new moon and the sabbath (comp. 2Ki 4:23) as passing away together with the national independence. This was not strictly speaking the case with regard to the sabbath, which became one great bond of union among the Jews in exile. But the old, popular sabbath of unrestrained joy (comp. Hosea’s ‘all her mirth’) did pass away; the sabbath of Isa 58:13 was very different from that which was popularly observed in ancient Israel.
and all her solemn feasts ] Or, festal assemblies. The term is more comprehensive than ‘feast’; the Levitical legislation recognizes seven ‘festal assemblies’, but only three ‘feasts’ (comp. Lev. 33).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I will also cause her mirth to cease, her feast days … – Israel had forsaken the temple of God; despised His priests; received from Jeroboam others whom God had not chosen; altered, at least, one of the festivals; celebrated all, where God had forbidden; and worshiped the Creator under the form of a brute creature (see Introduction). Yet they kept the great feast-days, whereby they commemorated His mercies to their forefathers; the new moons, whereby the first of every month was given to God; the sabbaths, whereby they owned God as the Creator of all things; and all the other solemn feasts, whereby they thanked God for acts of His special providence, or for His annual gifts of nature, and condemned themselves for trusting in false gods for those same gifts, and for associating His creatures with Himself. But man, even while he disobeys God, does not like to part with Him altogether, but would serve Him enough to soothe his own conscience, or as far as he can without parting with his sin which he loves better. Jeroboam retained all of Gods worship, which he could combine with his own political ends; and even in Ahabs time Israel halted between two opinions, and Judah sware both by the Lord and by Malcham Zep 1:5, the true God and the false. All this their worship was vain, because contrary to the will of God. Yet since God says, I will take away all her mirth, they had, what they supposed to be, religious mirth in their feasts, fulfilling as they thought, the commandment of God, Thou shalt rejoice in thy feasts Deu 16:14. She could have no real joy, since true joy is in the Lord Phi 4:4. So, in order that she might not deceive herself anymore, God says that he will take away that feigned formal service of Himself, which they blended with the real service of idols, and will remove the hollow outward joy, that, through repentance, they might come to the true joy in Him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Hos 2:11
I will also cause all her mirth to cease.
The conjunction of sin and mirth
Mirth is not happiness. It is but tile mimicry of real joy. There is but little happiness in the world, but there is much mirth.
I. The conjunction of sin and mirth is common. The voices of jollity and fun are heard everywhere through society.
II. It is incongruous. Gaiety and laughter in a sinner are most revolting when rightly regarded.
III. It is temporary.
1. The separation is certain. An old writer says, If you will not take away sin from your mirth, God will take away your mirth from your sin.
2. The separation will be solemn. Do not then confound mirth with happiness. Happiness will follow holiness for ever; mirth will only, like the ignis fatuus, flare about sin for a short time at most, and then go out. (Homilist.)
Mingled promise and threatening
The prophet seems in this verse to contradict himself, for he promised reconciliation, and now he speaks of a new repudiation. But the passage is very consistent, and there is in the words no contrariety. He has indeed promised that at a future time God would be propitious to the Israelites: but as they had not yet repented, it was needful to deal again more severely with them, that they might return to their God really and thoroughly subdued. So we see that, in Scripture, promises and threatenings are mingled together, and rightly too. It is necessary for men to be reproved not only once and again, but very often. (John Calvin.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 11. Her feast days] Jerusalem shall be pillaged and destroyed; and therefore all her joyous assemblies, and religious feasts, &c., shall cease.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will also cause all her mirth to cease; the jollity of Israel was certainly damped when Tiglath-pileser took Ijon, and other cities, and captivated Naphtali, 2Ki 15:29, which was some, yet but few, years after this prophecy: but sure all their joy ceased about ten or twelve years after, when Samaria was taken, and Hoshea and all Israel made captives: so the threat was executed in this sense. But the prophet speaks (as by what follows appeareth) of their sacred or religious joys, which God will abolish. He did not set them up, but he will pull them down.
Her feast days: though apostate Israel was fallen to idolatry, and renounced the true worship of God, yet by this text it appears they retained many of the rites and ceremonies that were used by the Jews, or else set up others like them, as their solemn feast at setting up the calves at Dan and Beth-el, in Jeroboams time.
New moons: these were days of greater sacrifices, Num 28:11, and greater feasting, 1Sa 20:5.
Sabbaths; their weekly sabbaths. All her solemn feasts; the three annual feasts of tabernacles, weeks, and passover, or others with them, all which should cease when these people were carried captive, as they were by Shalmaneser.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. her feast daysofJeroboam’s appointment, distinct from the Mosaic (1Ki12:32). However, most of the Mosaic feasts, “new-moons”and “sabbaths” to Jehovah, remained, but to degenerateIsrael worship was a weariness; they cared only for the carnalindulgence on them (Am 8:5).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I will also cause all her mirth to cease,…. As it must in course, this being her case, as before described, whether considered in individuals, or as a body politic, or in their church state, as follows:
her feast days; which the Jews understand of the three feasts of tabernacles, passover, and pentecost; typical of Christ’s tabernacling in human nature; of his being the passover sacrificed for us; and of the firstfruits of the Spirit; which being come, the shadows are gone and vanished, and these feasts are no more: her new moons, and her sabbaths; the first day of every month, and the seventh day of every week, observed for religious exercises; typical of the light the church receives from Christ, and the rest it has in him; and he, the body and substance of them, being come, these are no more, Col 2:16:
and all her solemn feasts; all others, whether of God’s appointment or their own; all are made to cease of right, if not in fact; the law of commandments, contained in ordinances, being abolished by Christ, and the Jews without a priest, sacrifice, and ephod, Eph 2:14.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet now descends to particulars; and, in the first place, he says, that the people would be deprived of their sacrifices and feast-days, and of that whole external pomp, which was with them the guise of religion. He then adds, that they would be spoiled of their food, and all their abundance. He has hitherto been speaking of their nakedness; but he now describes what this nakedness would be: and he specially mentions, that sacrifices would cease, that feast days, new-moons, and whatever belonged to external worship, would cease. I will make to cease, he says, all her joy. He speaks doubtless, of sacred joys; and this may be easily collected from the context. He adds, her every festal-day As they were wont to dance on their festal-days, this word may be referred to that practice. He afterwards adds, “her sabbath”, and all feast-days. Then the first kind of nakedness was, that God would take away from the Israelites that fallacious and empty form of religion in which they foolishly delighted. The second kind of nakedness was, that they were to be stripped of all earthly riches, and be reduced to misery and extreme want. But I cannot finish to-day.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Hos. 2:11. Feast days] and festivals retained in worship should cease because abused.
MIRTH TURNED INTO MOURNING.Hos. 2:11
Israel had forsaken the temple of God, and worshipped idols under the form of a calfhad changed some festivals, and kept up all in outward form. The monthly and yearly feasts were celebrated with mirth. God had commanded them to rejoice in their feasts (Deu. 16:14); but their hymns and instrumental music, their priests and sacrifices, were licentiousness and falsehood, luxury and excess of every description and degree. Their joy must cease and their mirth would be turned into mourning.
I. Mirth connected with wickedness.
1. It is a most prevalent connection. The notes of jollity and fun are heard everywhere through society. At theatres, taverns, divans, and social festivities, it flares and rattles. The drunkard has his mirth, the liar his mirth, the debaucher his mirth, the blasphemer his mirth, the sabbath-breaker his mirth. The union of sin and mirth is, alas, very common. We meet it everywhere; in the dance and in the song, in the joke and in the gibe [Dr Thomas].
2. It is a most unreasonable connection. Wickedness and mirth, how incongruous! Sorrow is better than laughter to the wicked. For by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The condition and prospects of a sinner should make him weep rather than rejoice. Sin can never give true happiness. The world can never be our home, and the heart cannot rest there. Its resources are poor; its pleasures are not solid; and when its joys are all packed up and gone, then will be the days of mourning. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
II. Mirth connected with false religion. If sin and mirth are unreasonable, how much more mirth and idolatry! Israel turned her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths into days of making merry. On the Sabbath they should have owned God as their Creator; on other festive days they should have thanked him for the gifts of Nature and the wonders of Providence. But the worship of God was blended with the service of idols; and feigned joy under the form of true joy. As Israel of old made a calf in Horeb, the place of solemnities and law: so men now worship graven images; cling to forms of their own device; and change true joy into false mirth. Joy becomes a feast; but the revelry that marked heathen festivals can never become the house of God. Communion with God can never be enjoyed through consecrated symbols. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
III. Mirth turned into mourning. Their songs were to cease, and their music and dancing turned into weeping and wailing. I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation (Amo. 8:10). The mirthful songs of sinners suddenly change into shrieks of agony and death. Many a sigh is heard amid loudest laughter. The smiles of mirth are counterfeits to hide hearts of woe. Belshazzars impious feast to a thousand lords ended by his own destruction and that of his empire. Be merry and wise. Fly the pleasure which bites to-morrow. Mirth pursued, possessed, and enjoyed without God is vanity (Ecc. 7:6).
1. It is of short duration. It is but the crackling of thorns under a pot, a blaze for a moment, an excitement which cannot last.
2. It is certain in its termination. I will cause her mirth to cease. It may be attractive in its appearance, supported by its resources, and spread by its devotees; but the solemn warning is read, Woe unto you that laugh now; for ye shall mourn and weep.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 2
Hos. 2:10-11. Mirth. Mirth is a vain and unprofitable passion, not fit for a wise mans entertainment [Bp. Hall].
Often when in the full enjoyment of all that this world could bestow, my conscience told me, that in the true sense of the word I was not a Christian. I laughed. I sang. I was apparently gay and happy. But the thought would steal across me,what madness is all this! to continue easy in a state, in which a sudden call out of the world would consign me to everlasting misery, and that when eternal happiness is within my grasp [Wilberforce]. Mirth at a funeral is scarce more indecent or unnatural than a perpetual flight of gaiety and burst of exultation in a world like this; a world which may seem a paradise to fools, but is an hospital with the wise [Dr Young].
Forgetfulness of God, Hos. 2:13. Such is the character of all engrossing passion, such is the source of sin to which the soul gives way, in avarice, ambition, worldliness, sensual sin, godless science. The soul at last does not rebel against God; it forgets him. It is taken up with other things, with itself, with the subjects of its thoughts, the objects of its affections, and it has no time for God, because it has no love for him [Pusey].
The gradations of sin.
1. Neglecting God. Neglect of his word, house, and service.
2. Forgetting God. Forgetting his love, goodness, and claims.
3. Departing from God. Departing into danger, error, and punishment.
Forgetfulness of Goda sign of carelessnessa mark of ingratitude and contemptsprings from unbelief and disobedience to Gods command (Deu. 4:9; Deu. 8:14).
Idolatry in the Churchthe top-stone, the height of all crimehated by God, and pursued by the sinner. Professed believers are too slow after God, but sinners hasten after their lovers. Let their zeal rebuke our tardiness; their punishment turn our steps to God and duty
The two masters.
1. Jehovah forgotten, Baal loved and worshipped.
2. The sacred days of Jehovah turned into festive days of Baal.
3. The gifts of Jehovah devoted to the service and support of Baal. No man can serve two masters, &c. Which are you serving? Choose you this day, &c.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(11) Mirth . . . Cease.The mirth is here indicative of the general character of the ceremonialcertainly not in itself a bad sign. David danced before the Lord, and justified the act. No one was to appear with sad countenance before Jehovah, any more than before an earthly potentate. (Comp. Neh. 2:2.)
The feast days are to be distinguished from the solemn feasts. The latter term is more generic in Hebrew, while the former denoted the three great festivals of the year (especially the Feast of Tabernacles). These feasts, which Jeroboam I. had instituted, are not spoken of in themselves as sinful.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. An inevitable result of the calamity will be the cessation of mirth As the context shows, the merrymaking in connection with religious celebrations.
Feast days [“feasts”] The same word as the Arabic haj, by which the pilgrimage to Mecca is known. Probably not feasts in general, but the three great feasts of Unleavened Bread, of Harvest, of Ingathering which were accompanied by pilgrimages (Exo 23:14-17); these were occasions of rejoicing (Isa 30:29).
New moons The new moon, the first of the month, was from the earliest time a sacred day among the Hebrews and their neighbors (1Sa 20:5; 2Ki 4:23). Its celebration goes back probably to a period when the moon was worshiped as a divine being. (See article “New Moon” in Hastings’s Dictionary of the Bible.)
Sabbaths Another day considered sacred from the earliest period; its observance is enjoined in the Decalogue, but it is not confined to the Hebrews. (See American Journal of Theology, 1898, pp. 312-352.) According to Amo 8:5, on the two sacred days mentioned last the people abstained from common labor. Solemn feasts [“assemblies”] Better, festal gatherings; a general term for festive seasons, including here all the feasts not mentioned previously (compare Amo 8:10; Jer 7:34; Lam 1:4; Lam 5:15).
Hos 2:12 is the natural continuation of 9. Nowack, who considers Hos 2:10 a later addition, thinks the original order to have been 9, 12, 11, 13.
Vines fig trees Two of the choicest products of Palestine; their destruction would be a serious calamity (see on Joe 1:7). Since they grew extensively and luxuriously, they were regarded as indicating in a special manner the favor of the Baalim.
Rewards [“hire”] The compensation offered to the prostitute. How Jehovah will destroy is not stated, it may be by war or by drought. The gardens and orchards will be neglected and turn into forests Better, jungles, the abode of wild beasts.
Beasts of the field Wild, undomesticated beasts (compare Isa 7:23-25). On the rapidity with which in the neglected fields wild animals multiply, see 2Ki 17:25.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feasts, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn assemblies.”
And all her celebrations, and her rituals, and her feasts would cease. The round of new moon celebrations, Sabbath celebrations and solemn assemblies would be no more. Israel would become a desolate land with a failed religion which had ceased to operate.
Note the assumption that new moons and sabbaths would be in operation, together with solemn feasts. This points to the background of the Law (feasts, sabbaths and solemn assemblies are regularly mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus) and new moons in the tradition in earlier days (1Sa 20:18; 2Ki 4:23). Hosea is clearly speaking from a background of well known tradition.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Hos 2:11. I will also cause, &c. “There shall be no more numerous and magnificent assemblies in the temples of Jerusalem, to celebrate the solemn festivals of the Lord.” These threats were literally executed during the time of the Babylonish captivity. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Hos 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
Ver. 11. I will also cause her mirth to cease ] Idolaters are frolic and jovial, the greatest mirth mongers, the merry Greeks of the world; set altogether upon the merry pin, they spend their days in pleasure, and suddenly turn into hell, Job 21:13 . Thus it was with these old idolaters. See Amo 6:4 . And thus it is with the Papists at this day. They have a proverb among them, Spiritns Calvinianus est spiritus melancholicus, A Calvinistic spirit is a melancholy spirit. Turn Protestant once, and you must for ever bid adieu to mirth and jollity, and lead a monkish, melancholy life. In their supplication to King James for a toleration, they used this as an argument for their religion above ours, because more suitable and pleasing to man’s nature. It is indeed an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion, Rev 13:14 . Sir Walter Raleigh knew what he said, That were he to choose a religion for licentious liberty, lasciviousness, and merry making, he would be a Papist. Hence the whole world is said to wonder after the beast, which is said to be like unto a leopard or panther ( , quod omnium animalium amicus sit. Isidor). Now the panther is admired and followed by most other beasts of the field (and thence hath his name), either for the beauty of his hide, or for the sweetness of his smell. So is the pope for those sensual delights and swinish pleasures he alloweth his followers. Lupanar utriusque Veneris Roma condidit, saith Agrippa, concerning Pope Sixtus Quintus. But what should I rake in that dunghill? Such sinful mirth, as it is base born, so it is of short continuance: God will make it to cease, and to go soon out in a vexing snuff. For what reason? There is a snare (or cord) in the sin of the wicked, sc. to strangle their joy with, but the righteous sing and are merry, Pro 29:6 , yea, they are merry (or right set in their minds, as the apostle’s word, , signifies, Jam 5:13 ), and therefore they sing, yea, and shall sing for joy of heart, when wicked men shall cry for sorrow of heart, yea, howl again for vexation of spirit, Isa 65:14 . Meanwhile their mirth is but the hypocrisy of mirth. It may wet the mouth, but not warm the heart; smooth the brow, but not fill the breast. It is like a little counterfeit complexion; as they repent only in the face, Mat 6:16 , so they rejoice only in the face, 2Co 1:5 ; 2Co 1:12 . Indeed, they revel rather than rejoice, and the end of that mirth is heaviness, Pro 14:13 ; as lightning is attended with thunder, and as comets end in a pestilent vapour. Let the Lord but turn his hand and take away his grain, &c., destroy vine and fig trees, &c., and this carnal mirth is at an end: their light is put out in obscure darkness, they lie down in sorrow, and are all amort, they are filled with unmedicinable perplexities, and are ready to run mad, Deu 28:34 . Whereas a godly man, as he hath a constant spring of comfort within him, and can be merry without music, so he can stand under the greatest weight of affliction without buckling, as Paul: he can be mediis tranquillus in undis, as Noah: he can confidently say, with Habakkuk, Hab 3:17 , “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Her feast days, her new moons
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
her feast days. All these are in the sing, here = her feast, her new moon, her sabbath, her every appointed season.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
cause: Hos 9:1-5, Isa 24:7-11, Jer 7:34, Jer 16:9, Jer 25:10, Eze 26:13, Nah 1:10, Rev 18:22, Rev 18:23
her feast: 1Ki 12:32, Isa 1:13, Isa 1:14, Amo 5:21, Amo 8:3, Amo 8:5, Amo 8:9, Amo 8:10
Reciprocal: Lev 23:2 – the feasts Num 28:11 – in the beginnings Isa 24:8 – General Hos 9:5 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Hos 2:11. The mental or emotional feature of this prediction was especially fulfilled upon Judah, as described in Psalms 137. But it was all true of the Jews generally while in the land of their exile. God would not permit them to attempt carrying out His services while there; and He even caused them to continue in their practices of idolatry while in that heathen country (Deu 4:28; Deuteronomy 2 S: 36, 64).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Yahweh would also put an end to all Israel’s happy yearly, monthly, and weekly celebrations. In the time of Jeroboam II the Sabbath was apparently a feast day (cf. Amo 8:5). Idolatry had so corrupted Israel’s sacred feasts that Yahweh no longer wanted His people to observe them.