Bible Commentary

They have deeply corrupted [themselves], as in the days of Gibeah: [therefore] he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. 9. as in the days of Gibeah ] The atrocity described in Jdg 19:22-30, and referred to by Hosea again in Hos 10:9. All the Benjamites were destroyed except 600 men (Jdg 20:46-48) … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:9”

The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God: [but] the prophet [is] a snare of a fowler in all his ways, [and] hatred in the house of his God. 8. The watchman of Ephraim was with my God ] Rather, is with my God. There is a various reading ‘his God’ (so also Rashi), but … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:8”

The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual man [is] mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 7. are come ] Rather, come. The sense is that the days of punishment shall surely come (the tense … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:7”

For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant [places] for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns [shall be] in their tabernacles. 6. Hosea ‘in the Spirit’ sees the Israelites already being carried into captivity. because of destruction ] Rather, from the devastation. They … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:6”

What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? 5. What will ye do, &c.] The festivals, which were kept up in N. Israel, even after the schism, were seasons of popular merry-making (see Hos 2:11). But now as each ‘feast of Jehovah’ comes round in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:5”

They shall not offer wine [offerings] to the LORD, neither 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 for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD. 4. They shall not offer wine … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:4”

They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria. 3. in the Lord’s land ] ‘For I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel’, Num 35:34. The expression originated in the popular belief that as, for example, Chemosh was the God … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:3”

The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 2. the winepress ] Rather, the vat (within the press) into which the grape-juice or the oil flowed; comp. Joe 2:24. shall fail in her ] Rather, shall fall her (lit. ‘shall lie unto her’, as Hab 3:17). … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:2”

Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as [other] people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every corn floor. 1. for joy ] Rather, too loudly (lit. ‘unto exultation’). as other people ] Rather, as the peoples. The exuberant joy of the wild nature-worships of Palestine was … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 9:1”

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. 14. A fresh reason for the ‘swallowing up’ of which the prophet has spoken ( Hos 8:8) Israel’s worldliness and self-dependence. buildeth temples ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hosea 8:14”