Hosea 1

Hosea 1:1

IN the dayes of Ʋzziah] Called also Azariah, 2 Kings 14:21. and 2 Kings 15:1. who when he was a Leper his sonne supplied his place in government, 2 Kings 15:5. 2 Chron. 26. 21.

kings of Judah] So that it may be gathered by the reign of these four Kings, that he preached long; some say fourty three; others, fifty seven; others, sixty years.

in the dayes of Jeroboam] As Amos 1:1. There were other Kings of the ten Tribes, untill the time of Hezekian, but it may be that Hosea prophesied under Jeroboam among the ten Tribes; and that after him he came into Judah. Or, the other Kings are left out because that under them the State was turned upside down by revolts, and other troubles.

Hosea 1:2

The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea] Heb. The beginning of JEHOƲAHS speech in Hosea 2 Corinthians 13:3. Hebrews 1:1. To signifie the inward propheticall revelation, Numbers 12:6. 2 Samuel 23:2. Or, if we read with, or by Hosea, it signifieth, God used his ministery and preaching, to declare revelations, and prophesies. Under an Hosea did Israel enter into the land of Canaan, Numbers 13:16. and under an Hosea were they captived out, 2 Kings 17. and fittest was an Hosea to taxe their unthankfulnesse for the one, and to tell the fearfulnesse of the other.

Go, take unto thee a wise] It is likely that all this was commanded, and seemed to the Prophet to be performed in vision; which being related to the people, they might in the lookingglasse of this allegorie, perceive their dutie toward God, and their rebellion and disloyaltie, and the punishment which God would inflict upon them for it. See Chap. 3. 7.

of whoredomes] Not that she was a whore at the first, but that being a married wise she afterwards went astray: The application of the figure to the subject requireth, that it be understood in this kinde; whereby it appears all this was done in vision. Others take it for a reall act.

and children of whoredomes] Which are really born by unlawfull copulation, though they bear thy name. Others say, these words plainly manifest all this was but in vision; for the same children cannot by the Prophet be taken with the mother, and be begotten of her, as it is afterwards said.

for the land hath committed great whoredome] I will have thee in this manner represent unto the people their idolatries, and spirituall strayings, and to reprove them for it. See Psalms 73:27. Ezekiel 23:3; Ezekiel 23:5.

Hosea 1:3

Gomer] Some thinke it was the name of a famous strumpet, which lived in those dayes; Others, that it is a faigned name, to set out the qualities of this people, as well in grace (for it may signifie perfection) as in judgement, for it may be taken for the end or finall extirpation.

Diblaim] The reason of this name, which seemes also figurative, is very obscure. Some have held it the name of a wildernesse, Ezekiel 6:14. to shew the Churches wretched beginning, in it own nature, as Son 3:6. Ezekiel 16:7. Others say, it signifies clusters of figs, declaring that they were all corrupt, and like rotten figs. Jeremiah 24:3.

hare him a sonne] It seemes that by those three children, born to the Prophet, was figured the ruines of the ten tribes, which were effected at three severall times. First, in the extirpation of Jehu his house by Shallum, 2 Kings 15:10; 2 Kings 15:12. The other two were by the invasions of the Kings of Assyria, Tiglath-pilneser, 2 Kings 15:19. 1 Chronicles 5:26. and Shalmaneser, 2 King. 17. 3, 6.

Hosea 1:4

Call his name Jezreel] Meaning, that they were no more worthy to be called Israelites, of which name they boasted, because Israel did prevaile with God; but that they were as bastards, and deserved to be called Jezreelities, that is, seattered people; alluding to Jezreel, which was the chief Citie of the ten tribes under Ahab, where Jehu shed so much bloud, 2 King. 9. 24, 31. and 10. 8, 11, 17.

avenge] Heb. visit.

the bloud of Jezreel] Namely, the executions done by Jehu in Jezreel, 2 Kings. 9. 24, 33. and 10. 11, 17.

upon the house of Jehu] God stirred up Jehu to execute his judgements upon Ahabs house, which thing he did, and for that was rewarded; 2 Kings 10:30. and to re-establish Gods service, which he did not, 2 Kings 10:31. wherefore those former executions are imputed unto him for so many murthers; See 1 Kings 16:7. because he did not the former commands with an upright heart.

will cause to cease, &c.] For by the rooting out of the line of Jehu, the Kingdom of Israel received such a blow, that it could never rise again. Of the utter cessation of the Kingdome, see vers. 9.

Hosea 1:5

at that day] I will beat down the power of Israel, taking from them all means of defending themselves. And God brake the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel, when Jehues wicked house smarteth for Achabs, as Achabs did for Naboths.

in the valley of Jezreel] See Joshua 17:16. Judges 6:33.

Hosea 1:6

Lo-ruhamah] That is, not having obtained mercy. That is, not obtaining mercy: whereby he signifieth that Gods favour was departed from them.

for I will no more] Heb. I will not adde any more to. Because I have pardoned them enough already: therefore I will suffer them to be spoiled by Tiglath-Pilneser, who captiveth Galile to be unpitied. See it performed, 1 Chronicles 5:26.

but I will utterly take them away] Or, that I should altogether pardon them.

Hosea 1:7

house of Judah] In which the covenant, service, and Church of God remained.

save them by the LORD their God] By my self miraculously: Or by vertue of the everlasting Sonne of God, perpetuall head, and Saviour of his Church, Isaiah 7:14.

and will not save them] Zechariah 4:6.

Hosea 1:9

Lo-ammi] That is, not my people, Romans 9:25. For ye do not worship me as my people should.

I will not be your God] Because you have changed the interchangeable condition of the covenant; I will not do you good as your God, but will suffer Shalmaneser King of Assyria to carry you all captive, that Israel may be no people. See it fulfilled, 2 King. 17.

Hosea 1:10

the number of the children] Because they thought that God could not have been true of his promise except he had preserved them, as Matthew 3:9. he declareth that though they were destroyed, yet the true Israelites, which are the sonnes of the promise, should be without number; which stand both of the Jews and Gentiles, Romans 9:26. Others thinke it may be understood of the multiplication of this people, in all their dispersions, untill the time of their conversion.

and it shall come to passe] Romans 9:25-26. 1 Peter 2:10.

in the place where it was said] Or, in stead of that. By the Gospel which they shall at last receive, they will obtaine a more firm covenant and conjunction with God, being made not onely his people and subjects, but his children by grace of adoption, and regeneration of spirit, and holy spirituall liberty: when Christ beginneth to preach where captivitie began, Isaiah 9:1, &c.

Hosea 1:11

the children of Judah] To wit, after the captivitie of Babylon when the Jews were restored: but chiefly this is referred to the time of the Messiah, who should be acknowledged and accepted for the head of his Church, by Judah and Israel joyned, and Gentiles united to the Church, Romans 11:12,15,25. 2 Corinthians 3:16. See Isaiah 11:13. Jeremiah 3:18. Ezekiel 37:16. 22.

shall come up out of the land] Upon Cyrus his grant, the Jews shall appoint them Zorobabel, and returne from Chaldea into Judea, and many Israelites in banishment shall separate themselves from the world, and go up (in expectation of the heavenly kingdome) to build Jerusalem: and so go on in the way to the kingdome of heaven.

day of Jezreel] The calamitie and destruction of Jezreel shal be so great, that to restore them shall be as a miracle. Others, that time will be admirable, by reason of the gathering together of the Israelites, which before seemed rather to be Jezreel (that is, a people dispersed by God) then an Israel.