Hosea 4

Chap. IV. Ver. 1—19. Judah warned by the calamities of Israel.—The Prophet charged Israel with their enormous guilt and in consequence thereof, threatens them with heavy national judgments, particularly a grievous famine. Notwithstanding this warning, however, he complains, that there are no tendencies to reformation, no mutual exhortations to repentance. For this reason the Prophet again denounces the fall of the city and people. God himself is then introduced in person, to reject them for their ingratitude; and as their priests had a large share in the common guilt, they especially are threatened with a proportionable share of the common ruin. The sins of idolatry and divination are particularly reproved and threatened, and Judah admonished to beware of those sins, which left her rebellious sister Israel helpless and desolate, as a deserted and exposed lamb.

Mr. Preb. Townsend supposes this chapter was written during the interregnum between the reigns of Jeroboam and Zechariah, when the people were overwhelmed with licentiousness, and distracted with civil war. Ephraim (says God) is joined to idols, is wedded to his sins: let him alone, therefore! and—immediately we see him, as it were, bound up in the wings of a tempest, and carried off into captivity.—

Notes on the verses

Chap. IV. Ver. 1. A controversy.—‘The whole Jewish religion, (says Robinson,) was styled “Jehovah’s controversy.” (Jeremiah 25:31). They controverted all his precepts: he controverted all their actions.’ Ver. 2. Blood toucheth blood—That is, murders succeed each other without intermission. Ver. 4. As they that strive with the priest.—If the people strove with the Lord, it can be no wonder that they strove with the priests disputing not only the dues of the priests, but the sacrifices demanded by God. Ver. 8. They set their heart on.—‘They lift up their soul to’ their ini- [quities]. Ver. 12. My people ask counsel of their stocks—That is, their idols. See (Jeremiah 2:27). They also used divination by staves, or rods, much in the same way as they did by arrows.

See note on (Ezekiel 21:21).—From under.—Boothroyd gives the true sense of this event: “They have gone astray from their God;” i.e. have revolted from their allegiance to him. (2 Chronicles 31:8).