Hosea 5

Chap. V. Ver. 1—15. Farther judgments threatened against all classes.—This chapter begins with threatening the Israelites for their unlawful sacrifices on Mizpah and Tabor, whereby they not only offended the pure eye of God, but defiled themselves and seduced others. They are then threatened with a rejection of all their sacrifices, however numerous and costly, and the devotion of their substance to the locusts, who (whose single month. A fresh alarm is now sounded in the cities of Judah, and the crier is ordered to proclaim aloud, ‘‘After thee, O Benjamin—the enemy is after thee.’’ (Comp. (Joel 2:1).) The sin of Israel and Judah is here compared to that of the accursed man, who removeth his poor neighbour’s landmark; (Deuteronomy 26:17). So the princes of Judah and of Israel are accused of removing the barriers between truth and error, right and wrong, religion and idolatry; and therefore the Lord declares he will pour down upon them an inundation of wrath, that shall completely overwhelm them. When they are charged with ‘‘walking after the commandment” as a crime, (ver. 11,) we must understand, certainly, not the command of God, but of those wicked princes who ordered them to mingle with his worship the licentious rites of Baal. (Comp. (Matthew 15:9).) The Almighty here again threatens to tear these rebels to pieces like a lion, and then retire, and hide himself from them till they become suitably humbled by their afflictions, and seek his favour early, as the inhabitants of those countries look up to the dawn of day, and hail the rising sun.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 13. Therefore your daughters shall, &c.—Newcome, Horsley, and Boothroyd, all render this clause in the present tense, ‘‘they commit,” &c. _ Ver. 14. I will not punish, &c.—That is, because you have committed spiritual adultery against me, therefore will I screen your own wives from punishment for proving false to you; especially as they have been corrupted by visiting your idol temples, where every species of licentiousness is practised. Such is the sense given to the passage by Bp. Horsley. Bp. Newcome and Dr. Boothroyd follow our marginal reading, which is interrogative, ‘‘Shall I not?” &c. Ver. 15. Gilgal, Beth-aven, &c.—Places remarkable for idolatry, in which the Lord would not have his name mentioned.

See (Hosea 5:8); x. 4, 5. Ver. 16. A large place.—The open desert, unscreened and unprotected. Ver. 17. Ephraim, &c.—The children of Ephraim were numerous and potent among the ten tribes; out of which tribe, the first idolater and usurper did arise, (1 Kings 11:26); and therefore the whole body of the ten tribes and the rulers among them, are here particularly pointed at.—Joined to idols.—Associated as friends to friends, or joined as lovers are joined to lovers; married to idols, and will not be taken off—Let him alone.—He is obstinately bent upon his old courses, and as such, throw him up; he will not return; let him wander, but let it be alone; O Judah, be not his companion, his friend; go not Ver.

18. Their drink is sour.—See margin; i.e. turned acid: so Horsley. But Newcome and Boothroyd read, “He (i.e. Ephraim, or Israel,) is gone after their wine;’’ i.e. of the idol temples.—Their rulers with shame do love, Give ye.—See (Proverbs 30:15); xxxi. 4 lea. v. 11. But Newcome renders it, ‘‘Her rulers have loved fornication continually; they have loved shame.” Ver. 19. The wind hath bound, &c.—Bishop Horsley considers this as ‘‘an admirable image of a people torn by a conqueror from their native land, scattered in exile to the four quarters of the world, and henceforward living without any settled residence of their own.”’ Chap. V. Ver. 2. The revolters are profound.—Bishop Newcome (whom Boothroyd follows) renders this verse, ‘‘The revolters have made deep the slaughter (of victims;) therefore (will) I (bring) chastisement on them all.” _ Ver.

19. They will not frame—‘Their doings (Horsley, *evil habits’) will not suffer them to turn,” &c.; 3 Ver. 7. Strange children—That is, the children of strange women, and of a strange religion; heathen, See (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). Ly = Ver. 8. Gibeah, &c.—All places in the tribe of Benjamin. (Joshua 18:22-25).—After thee, O Benjamin—That is, “Fly, for the enemy are pursuing after thee;” and this is the note of alarm intended. Ver. 11. Walked after the commandment.—Not of Jehovah, certainly, but of their wicked princes. See exposition.: xd: Ver. 12. As a moth, as rottenness.—See (Job 3:19); xiii. 28. The meaning is, that after having thus grievously offended God, they must not trust to him Ver. 13.

Jareb is the name of an Assyrian king; or, as the margin suggests, of an Assyrian city. See (2 Kings 16:7). oe:. Ver. 15. Till they acknowledge, &c.—See margin; i.e. either till they confess themselves guilty, or till they have been ees Ns prefer the former,