Hosea 6

Chap. VI. Ver. 1—11. An exhortation to return to God, with a lamentation over Israel’s inconstancy.—The close of the preceding chapter holding out a hope of pardon and acceptance, and the Prophet here puts into the mouths of the penitent Israelites words both of confession and encouragement: “Come, and let us return unto the Lord,” &c. seems to be proverbial. The allusion to us appears to be, to some of the desperate diseases of those countries which generally terminated on the third day, either in death or recovery. (See (2 Kings 20:5).) Here the anticipation is favourable; here is mercy in reserve for them. In ver. 4, God is introduced as a kind and affectionate father, lamenting over his hardened and rebellious children, who were alike hgt eal [hurt] by the kindness of his admonition, and the severity of his reproof.

The last verse is differently explained; by some as a promise, by others as a threatening. Bishop Horsley thinks that the vintage is always used as an image of judgments: the harvest, of mercies. We conceive his lordship would have been more correct in saying, that the harvest figuratively understood, implies a mixed state of reward and punishment. See (Matthew 11:39-40). We may remember, that on the return of the seventy years captivity, those who came back were chiefly of the tribe of Judah.

Notes on the verses

Chap. VI. Ver. 5. Hewed them—That is, cut them down, like trees in the forest. See (Isaiah 10:15).—Thy judgments are gone forth, or are announced, clearly as the light, or executed rapidly as the lightning. See (Job 37:3). Ver. 6. Mercy and not sacrifice—That is, mercy in preference to sacrifice. And the knowledge of God more than, &c. See (Matthew 9:13). Ver. 8. Polluted.—See margin. Plotting, scheming for blood. Ver. 9. By consent.—See margin. But the Hebrew word for “shoulder” is Shechem, and therefore Newcome renders it, “A company of priests murder in the way to Shechem;” and to the same effect, Bishop Horsley and others. Ver. 11. When I returned.—Dr. Wheeler, “When I shall return;” Horsley, “When I bring back.”