Hosea 2

Hosea 2:1

SAy yee unto] Thou Hosea; and all other believers, which are amongst these people, doe not hold them to be altogether rejected, to forsake them, to their owne lusts: but call them to repentance, setting before them, what is the duty of Gods people, signified by Ammi: that is to say; My people, towards whom, God hath not yet shut up the entrals of his mercy; which is signified by Ru-hamah.

Hosea 2:2

Plead with] Reprove the body of your Nation openly She is not] She doth not keepe her faith which she hath promised me: and I have already good cause to put her away, which I forbeare to do; through my great patience Let her therefore put away] Let her dispose her selfe to true chastity, and spirituall purity; using no more lascivious baits and practices, to draw prophane Nations on, to trade with her in Idolatry: see Jer. 2. 33. and 4. 30.

Hosea 2:3

Lost I strip her] Lest I take away from her all my bodily and spirituall graces, and bring her to extreme misery: see Ezek. 16. 39. and 23. 26, 29 She was borne] See Ezekiel 16:4 With thirst] that is to say; With the scorching heat of my wrath, not tempered with any grace or comfort: Jeremiah 2:15. Ezek. 22 24. Amos 8:11; Amos 8:13.

Hosea 2:4

Upon her children] Namely; Upon the particular members of this people Of whoredomes] that is to say; Bastards: having no part in the regeneration of the heavenly Father, to holinesse of life; but being altogether corrupted like their mother: see John 8 44.

Hosea 2:5

My lovers] Idols and Idolatrous people, by whose gift and benefit; and not the true Gods; I have plenty of all good things, v. 8. 12. See Jeremiah 44:17.

Hosea 2:6

I will hedge] I will enclose her up with difficulties, and extreme distresses; that shee shall not be able to run out at her owne pleasure: see Job 3. 23. and 19. 8. Lamentations 3:7; Lamentations 3:9.

Hosea 2:7

She shall follow] She shall seeke for favour and aid at their hands, but all in vaine; they shall all forsake her, and shall change their ancient love into mortall hatred: Jeremiah 2:36. Ezekiel 16:27 To my first] namely, to God.

Hosea 2:8

Which they] In making of Idols: or, in serving and honouring them: see Ezek. 7. 20. and 16. 16. Hosea 8:4.

Hosea 2:9

In the time] namely, At the time which I have appointed: or, in Harvest-time and Vintage-time. I will take away her increase of corne and wine, and give it for a prey unto her enemies.

Hosea 2:11

Her feast dayes] Which were dayes of publike rejoycing, Numb. 10. 10. and were observed even amongst the ten tribes in imitation of those of Judea, 1 King. 12. 32.

Hosea 2:13

Decked her selfe] A terme taken from lascivious women, which decke themselves to allure men: whereby are meant the Israelites prophane pomps in their Idolatries.

Hosea 2:14

Therefore] Because she hath quite forgotten me, and will never be converted of her selfe; I will prevent her by my mercy, recalling her mildly by my Gospel. Which is referred to the last conversion of Israel And bring her] I will bring her unto me, bringing her home from her banishment through many miseries; as I brought my people out of Egypt into the land of Canaan through the wildernesse.

Hosea 2:15

From thence] namely; From the head of the wildernesse. The meaning is; that as my people comming out of the wildernesse, came into a most fruitfull countrey: so mine elect comming out of an extreme spirituall misery, shall enjoy mine abundant blessings. Others translate it, from that time forward The valley of] Whereof mention is made, Joshua 7:26. Isaiah 65:10. It was a most fruitfull place; at the entrance of the countrey, so soone as they were come over Jordan, and by it are meant the first favours, which God bestowed on his, when they enter into his Church; which are to them certaine pledges of the increase, and accomplishment of them Of her youth] See Jeremiah 2:2. Ezekiel 16:60.

Hosea 2:16

Baal] the Italian, My Baal] Baal indeed, signifieth husband also. But because this name had beene prophaned by being applyed to Idols: the Lord his meaning is, That all contagion and mixture of Idolatry should be cut off from his service.

Hosea 2:18

A Covenant] A figurative description of the Churches spirituall peace under the Gospel.

Hosea 2:19

Betroth thee] I will re-establish my covenant of grace with thee, not onely to observe that faith which is required in all covenents; but also to forgive thee thy sinnes, and not regard thine unworthinesse.

Hosea 2:20

In faithfulnesse] the Italian, In truth] With an invariable faith and constancy to maintaine and keepe my Covenant of grace with mine elect, notwithstanding all their defects; Zechariah 8:8. Romans 3:3; Romans 3:7.

Hosea 2:21

I will heare] the Italian, I will answer] I will cause my blessing to glide along, according to the order which I set in the creatures; which I will re-establish for the salvation of my Church.

Hosea 2:22

Jesreel] namely, My people, which Hosea 1:4. had been called Jesreel by way of threatning, and of curse; but here it is changed into a sense of grace and promise; for Jesreel may also signifie Him whom God soweth, or shall sowe.

Hosea 2:23

Sow her] I will people the world with the spirituall progeny of mine elect and believers, Jeremiah 31:27. Zek. 10. 9 Upon her tha] the Italian Vpon Lo-ruhamab] that is to say; My people: meant by these names, Hosea 1:8; Hosea 1:10.