Hosea 5

Hosea 5:1

HOuse of the King] namely, Yee that are the Kings Officers; Ministers, and Counsellors Iudgement] namely, The charge of doing right and justice belongeth to you, and yee have beene the chiefe authors of extortion and injury; as it is said afterwards Asnare] You have laid snares to entrap the innocent in their lives and goods, as Fowlers doe upon the hils of Mizpah and Tabor.

Hosea 5:2

The revolters] termes taken from such as are high way robbers Profound] Heb. in secret places: which some expound, in great number I have been] that is to say; I that am the supreame Lord, will looke over, and correct their judgements: and make their false Judges give an account. Or I will be he, that shall reprove and punish all these iniquities.

Hosea 5:4

They will not] or their works will not suffer them to be converted.

Hosea 5:5

Doth testifie] their impudent boldnesse in sinning, and contemning of God, makes them notoriously guilty, and altogether inexcusable.

Hosea 5:6

With their slocks] to offer sacrifices.

Hosea 5:7

They have] like an adulterous woman, which conceives and brings forth by others, besides her husband. The meaning is; the peoples corruptnesse sheweth it selfe in this; that publicke orders serve for nothing, but to make them sitting for idolatry, and not to turne and amend them A moneth] a short time will serve for to root them quite out. See Zechariah 11:8.

Hosea 5:8

Blow ye] A representation of the enemies sudden arrivall; as it were, by a signall given from those high places of Benjamin; which bordered upon the kingdome of the ten Tribes.Beth-aven] A City situated between Ephraim, and Benjamin, Jos. 7. 2. and 18. 12 After thee] the City of Beth-aven, being a little beyond Benjamins countrey.

Hosea 5:9

That which] namely, the denunciation of this irrevocable threatening.

Hosea 5:10

Were like] they doe violate all the lawes; which are, as it were, The publike bounds of every ones right: and in their judgements, doe overthrow particular mens titles, concerning the lawfull possession of their goods Like water] like a cloud, or a deluge of waters.

Hosea 5:11

In judgement] by the abuse of publicke orders; and by the tyranny of its Kings and Princes: which God suffereth for a punishment for their willingly consenting and obeying the orders made by their Kings; for the establishment of idolatry, 〈◊〉 King. 12. 28.

Hosea 5:12

Will 〈◊〉 be] I will case them by little and little, to consume themselves with disorders, and inward evils, untill they be quite overthrowne.

Hosea 5:13

His sicknesse] namely, the evils that consume them Then went] hath required his assistance, 2 King. 15. 19 To King Jare] the Italian, to a King] namely, to Tiglat Vilzor, King of Assyria, 2 King. 16. 7.

Hosea 5:14

And goe away] A terme taken from wilde beasts; which, when they have taken any prey, doe run away presently: so that the prey cannot be rescued from them.

Hosea 5:15

Returne to] I will take away the-presence of my grace from them, as if I did shut my selfe up in heaven.