Hosea 11

— then the children shall tremble from the west.] At this efficacious call of God, his children shall come in haste from the several places of their dispersion, and particularly from the western parts of the world, see Zech. viii. 7, called “the sea” in the original, and expressed in Isaiah by “the islands of the sea:” see Isa. xi. 11; xxiv. 14. W. Lowth. “The children” mean primarily and more immediately the Israelites in dispersion abroad out of their own country, Deut. xiv. 1; and together with them such of the Gentiles, as with them should be called by “the roaring of the lion,” the preaching of the Gospel, to the partaking of the common faith and salvation. Dr. Pocock. It is impossible to render in English the full force of the original word, which we translate “tremble.” It expresses the rapid motion of birds in the air upon fluttering pinions. Bp. Horsley.

Chap. XII. ver. 1. Ephraim feedeth on wind, &c.] A proverbial expression to signify labour in vain, or pursuing such measures as will bring damage rather than benefit. W. Lowth. — lies and desolation;] Multiplying his falsehood, he multiplies the causes of his own destruction. Bp. Horsley. — oil is carried into Egypt.] They project how to make themselves strong by their leagues with the Assyrians; and they send of their most precious presents to insinuate with the Egyptians. Bp. Hall.

Hosea 11:2

2. As they called them, &c.] The more earnestly the Prophets called on them to cleave stedfastly to the true God, ver. 7, the more they were bent to depart from Him to the worship of idols. W. Lowth.

Hosea 11:3

3. I taught Ephraim also to go.] See Deut. i. 31; viii. 2. W. Lowth.

— but they knew not that I healed them.] They considered not that the health and safety they enjoyed was bestowed by me. W. Lowth.

Hosea 11:4

4. I drew them with cords of a man.] That is, such cords as are proper to draw men with as they are men, endued with reason to discern between good and evil, and with freedom of will to choose the one before the other; and with such a temper and agreement of both, that what we apprehend to be good, that we freely choose, and refuse what we think to be evil. Accordingly God sets before us good and evil, and both in such a light that we may clearly discern the difference between them, and choose the good before the evil. Thus He draws us with cords, suitable to man’s constitution: in explanation He adds, “with bands of love,” or with expressions of his love and kindness towards us. In this way one man commonly draws another: how much more can Almighty God do it, who hath the hearts of all men in his hand, and the greatest favours to bestow which man can possibly desire? This is the meaning of the Apostle, “that the goodness of God leadeth us to repentance.” Rom. ii. 4. It doth not force or drag us, but it leads us to repentance, and so to Christ. Bp. Beceridge. Not violently forcing them into his service, but striving to win them over with gentle invitations, and great favours and benefits, such as usually most powerfully work on reasonable men, and bind them to their benefactor. Dr. Pocock.

— take off the yoke] Or, “lift up,” as in the margin. The expression of “lifting up” the yoke refers, as is well observed by Abp. Newcome, and before him by Bishop Lowth on Isaiah, chap. i. 3, to the custom of raising the yoke forward, to cool the neck of the labouring beast. Bp. Horsley.

Hosea 11:5

5. He shall not return into the land of Egypt.] They were desirous of making their escape thither, and many families perhaps effected it: see chap. ix. 6. But here it is threatened, that the nation in a body should not be permitted so to escape, because they refused to return to God. Bp. Horsley.

Hosea 11:6

6. — his branches.] That is, his people. Dr. Wells.

Hosea 11:8

8. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? &c.] God’s mercies are here pathetically described as contending with his justice, to shew that He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men, Lam. iii. 33. W. Lowth.

When nothing will do, with what difficulty and reluctance does God deliver up his people into the hands of their enemies: “How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?” &c. What a conflict is here! What tenderness and yearning of his bowels towards them! He cannot find in his heart to give them up, till He is forced to it by the last necessity. Abp. Tillotson.

— mine heart is turned within me, &c.] These words would seem to import a change of mind and purpose in any but God, whose counsels man’s words cannot duly express, nor his understanding fully comprehend. Dr. Pocock.

Hosea 11:9

9. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger.] I do not give way to a blind rage, as men often do: but as God, am unchangeable, and will still fulfil my gracious promises made to Abraham and his people, of being their God. Compare Mal. iii. 6. W. Lowth.

— I will not return to destroy] When I come a second time, it will not be to destroy. An indirect promise of coming again, not for judgment, but for mercy. Bp. Horsley.

— and I will not enter into the city.] A second time, in order to make an utter destruction. W. Lowth, Dr. Wells.

Hosea 11:10

10. They shall walk after the Lord.] They shall follow God’s call, and comply with his commands, when He shall convert them by an efficacious call of his providence, or powerful preaching of the Gospel. W. Lowth. These words may be understood as a prophecy of the conversion of the remainder of Israel to Christ, and the settling of them in a spiritual kingdom: which prophecy has been already in great measure made good, by the calling in of many of them at Christ’s first coming, and the preaching of the Gospel; and is still fulfilling, and to be fulfilled, till his second coming, by the conversion of as many of them as the Lord shall call in the interval between his two comings. Near his second coming it is a received opinion, that there shall be a signal conversion of them. Dr. Pocock.

— he shall roar like a lion:] “He,” that is, Christ, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda,” Rev. v. 5.

A reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob. Before CHRIST about 740.

Hosea 11:11

11. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, &c.] The Israelites were dispersed, as into other remote parts denoted by “the west,” or “the sea,” so also into Egypt, whether divers of them betook themselves, and into Assyria, whither they were carried captives. By the naming of these places may be well understood all other countries where any of them should be: from whence it is here promised that they should make speed to come in unto God in their due time. Dr. Pocock. — and I will place them in their houses.] As doves naturally resort to the houses they are used to, see Isa. lx. 8, so shall these return and settle in their own native country: see Exck. xxviii. 25. W. Lowth. Or, instead of regarding these words as a promise of bringing the Jews back to their own land, it may be better to look upon them as promising spiritual good things under expressions taken from temporal: so that by “placing them in their houses” may be meant the bringing them into the Church, and there putting them in a sure and settled state; a state of quiet and security like that of a person fixed in his own house. Dr. Pocock.

Hosea 11:12

12. Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, &c.] In the mean time, Ephraim makes a profession of my name, but false and counterfeit: and the house of Israel serves me, but in hypocrisy. Bp. Hall. — but Judah yet ruleth with God, &c.] But Judah the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.