Hosea 6

— and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.] God having admonished, reproved, and threatened the people, in order to recall them, but without effect, they cannot accuse Him of cruelty in inflicting the judgments which He threatens: such judgments are evidently deserved; their justice is as clear as the sun, “as the light that goeth forth;” as manifest as that is to all. Dr. Pocock.

— there have they dealt treacherously against me.] “There,” in the covenant; that is, in that matter wherein they ought to have been especially faithful. Dr. Pocock.

Hosea 6:3

3. They make the king glad with their wickedness, &c.] They study to please their kings and great men, by

Hosea 6:5

5. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; &c.]

Hosea 6:6

6. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;] That is, rather than sacrifice: I am better pleased with true goodness, than with the exactest observance of the external duties of religion, unless they proceed from a sincere principle of obedience; see Mic. vi. 6—8. The Jews are accustomed to express comparisons by negatives, or rejecting the things less worthy. Compare Joel ii. 13, and John vi. 27. W. Lowth. The parallel line clearly shews that by “not sacrifice” is to be understood in preference to sacrifice. Abp. Newcome.

The words appear to anticipate an answer of the people, that they were not so unworthy as they were accused of being, since they were constant in offering all sorts of sacrifice to God: but God replies, that sacrifices were not all that was required of them, for that He delighted not in such things for themselves, but only in respect to other things, which by them were testified, and with which they ought to be accompanied. That sacrifices, when rightly offered, were acceptable to Him, appears from his numerous precepts concerning them in the law. Dr. Pocock.

— the knowledge of God] Not an inactive speculative knowledge, but such knowledge as testifies itself by the keeping of God’s commandments. By “mercy” may be understood all the duties of the second table; and by “the knowledge of God” all those of the first. Dr. Pocock. This is the general rule, comprehending the sum of all the practical precepts of the Prophets. Bp. Horsley.

Hosea 6:7

7. But they like men have transgressed the covenant:] Either “like men” in general whose quality it is to be false and treacherous in observing covenants; which aggravates the accusation, that they, God’s peculiar people, should be as regardless of their plighted faith, as other nations, that were strangers to Him and aliens

harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people. # CHAP. VII.

Hosea 6:8

8. Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity.] Gilead, or Raineh Gilead, was a city of refuge, Deut. iv. 43; and such also was Sichem, Josh. xx. 7: both therefore inhabited by priests and Levites. The Prophet means to represent the priests as seducers of the people to that idolatry, which proved the ruin of the nation. Bp. Horsley.

Hosea 6:9

9. — murder in the way by consent:] That is, they associate themselves for murdering such as fall in their way, as troops of robbers lay wait for any passenger to spoil him. One of the marginal readings, “with one shoulder,” imports the same thing, namely, “by consent,” like men putting their shoulders together to move some great weight. But if the other reading in the margin, “in the way to Shechem,” be taken, it describes the place where such murders and outrages were committed by those idolatrous priests and their associates from Gilead. Dr. Pocock. See the foregoing note.

Hosea 6:11

11. Also, O Judah, he hath sent an harvest for thee.] Also, O Judah, corrupted Israel hath prepared a harvest of revenge for thee, in sowing the seeds of idolatry in thee. Bp. Hall. “When I returned the captivity of my people;” or, more plainly, “When, or whereas, I would have turned away the captivity of my people;” that is, I would upon their repentance have averted my judgments, which will end in their captivity. W. Lowth, Dr. Wells.

Chap. VII. ver. 1. When I would have healed Israel, &c.] When God used all the means of bringing Israel to repentance, such as the admonitions of his Prophets, his fatherly chastisements, and the like; then their wickedness farther appeared, in that they would not hearken to his word, nor be amended, but more obstinately persisted in their evil courses. Israel, Ephraim, and Samaria, design altogether, as either of them might do singly, the whole body, consisting of both prince and people. Dr. Pocock.