Hosea 4

God doth vehementaly and threaten Israel, by reason of the general wickedness and stiffneckedness of the people Priests and Prophets, vers.1. etc especially their abominable uncontrolled spiritual and bodily whoredoms, 11.Waringing Juda, not to follow the example of Israel, and foretelling the destruction that hung their head, 15.

1. Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD huth a controverse [Or, Plea, procels, not onely verbal but real; i.e. Judgements and punishments, readie to be executed, as appears ver. 2.3. see above cha 2.2 and 1 Samuel Ch. 25, v 38, 39 Amos 7:4] with the inhabitants of Land; because there is no faithfulness [Or, truth] nor any kindness, or any knowledge of God in the Land. [God implieth that they are stark nought in words and works, making it out plain enough thereby, that they knew him not aright, viz, by a saving knowledge, grounded on his word, and accompanied with Faith and the Love of God and their neighbour. Compare Jr. 9. 24. and 23. 16. and 31. 34. I John 2:4. etc]

2. (But ) cursing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adulterie: they break through [Oth, cursing, and lying and killing, and stealing, etc. break through; they do prevail like land floods, violently breaking in; or like fierce enemies forcing the walls and entering the breaches pelmell; for thus did they with all manner of fins and abominations, daringly break through without any fear or awe of God Laws and ordinances: of an other use of the Hebrew word, see below ver. 10.] and blood – guiltinesses touch blood guiltinesses. [Heb. Bloods touch bloods i.e. one murther or blood – shed followers in the neck of another See above chapter 1. on vers.4.]

3. therefore the land shall mourn, [for the sinful abominations of the inhabitants ; to let their own deserts the more sensibility before their eyes, the whole land, and all that is must suffer; and so occures frequently in the Prophets.] every one is in it fainteth, [or, languisheth, droopeth, pineth away] with beasts of the field, and with the fowls of the heaven; yea the fishes of the sea also shall be raked away. [Hebr. properly, gathered. I.e. they shall die, perish, be consumed, and raked together to be cast away like carrion. See of the Heb. Word Psal.26. on vers. 9.]

4. Yet let more contend, nor prove any: [As if the people said; let anyone dare to controul and find fault with our practise; God brins in the very word here, which the people would make use of; foretelling the Prophet, what he and the others faithful men of God were to expect at the hands of godless governours, false Prophets and Idolatrous Priests, with their adherents Generalities, thus namely; Their preaching of repentance, and reproving of sin, would be forbidden and silences; and those that should offer to find fault with their action, should be sure to be called in question, and be punished, as troublesome companions and raisers of seditions] for thy people [viz. the people O Hosea, with whom thou hast to do.] is as those, that contend with the Priests: like unto those, which, without any respect and with a great deal of insolence grow troublesome and hath to such, as on God behalf and by vertueof their charge and office are bound to reprove sin, and whose reprehensions aud admonition the people ought reverently to accept of. Compare Deuteronomy 17:12,]

5. Therefore shalt thou [i.e. every one of you, that are thus backsliding and refractorie] fall [i.e. miscarry, come to ruin and perish. Compare below chapter 5.5. and chapter 14 2.] by day, yea the Prophet himself [understand the false seducing Prophets, who by promise of peace, animated and hardened the people in their wicked courses] shall fall with thee by night: [by the words in the verse, by day, by night, one may understand the continual and still successive evils to come, which should follow and take hold one of another; as day and night without any ceasing, or intermission. Oth. to day or this day. i.e. within a short time, very soon, or suddenly. Compare Proverbs 12:16. Or, thou shall fall while it is day yet i.e. when thou shalt conceive thy self in a flourishing estate, void of fear, and free of danger. Compare Jeremiah 15:9. Amos 8:9 with the annot. And the false Prophets that sediuce thee shall fall by night. Or, in the night. i.e being in darkness, ignorance, without vision, or knowledge of the evil that shall surprise both you and them, when they least think of it, promising themselves and you nothing but peace and welfare Compare Mich. 3.5, 6, 7. some are opinion, that this hath regard to the visions, which the Prophets were wont to receive of God in the night time Genesis 46:2. Zach. 2.8 and that the false Prophets, falsely boasting of the like, are said to fall in the night] and I will root out thy mother. [i.e. the kingdom of ten Tribes, the people of Israel, or their Church, Synagogue, as above chap.2.1.]

6. My people is destroyed, [i.e. it shall surely be destroyed, Heb. My people are destroyed or, destroying,] being without knowledge [as above ver.1. Compare Isa.5.13.] because thou hast rejected knowledge I have rejected thee also, that thou shalt not administer the Priests office unto me . [the speech is addressed here, to the Idolatrous Priests and other Ecclesiastical person, who ought to have instructed the people in the true pure doctrine. See Deut.33. 10. Malach. 2. 7.]because thou hast forgot the Law of thy God, therefore will I laso forget thy children. [as God remembering for good, doth signifie his favour and blessing, so here his forgetting, implieth his displeasure and desertion whereby he lets men go without his blessing, and giveth them up to all manner of miserie and mischief.]

7. According as they waxed greater ,[Heb. According, or, after their increase, or, greatness]so have they sinned against me. [i.e. the more they advance and increased in number, multitude, honour and greatness (especially, being become a peculiar kingdom, and having set up a new self devised priesthood) which the following words seem to have an eye to, principally the Priesthood (whereof in the next verse) the more unthankful they grew to me, and the more abominations they committed against me. Compare the phrase below cha. 11.2.] I will change their [viz. both Kingly and Priestly] honour into shame.

8. They [viz. the Preasts] eat the sin of my people, [i.e. the sin offering. See Levit.4. on verse. 3. The sence is, their aim is not, that the people might be instructed concerning sin - offering and consequently sins, and their demerits, concerning the Messiah and true justification, and how their offering may become pleasing and acceptable to God; but onely how they may get enough to live and spend, glut and feast on] and long every one with his soul, after their unrighteousness.[Hebr. they lift up his soul &c. i.e. every one lifted his soul, that is desereth and longeth for it with all his heart , that the people should sin much, and consequently bring in abundance of sin – offering, that he may the better cram and fatten himself with it; the more the people sin, the more, the Priests think, it makes for them; as the Prophet implieth. See the Heb. Phrase. 24.4.]

9. Therefore, according as the people, so shall the priest be[Or the Governor, or both together, these viz. that are the chiefest in the Church and State. See of the Hebrew word. Gen.41. on v 45. The meaning is; since the one is not better then the other, therefore the one shall fare no better then the other; they shall all share alike, and be involved in one and the same punishment. See Isa.24.2. Mat.15.14.] and I will visit his way upon him, and recompense him his dealings. [i.e. punish the Priests course and practise. See Gen. 6. on vers. 12. and 21. on vers.1. Or, his, that is, very ones of them.]

10. And they shall eat, but not be satisfied, commit whoredom, but not break forth (in multitude) [i.e. they shall not be multiplied. See of the Heb. Word Gen .26. on vers.14. and 30. 30. also Job 1:10. with the annotat.] for they have forborn to take notice of the LORD. [viz. neglecting and not observing the ways of the LORD, and having him no more before their eyes.]

11. Whoredom and wine, and new wine take away the heart, [Heb. Shall, or will take, in the singular, i.e. each or either of these (viz. whoredom or drunkenness) doth bereave a man of his understanding and judgement, and make him consequently so mad and foolish, that he doth, as followeth. See Isa.28. 7. Pro.17.2. and Prov 9. on v 4.]

12. My people ask their wood, [i.e. wooden Idol, for councell, and how shall go with them in after – times, thanking the same shall be able to foretell it them.] and their stick [or staff; i.e. the Idol whereon they relie and repose themselves, as a man leanes upon and supports himself with a staff. Some understand here that wood, whereof the idol Baal was made, (See Deut. 28. ver.36.) some are of opinion it hath respect, to the manner of dividing or footh saying, by staff or rod, or, of those which take heed to the notice of flights of fowls, using to carry a stick or wand in their hand] shall make it known unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms [i.e. the Devil, called the unclean spirit , Zach.13. 2. Mat.12. 43. or their perverse minde, their corrupt inclination and disposedness to both spiritual and bodily fornication, whereunto the evil spirit of Devil doth incite and instigate them. see below chapter 5 4. Compare Rom .1.24, 28, etc doth seduce them, that they go whoring away from under their God. [Or, from istead of their God i.e. So, that refusing to submit themselves unto the God, as to their Lord and husband, or, to be subject to him, they run after the idols, with out any remorce or control; or, so that instead of the rule God they chuse and cleave unto strange gods. Compare above chap.1. 2,7 abnd Ezekiel 23:5. with the annotat. These phrases are very remarkable, expressing and setting forth the nature and condition of Idolatry most lively.]

13. They offer upon the high places of the mountains, [According to the manner of the heathen; See Deut.12.2. with the annotat. There] and upon the hills they burn incense, under an oak, and poplar and Ivy – tree [or, elm – tree oth. lime – tree] their shallow being good: [i.e. very pleasing delightful, or also, causing some obscuritie by their thickenss, which served their idolatries and uncleanness. Compare Isaiah 57:5,7. Jer.36. Ezek.6,13. it being usual, that the spiritual whoredom draweth the bodily after it, by the just judgement of God. See Num.25. 1.2, etc Room.1.24. to his relateth the following inference in the Text] therefore do your daughter play the harlots, and your brides [Or, daughters in law] commit adulterie

14. I will make no visitation on your daughter, for their whoring, and your brides, for their committing adulterie; [i.e. I will go about now by punishments to restrain thm, but even let them go on in these abominations to their and your confusion and destruction, as some do take this, a sign of God highest displeasure. See Psalms 89:32, 33, 34. and Psalms 94:12, 13. Or else, I shall not so much and heavily punish the young daughters an brides, or the sons, young married wives, (compare below chapter 6.6. Jeremiah 7:22 and I Sam.15.22.) by reason that the parents and husbands themselves, by their own wicked example do teach and lead their yong daughters and wives no better.[Oth. should I not make visitation etc. as if God said, I cannot let such go unpunished; your selves must acknowledge it, which likewise dith well agree with the conclusion of this vers. Compare Jer. 5. 91, 29. and chapter 9. verse 9, etc.] for they themselves separate themselves with the whores, and offer with the vilest worker; [I.e. the parent and husbands, separate themselves by troops, and go under pretence of their idol – worship, to joyn themselves with the vilest whores, as they went offering sacrifies with them, when they go but to practise abominable vilenesse, which was all their intent] the people then (that) have no understanding, shall turned upside down. [Or, confounded, enthralled, improverished, scourged, punished, overthrown. The Hebrew word here used, occurres only in this place, and Prov.10. vers.8, 10 signifying, (as by the circumstance of three places appears) a special fort of punishment, or destructions and confusion in general.]

15. If thou, O Israel, wilt go a whoring, let Juda (however) not become guiltie: [As if God, loathing and detesting Israel, (compare below vers. 17.) said; if Israel will needs to go to wrack and ruin, and take no warming at all yet look wrack and ruin, and take no warning at all, yet look thou to it, O Juda, and follow not their ill example: it is a complaint taken up over the stiffneckedness together with a serious exhortation or warning, for Juda] do not ye (I pray) come to Gilgal . [See Joshua 5:9. It should seem that in this place there was very abominable idolatrie practiced; and this having been the famous place, where the first circumcion, and the first Passover were celebrated in Canaan, therefore God was so much the more offended with the profanation and pollution of such a place . See below chapter 9.1. and cha 12.12. Amos 4 4. & 5.5.] and go not up to beth – aven, [i.e. the house of God, called Beth – Aven here reason of the golden calf set up there by Jerobeam, and the idolatry there practiced. See 1 Kings 12:29. and above chap.5. 8. and 10. This place was formerly likewise very famous because of Gods special apparition there to the Patriarch Jacob Gen.28. 19 and chap 35.6. 7, etc. both thse places Gilgal and Bethel lay neer Juda, so that it was not without danger for the people of Juda to be seduced thither into the communion of Idolatry, there being no small appearance of their own inclination that way, wherefore God doth here so earnestly warn them.] and swear not (as true as) the LORD liveth. [viz. in an hypocritical idolatrous manner, so namely as the idolatrous Israelites, intermixing my Name with their idols, thereby to cloak their idolatry, and to hold forth a clour of religiousness, which was an abomination before God, who will be honored and served singlyand up ightly as God, according to his own prescript Compare above chap.2.15. with the annotat. And concerning the particle, not, compare the annotat on the foregoing verse, and Zephaniah 1:5.]

16. For Israel is unruly, [Or, obstinate, gain striving, running wilde and loose, refusing to be lead into the right wayes,] like an unruly heifer, [remaining in fat pasture but altogether without restraint or tie, without any yoke, bounds, government, running headlong, neither caring nor knowing whither, therefore shall the LORD deal with her as followeth.] now [i.e. shortly, ere long. See bel. Chap10. vers.3.] the LORD shall the lord deal with her as followeth.] now [i.e. shortly, ere long. see bel. chapter 10. verse. 3.] the LORD shall feed them, [i.e. the Israelite] as a limb at large [even as young silly lamb, that goeth at large, doth ditches pits or pools, or becoming a prey to the wilde beasts: so this people being given so much to licentiousness and libertinism, and loving to rove and range at large, past all bounds and restraints; I will give them scope enough to range, so that is to say, I will carry them away out of their own land and pasture, and scatters them toward all the four windes among the heathen. Some take it thus, that God would first feed and fatten Israel like a lamb, i.e. make them to grow wealthy and powerfull by all manner of prosperity, and then fetch them up, as out of a fat pasture, for to be led unto the slaughter.]

17. Ephraim [i.e. the ten tribes, whereof Ephraim was the principal, and had the kingdome, see Psal. 78. on ver.9. and so below. Chap.5. 3,5,911,13,14, etc and these are likewise understood by Israel, in this prophecie.] is companied with the idols, [i.e. so firmly joined and allied with them, as one companion is with another. See of the Heb. Word 2.sam 5. on 21.] let him alone [compare ab. verse. 15. wit te annot. and Mat.15.15.]

18. Their swilling [i.e. the drunkeness which they use at their idolatries and uncleanness] is revolting: [i.e. by their excesse of drink and companions, they grow but so much more rebellions and exorbitant, in both spiritual and bodily whoredom; they doth but intice and instigate unto the other. Oth. their wine (or, drunkenness) is wishing. i.e. their idol feasts and drunken meeting, are full of loathsum filth and pollution, wherein they lie welting like beast. Compare the manner of speaking wit Proverbs 20:1.] they doe nothing but whore; [Heb. whoring they whore] her [reflecting it should seem upon the unruly heifer above v.16 or te adulterous woman, or harlot above ch.3.1. and 1.2. and so also in the following verse: it may likewise fitly be applied to Ephraim or Israel it self, according to the custom of the Hebrew tongue; and so also vers. 19.] shields [i.e. their defenders and protector, teir governors, as Psal. 47.10. See the annotat there.] (it is a shame) [i.e. a very shameful thing for the Governors and rulers of Gods people ; it is spoken with detestation] do love (the word) Give. [God implieth here, that the governours make such a common and daily use of te word impudently to minde people of (when as it is base enough to accept offred) gifts and presents. Give, give, bring , bring is all they say and sing; meaning either bribes and presents or, as some would have it understood here, wine, to swill. Compare Mich. 7. 3. See the like expression, in matter of unsatiableness Proverbs 30:15. or thus, Their wine with draweth: they commit whoredom; give, they love, their Protectors are a shame

19. A winde hath bound her [viz this heiser or harlot, or adulterous woman, or, Israel or Ephraim.]in his wings; [I.e. he shall surely sinde and easily carry and hurrie her way, spoke in phophetical manner. And by the winde he understands the Assyrians, who should most suddenly and unresistably, like a violent winde, carry away captive the ten tribes out of their land, which happened first by Tiglath – Pileser, and afterwards completely by Salmanasser. See 2 Kings 15:9. and 18. 9,10,11 etc. and compare below chap 13. vers.15. Psal.55. 9. Jeremiah 4:11,12, and 51.1, etc. God is also said to ride upon the wings of the winde. 2 Sam. 22. 11. Psal.104.3.] and they shall be ashamed because od their sacrifies [understand those idolatrous and whorist sacrifices mentioned above.]