Hosea 7

God complaineth further of their common heat and eagerness in all manner of grosse sins, bearing sway as well among the great one at Court, as among the Vulgar; such as were, falsehood, stealing, robbing, malice, lies, wicked alliances, drunkenness, smokeries into leagues with heathens, verse. 1, etc. accompanied with a stupid pride, obstinacie and senselessness, 8. foretelleth them his righteous judgment, 12. and goeth on complaining of their hypocrisie and incorrigibleness, 13,14, etc.

1. Whiles I am curing Israel, [i.e stir and imploy my Prophets, for to exhort the ten Tribes to repentance, and to reduce them to all spiritual and temporal welfare. See Psal.30. on verse. 3. and below chap 11.3.] the iniquitie of Ephraim is discovered, [ie. Then it appears, that the root and fource of all their wickedness and iniquitie, against both first and second Table, is the Tribe of Ephraim, and especially in the Kings Court at Samaria. Or it is plainly found, that through their obstinancie against all my exhortations, their wickedness and perverness is come to that height that they past all cure and recovery] together with the wickedness of Samaria; [See 1 Kings 16. on vers. 24.] for they work falsehood, whereby they break Covenant with me, Psal. 44.18,21.dealing likewise falsly with their neighbour, See Lev.19. 11.] and the thief goeth in, the troop of robbers[See above chapter 5. on verse 1,2.] roath abroad. [Implying, that stealing, plundering, murthering was now left free and went unpunished both within and without their cities, so much they had prevailed, and thereby both the Tables of God law was broken.]

2. And they say not in their heart, (that) I do minde all their wickedness: [i.e. they never think once, that I do see, and shall visit all this] now their dealing, surround them, [as cords or ropes, intangling and distressing them, so that they shall not be able to escape; as the officers of Justice do apprehend and bring them as male –factors before the judgment, whereof they shall finde the truth now. I.e. very shortly] they are before my face. [viz. bare and naked, they are all known to me, and I shall take them in hand, to look to their action, and to proceed with them accordingly.]

3. They chear in the King with their wickedness, and the Princes with their lies. [The wickedness of the King and of his Princes was s great, that they took pleasure and delight in the abominations both of Priests and people, as serving mainly to stiffen in Idolatrie, the mystery and basis of their State and Government, and the people knowing the Courts pleasure, they acted accordingly, , to pleasure the Prince best doing worst.]

4. They do all of them commit adulterie; they are like the oven that is heated by the baker: [i.e. they are so hot and servant in their idolatrie and sins depending thereupon, as a fiery flaming oven thoroughly heated; and nevertheless as sencelesse and secure about the danger thereof, as is the sleeping Baker. See vers. 6.] ceasing to be vigilant, [Or, to rewze i.e. he sleepeth both himself, and lets all sleep and be at rest, till it be time to put the bread into the oven, after that the dough is sufficiently risen and thoroughly leaved; even so do they let the leaven of corruption have its full operation, and the oven of idolatry, to be through heated, till all be to their minde, that is to say, come to the highest pitch of iniquitie, Compare Matthew 16:12. Luke 12:17.Oth thus, which is heated of the baker, when he ceaseth to raise up, (viz those that are to knead and work the dough) after that the dough shall be kneaded, until it be thoroughly levened] after that be shall have kneaded the dough, till it be through leavened.

5. It is the day of our King; [This may be taken, as spoken by the Princes and Courties. Oth (on) the day of our King, the Princes make him sick, By the Kings day may be understood his birth – day, as Genesis 40:20. or his Coronation day, as a certain festival day instituted by the King, in honor of the Calves. See 1 Kings 12:32. 33 and comp. Job 1:4. with annotat. Matthew 14:6.] the Princes make (him) [viz. the King, from what goes before and followeth, oth. Make themselves] sick through inflammation of the wine; [i.e. through hot draughts of wine, or by drinking of hot wine; Oth. With bottles of wine] he stretcheth forth his hand with the mockers, [I.e when he is sick of wine, then he riseth up with the mockers and jesters, which are at hand to make him some pastime, while he is wine-sick, to ease him or when he is drink, then he doth so, in so much that the Court is full of vanity and wickedness. Of mockers [See Psal. 1. on vers. 1. Proverbs 1:22. and 9.7, etc]

6. For [Or, surely, certainly] they inure their heart as an oven [Heb. Properly, they make their heart draw near etc. i.e. they give themselves to it, they entice and instigate, set and encourage themselves] to their plots [i.e secretly to plot against those, that diswade or oppose them, and by all manner of practise to bring them into trouble and distress, even to death, because they will not allow of their impieties, or bearing them grudge and hatred in other respects] their baker sleepeth no all night, in the morning he burneth like a flaming fire. [Hereby some understand their King, who having charged his Princes and Counsellours with the conduct and execution of all his wicked devices, and seeing it take, and be in full force and vigour, he takes great pleasure and their complices are up and practicing, for to conspire against him(whereof fee next verse) and before the King dreames of it, the plot is ready, and breaketh forth, setting all fire and in combination.]

7. They are altogether inflamed [viz. in impietie and wickedness] as an oven, and they consume their Judges: [i.e. their Kings, Princes, and Governors, as the following words declare, and below vers. 16. Compare Judge. 2. on vers.16.] all their Kings fall [I.e they are made away the one conspiring against, and slaying the other. See Gen 14. on vers.10 on ver. 10.&c. and the history hereof 2 Kings 15:8. &c. to vers.32. and below here vers.16.] there is none among them, that calleth on me. [i.e. that knoweth me, and seeketh for favour and help at my hands; compare below verse 10,11,14.]

8. Ephraim, he entangleth himself with the nations: [By heathenish matches, communion of idolatrie & other sins; besides unwarrantable leagues and alliances. See above chap 5.7, 13. and below here vers. 11.] Ephraim is [i.e. is like] a cake [see of the Heb. Word Gen 18. on vers.6.] that is not turned: [and consequently half raw yet, whom the greedie Assyrians will swallow up nevertheless; or burnt on the one side, and raw, or unready on the other, and in that regard very unsavory and corrupt and good for nothing more (as they say) neither for to cast away , as it with a cake, when there is no care had of it, on the fire, or coals. This simultitude is variously declared, and applied to Ephraim: by what goes before and followes. It should seem, God implies Ephraim had been careless and negligent of both their spiritual and temporal welfare, and running abroad to the Idolatrous Heathens, to seek foe help and safetie were grown so corrupt by their communion with them, that they had scarce an shape, taste or favour left, to make them that they had scarce any shape, taste or favour left, to make themselves desirable; even as a cake, half raw , and half burnt, or quite burnt and spoiled: some apply is to the impententie of Ephraim, notwithstanding Gods punishing of them; whereof vers. 10.]

9. Stranger consume his [viz. Ephraims] vigour: see examples hereof 2 Kings 15:19.28. and verse. 29. there] and he perceives it not; also grayness is spread abroad upon him, and he perceives it not. [I.e he growes weak and seeble; and is not sensible of it, even as old people, gretting gray – hairs over; and yet he remains as obstinate as stiff – necked ever he was before]

10. Therefore the pride of Israel [viz, that in this their miserable conditionthey still continue so senceless, insolent, and reflectorie against me. See above chap 5.5. with the annotat.] shall restifie to his face; because they do not convert themselves to the LORD their God, nor seek him in all this.

11. For Ephraim is as a blant Dove [I.e a dull, silly, simple creature, easily apt to be misled and seduced, prostituion themselves to be abused by any; this is further declared in the sequel] without heart, [I.e. understanding See Job 9. on verse. 4.] they call upon Egypt, [See 2 Kings 17:3, 4. and above chap 5.13. and below chap 8.9. and 12. 1,] they go away to Assur.[I.e to Assyria, or king of Assyria.]

12. When they shall be going thither, I will spread forth my net over them [I.e. I will catch, entangle and ruin them their Treaties or Negotiations with the Egypt and Assur, even as filly birds are entrapt and caught by net. Compare Job 19:6. Ezech 12.13. and 17.20. and 19.8. and 32.3. with the annotat.] I shall make them down,[where they tought to mount and four on high] as the fowls of heaven; I shall chastile them, [viz. With plague and punishments. See Prov 7. on vers. 22.] as was heard in their congregation.[Heb according to the hearing of (or, at, or, in) their congregation; that is, according as foretold and threatned them, in my law, and by my Prophets, I their own assemblies before all the congregation. See 2 Kings .17. 13.]

13. Wo unto them for they swarved away from me; [Seeking for idolatrous and carnall help here and there, and swarving or wandering about, like frighted bird, that knoweth not where to rest] destruction (be) upon her, for they have transgressed against me, [or, revolted from me See 1 Kings 8:50. and 12 on verse. 19 again, Jeremiah 2:8,9,29 and compare below, chap 8 .1. and 14. 10.] I might indeed deliver them, [or, I delivered them indeed or, I deliver the indeed, or when ideliver them etc See 2 Kings 14:25,26,27,28.] but they receive at mt hands, they return the honour to their idols, or, they do indeed promise amendment and thankfullness but they intend it not.]

14. Neither do they call to me with their heart, when they howl upon their coaches: [I.e. their praying to, and lamenting before me, in meer hypocritisie, it is a howling, for their being vexed and disappointed; a murmuring of impatience, without faith and repentance. Some think that the word, couches, or beds, hath respect to the high places or Temples of their idolatry, which is spiritual whoredom. See Isaiah 57:7,8. with the annot. Which following word, gather, doth not unsitly allude unto. Compare also Ezekiel 23:41.] they gather themselves [seemingly for to sue for and obtain blessings at my hand] for corn and new wine (and) turn to me] (but) they strive against me. [I.e. foe all their semblance, they shew indeed that they are revolted from, and rebellion against me. Oth. They turn away from, or, turn aside against me, to wit rebelling, in regard they notwithstanding cleave so close to their idolatry, event whiles in shew, they come using from corn and new wine at my hand. Oth, they make themselves incisions, viz. Into flesh, after the manner of the heathen and gross idolaters See 1. Kings. 18. 28. with the annotat.]

15. I have indeed chastised them, [Both by word and blowes.] and strenthened their arms; implying he had chastifised them moderately yet, affording them strength and power to endure the chastisement; or; so that I did not consume them; or, when I undertook to cure them by wholesom correction, I condescended to their ability, suporting them with necessary means of strength and bearing with their infirmities. Or, I chastised them indeed, but I maintained their state, that they were not destroyed. Others I binde and strengthen their arms, viz. As good Chirurgion of Physician would do. Compare verse 1.] but they devise evil against me. [for my well – doing,they require me in lieu of thankfulness, with evil and wicked practices: divising and going about still to maintain and secure their rottering and ruinous state without me, and against all my warnings and threatenings, as it were in spight and defiance of me, and that by means of idolatrous, carnal and heathenish assistance, when they stand ingaged to thank me alone, for the substistence and preservation, of whatsoever weal and prosperity is left tem yet, which also the sequel aims at]

16. They turn themselves (but) not (to) The most high, [i.e. they run this way and that way, and whither not, but ot me, where their salvation is to be sought, they come not. Compare bel. chapter 11.7. or somewhiles indeed they make shew of turning, but do not really act it, Compare ab. chapter 6.4. with the annotat. Oth. Plainly thus, They do not turn themselves to the most High, they are like a deceitful bowe; [Hebr. bowe of deceit, See Psal.78. 57. with the annotat. The sense is; whereas they ought to turn themselves to me wards, thye go clean contray wayes, and therefore they speed also, as followeth] their princes fall by the sword [See ab. On verse 7.] by reason of the wrathfulness of their tongue. [i.e. because they entertain my prophets and consequently my self with much wrath and bitternesse. Compare Psal.73.9.or because they revile one another with bitter and smart taunts and invectives, which makes them combine and conspire one against the other, even unto death and destruction, as ab. Verse.7.] This is their scornfulness [i.e. the cause of their being scorned] in Egypt. [where they seek for help and think to be in no small credit esteem.]