Hosea 9

God checks Israel for their idolatrous rejoicing in the harvest time, vers. 1. which he shall cause to take a speedy end, by the famine to come, the carrying of them away captive, the want of the public worship, the mourning and desolation of their land, 2 false and true prophets, are opposed one to the other 7. further complaint of Israel deep corruption, after the example of their thankful idolatrous fore – fathers, 9God threatens them with barrenners and slaughters of their children, 11. The prophet prayer for mitigation of punishment. 14. a further recital of their idolatry, with a denouncing of God wrath and judgment, 15.

1. Rejoyce not, O Israel, unti exulting, [Or, unto chearfulness, or jollity; Save the same phrase Job.3. 22. The Hebr. word hath respect to the outward gestures, and testimonies of rejoicing] like unto the nations; [who upon a good harvest were to fronllique it, and shew much cheerfulness in honour of their idols, whom they held to be the authors thereof. Compare Psal 4.8 and here in the sequel; also Joel 1 on verse12.] for ye go whoring from your God; ye love harlots wages, on all thereshing – floor of corn. [i.e. ye rejoice in your harvest as the reward which ye suppose your Lovers, the idols, have given you for your spiritual whoredom, that is idolatry: and in all places where you thresh and store up your corn, and where ye presse and cellar wine, ye give thanks unti your idols, for the things which I gave you. Compare above chapter 2.7.]

2. The ( threshing) floor; and the wine – presse shall not feed them, [however they are persuaded otherwise] and the new – wine shall lie to her. [Or against, or under her, to wit, this whore or adulteresse, or Ephraim, Israel i.e. the hope they have conceived thereof shall fail and deceive them, they shall not enjoy it, it shall be laid up for the enemy, and they themselves must void this Countrey, as followeth. Compare above 8.7. and the phrase with Hab.3.17. Isaiah 58:11.and Job 40.28. and see the annot. There.]

3. They shall not remain in the LORDS land: [viz. in Canaan, which is frequently called Gods land and inheritance. See Psal 68. on verse 10. and Joel 1:6. and above chap 8. on verse13.] and [or but, it the word going before be understoos of seeking help in Egypt against the Assyria, as if God should say, let them run to Egypt never so much, they must away to Assyria] they shall eat he unclean (thing) [which God had forbidden to eat in his law, and whereby, eating thereof, they became ceremonially unclean. Compare Ezekiel 4:12, 13. Daniel 1:8. and here in the next verse.] in Assyria [whither they should be carried away captive.]

4. They shall [To wit, when they shall be carried away captive, and eat unclean things, of which sad condition of the Israelites the former verse spake] make no drink – offering of wine, [Heb. Shedding, pouring forth, or spreading abroad of wine, i.e. drink – offerings. Of wine – offerings see Psalm.16. on verse.4.] unto the LORD; as being forth out the land and place, etc. which God had appointed for sacrifices; and having consequently no opportunity or means to offer any clean thing to the Lord, as appreareth by what goeth before and followeth] also they would not be sweet unto Him [i.e. not acceptable or pleasing, as Jer.6.20. Mal.3.4.] their sacrifices would be tothem as mourning – bread; [Hebr. bread of the sad, or mourning (ones) i.e. such meat as is eaten in mourning – houses over the dead, all which by the ceremonial Law was unclean. See Levit.21.1, etc. and 22.4. etc. Num.19.14. also rhey were enjoined to offer wit joy, Deut.12.6,7.Wheresore some by the bread or meat, do understand the sacrifices. See Leviticus 3:11.and 21.6. Num.28.2.Ezekiel 44:7.] all that should eat thereof would become unclean, for their bread shall be for their soul, [i.e. their sustenance, meat, drink, and meals shall then, during their Exile, be over their dead, whom they lost thus, or as over their dead. (Compare Ezek.24.17.) for whom, or which thing they shall mourn continually, and therefore be unclean still. Thus the word soul is taken for a dead body, or dead person, Psal.16.10. and Levt.19.28. See the annot. There Oth for their own person, or for themselves( as the Heb word is likewise taken) that is they eat amnd drink for themselves, and not to honour God thereby (as ab. Ch.8. 13.) because some do understand that this verse doth not speak of the condition of their file, but what the Israelites were a doing new, and would do, until that time . Compare Zach .7.5,6.] it shall not come into the LORDS house.[i.e. the same being unclean may not be brought into the house of God, nor ought to be offered at all.]

5. What would yo do (then) upon a High – times – day, or upon a Feast – day of the LORD? [To wit, when according to my precept ye should before me with cheerfulness, when as ye shall sit mourning then, and may not offer, and are without your land, and cannot. See Num.10.10. and Deut.12.12, etc. and comp.ab. chap.3. verse 4. and the annotat. On the former verse.]

6. For lo, they passé away [i.e. they shall surely be outed out of their land; Or they pass away, i.e. they perish, vanish away] because of the destruction: [to be made by that Assyrian] Egypt shall assemble them; [from these words it may be conjectured, that some of the Israelites flying before the Assyrians should betake themselves for shelter to Egypt, conceiving they should finde good entertainment and assistance there, forasmuch as they had forsaken the Assyrian, and adhered to the king of Egypt. See ab.ch.8.on vers 13. But how they should speed there, is foretold them here in the following words. Some are opinion, that first they retired among those of Juda, and afterwards together with them into Egypt] Moph [the city of Memphis in Egypt, otherwise (as some think) also calleth Nop, Isa.19.13. See the annot there.] shall them; [and consequently they shall not return into their own land, but die and perish in exile] their silver shall be desired aster, [i.e. their money shall be greedily sought for, and preyed upon] nettles shall hereditarily possee them; [Heb. Nettle etc., their land and habitation shall lie waste for a long time, and remain without inhabitation shall lie waste for long time, and remain without inhabitant. Compare Isaiah 32:13. and 34.13. and bel. Chap.10. verse.8.By them, viz. men understand their land places of abode. See Judg.11.23. Jer.49.1. with the annotat. Others read, the pleasant (places ) or desired (shadows) of their silver, the nettle shall possess hereditarily. Desires, for desirable things made silver, or silver, or set forth, adormed with silver dressing of furniture] thorns shall be in their tents. [in stead of the stately dwellings they had there. Hebr. thorn or thistle. Compare Job 31:40 Isa.5.6. and 7.14.]

7. The days of visitation are come, the dayes of recompense are come; they of Israel shall perceive it: [Or, know, acknowledge it, i.e. remember and find then, that the truth was told them, and that they were deceived by their false prophets, whereof in the sequel] the prophet is a fool [meaning the false prophet prophesying nothing but peace and prosperity] the man of the spirit [i.e. the prophet which falsely boateth to be inspired by the holy spirit, to have spiritual visions or revalations from God. Compare Ezek.13.0.] is mad; [Here God himself averreth that the false prophets, that the seducers, and wordly men use to say ubusively to God true prophets. See 2 Kings 9:11. and Jer.29.26, etc. Oth the man of the winde i.e. he that practiseth vanity and lies Compare Mich 2.11.] because of the greatness of your iniquity, the hatred also is great. [This may be understood of Ephraims great hatred, or obstinacy, violence, contrariousness, against God and his word; or of Gods hatred, which was great against Ephraim, and which he would shew forth in the foresaid dayes of visitation and recompence, and whence also it come, that God punished them with false prophets.]

8. The watchman of Ephraim is with my God: [i.e. the true Prophets whom God raised the ten tribes cleave steadfastly and firmly to my God, and his pure worship, as Elias, Elifa and other did, and I also do my self See of this title of the Prophets, Ezek.3. on vers.17. and Compare further Jer.12.3. and below chap.12. 1. also the phrase to walk with God Genesis 5:22. See the annotat there. Oth is there a watchman of Ephraim with my God? The Prophets &c. Oth. Ephraims watchmen (ought to be) with my God (but) etc. o th He (viz. the false Prophet, mentioned in the former verse) keeps watch against Ephraim, (that is) with my God; i.e. he watcheth to mischief those Israelites, which still keep close to God and his pure worship. See 1 Kings 19:18. wherewith the sequel also pretty well agrees. Compare ab. chapter 5.1, 2. and the annotat there.] (but) the Prophets [understand the fowler: [this may be applied to the spiritual taking & ensnaring of souls, and the bodily watching for, entrapping, imprisoning and murdering of the godly, mentioned in the former note] upon all his wayes; [upon all the streets and ways in Israel: or in all his doings and dealings in the false prophet no better then a snare etc. and hatred in the house of his God. [his viz. Ephraims, or the faithful watchmens; spoken of in the beginning of this vers. The false Prophet is justly hated of God and all good men, provoking and causing also nothing but Gods hatred against Israel, (called ab.8.1. the house of the LORD) by all his seduction and wicked practices]

9. They have corrupted themselves very deep, [Heb. They have deepened, they have corrupted. See of the joining of two such verbs, Psal 45. on vers.5. and of the Heb. Word above, chap.5. on vers.2.] as the dayes of Gibea: [even as those of Benjamin at Gibea, were fallen away to abominable idolatry, and evry one did then in Israel, what he pleased. Sed the History Jod.19. and compare below chapter 10.9] he shall their iniquity, [as above chap.18.13. See the note there] he shall visit their sins.

10. I found Israel as grapes in the wilderness, I saw your fathers, as the first frit on the tree in their beginning:[i.e. when I first took Israel for my people, they were as acceptable to me, as grapes are to wafting men, finding them in a wilderness, and so sweet and pleasing, as the first ripe figs on a fig – tree. Compare Mich.7. on vers.1.] (but) they went in (to) Baal Poer, [The idol of the Moabites, to commit spiritual adultery or whoredom with him, whereupon followed their carnal pollution. See Numb.25. 1,2,3, and the imitation of this example of their forrfathers.1. Kings 16.31,32, etc] and separated themselves [ith an extraordinary idolatrous preparation for the Religious worship of this idols. The Hebrew word is the same from which the Nazirities, i.e. the separated ones had their name. See Numbers 6:2.] for that shame [i.e. that vile and base idol Baal. See Jeremiah 3:24., 25.] and grew altogether abominable [Heb. Abomination, abominablenesses] after their lovers. [Oth. There were abominablenesses after their desires. i.e. all manner of abominations had their full sway and swing there, according to their own will and desire, even as their vile hearts could wish it. Some take it, as if God did set in opposition here, that now they were grown as odious and abominable to him, as formerly they had been pleasing & acceptable.]

11. As for Ephraim their glory [i.e. their kingdom happy estate and outward prosperity, and especially the maultitude of their children, wherewith they were adorned, and glorious, as followeth, See Psal.127.5. Prov.17.6.] shall fly away as bird, [i.e. they shall be berest of them on a sudden, and be as little able to recover them, as the bird that is slown] (even) from the birth [i.e. as soon as they should be born] and from (the mother) [of the parenthesis here inserted. See Jud. 13. on v 5. and Job.3. on v. 10.]womb, and from the conception. [i.e. whiles they are in the womb yet, or, as soon as their mother shall have conceived them]

12. Though they should make their children great, yet will I hereave them theoreof, that they shall not be among men: [Or, that they shall be no men, or, that no man shall be left them. Compare Prov.30. vers.14.] for likewise wo unto them when I shall be removed from them.

13. Ephraim is like as I looked upon Tyrus, [Heb,. Tsor see of this city, Jos.19, on vers. 29, and 1 Kings.5. on vers.1. Isa.23. Ezek.27.]which is planted in a pleasant habitation: [this seems to have regard to the strength, pleasantness and prosperity of both these compared places] but Ephraim shall be made to bring forth [Heb. As if one should say, (is ready disposed, set) to bring forth. Compare Isaiah 38:20. with the notes i.e. shall be forced to bring them forth, out of their pleasant habitations, etc.] until the murder. [i.e. to the Assyrians, their enemies Compare Job.27. 14. and Deut.28. 41.]

14. Give unto them, LORD, what shalt thou give them? Give them a miscarrying [Heb. child. bereaving] womb, and breasts drying up[the prophets being much troubled and grieved over these dreadful approaching miseries of the people, knoweth not what to crave first of the LORD in their behalf, but that they may rather have no children, at all, then surfer them, being grown up. To be thus murdered by the enemie. Compare Luke 23:29. Oth give them what thou shalt give them. I.e. give them what their sins deserve, and thy justice requireth]

15. All their wickedness is at Gilgal, [i.e. the principal idolatry is committed there, or what ever idolatry there is in the land, there they bring it together, whereas the remembrance of the mercies which God once shewed them there, ought rather to deterred them from idolatry See above chapter 4. on vers.15. and below chap.12.11.] for [or, certainly, surely] there I hated them for the wickedness of their dealings; I will expel them out of mine house : [i.e. out of my land, or family, that they shall be my children and servants no more good] all their Princes are revolting. [or, rebellious, unruly, refractory.]

16. Ephraim is smitten, their root is withered, [As a green herb smitten by the heat of the sun, or otherwise hurt, that it can never grow nor blossom (Compare Psal 102.11.) so Ephraim is smitten (by God) from above, that his is spoiled underneath. Compare Job 18:16.Amos 2:9. Jonah 4:7. and see the contrary Job 29:19.] they shall bring forth [Heb mike above chapter 8.7. see there] no fruits: yea though they engender, yet will I slay the disered (fruit) of their womb. [Heb the desires of their womb. [Heb. The desires o their womb, i.e. the disered and expected fruits of their bodies]

17. My God [Whom I serve and adhere to, as above verse.8.] shall cast them away, because they do not hearken to him: they shall bbe wandering about among the heathen.[compare Genesis 4:12, 14. Proverbs 27:8. 1 Kings 14:15.. and above chapter 7.13.]