Hosea 10

Hosea 10:1

Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars: according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

Israel is a vine indeed, but a fruitless one; or, if he bear fruit, it is to himself, for the advancing of his own profit and pleasure: as his wealth, and abundance, increaseth, so doth his idolatry: look how much he is pampered with his store, so much more doth he spend upon his goodly images.

Hosea 10:2

Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars.

Their heart is divided in the choice of their gods; now shall the jealous God find out their guiltiness: he shall, in his just indignation, break down their altars.

Hosea 10:3

For now shall they say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

For now they shall say, We are left destitute and helpless: we have no king to defend us; because we feared not the Lord, who was wont to be our King; therefore he hath given us up, and what then can a king do for us?

Hosea 10:4

They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

They have made no conscience of their oaths and covenants: but have broken them at pleasure: yea, even judgment itself, which should be sincere and sacred, is grown miserably depraved, and hateful to my people; yea, no less deadly, than the hemlock of the furrows is to the taste.

Hosea 10:5

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall justly fear, because those calves, which they worshipped in Beth-aven, are already destroyed; for the people thereof shall mourn, expecting, as they well may, the same measure.

Hosea 10:6

It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jacob: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

The nobles of Samaria shall be carried to Assyria, as a present to that great king: Ephraim shall receive shame by his

Hosea 10:7

As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

As for Hoshea, the king of Samaria, he shall be cut off, and blown away into captivity, and shall vanish and sink as a bubble or foam in the water.

Hosea 10:8

The high places also of Aren, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

The high places also of Beth-el (or Beth-aven rather), wherein Israel hath so palpably sinned, shall be utterly destroyed, and laid so waste, that the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their very altars; and the inhabitants shall be so terrified with the sword of the enemy, that they shall wish themselves under ground, and speak to the hills and mountains, to fall upon them, and shelter them from that fury.

Hosea 10:9

O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

O Israel, thou hast sinned, ever since that foul offence, that was done in Gibeah of Benjamin: thou hast continued, and aggravated their sin; yet thou hast not been taken down for it: here was no war moved by the rest of the tribes, as was in Gibeah, against those children of iniquity, which did that shameful act upon the Levite’s concubine:

Hosea 10:10

It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

But this shall be no advantage to them; for it is my purpose, to take their punishment into my own hands: I will cause the Assyrians to be gathered together against them, when I shall correct them for their two calves in Dan and Beth-el; betwixt the worship whereof and my service, they have halted, as an ox that passeth betwixt two furrows.

Hosea 10:11

And Ephraim is an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

Ephraim is as a delicate young heifer, that loves to tread out the corn, when it is in the floor, but cannot abide to draw the plough or harrow: he loves to enjoy blessings, but not to earn and work them out; but I did put my hand upon the fair neck of Ephraim, and find this heifer fit enough for the yoke: I will put all my people to those services they are fit for: if need be, I will put Ephraim to the saddle, Judah to the plough, Israel to the harrow.

Hosea 10:12

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come, and rain righteousness upon you.

Give yourselves to all holy and conscionable endeavours: sow to yourselves in holiness and righteousness, and reap mercy and loving kindness from the Lord; break up the fallow grounds of your hearts, by a true and serious repentance: for it is time for you to turn to the Lord, and to seek to recover his favour; so far, as that he may rain upon you the showers of his grace and mercy, whereby ye may appear righteous in his sight.

Hosea 10:13

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies.

But, alas! contrarily, ye have ploughed up deep furrows of wickedness, and have reaped a large crop of iniquity; ye have fed yourselves with the lying hopes of your vain self-confidence. X. 14, 15. As Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children; So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. As Shalmaneser spoiled Beth-arbel, amongst other the cities which he conquered, wherein he was so cruel, as to dash the mother and children one against another; So shall the idolatry, wrought in Beth-el, bring the like destruction upon you, because of your great wickedness: in one morning shall the king of Israel, be utterly cut off; there shall no long time need, for the accomplishment of this judgment.