Hosea 11

1. And called My son out of Egypt. These words are quoted in Matt. ii. 15, and are applied to the childhood of the Son of God, which was partly spent in Egypt. The fatherly love and purposes of mercy, which led God to deliver Israel from Egypt, led Him also to protect our Lord in His infancy by sending Him thither.

2. As they called them. That is, “the prophets,” my messengers, called the people; but the more they called, the more did Israel turn away.

4 with cords of a man, etc. Not by violence, but by gentleness; like one who, instead of urging his cattle to the utmost, lifts the yoke from their necks, lest it should heat and gall them, whilst he feeds them. Expressive of God’s tender regard to the circumstances and wants of His people.

5 refused to return. i.e., to God.

6 his branches. Or, “his bars” (R.V.); i.e., fortresses.

7 though they called them. See on ver. 2.

would exalt [Him]. Rather, as R.V. marg., “will lift [Himself] up.” In cold apathy the call to arise is disregarded.

8. Admah . . . Zeboim. Admah and Zeboim were allies of Sodom, and involved in its destruction (Deut. xxix. 23). These questions show the tenderness of the Divine compassion, even towards the impenitent and the backslider: cp. Ezek. xxxiii. 11; Luke xix. 41.

9. I will not enter into the city. The meaning may be either, “I will not come against the city (i.e., the city of Samaria), as I did against Admah and Zeboim”; or, “I will not come with wrath,” or “terror,” as in Jer. xv. 8.

10. They shall walk after the Lord, etc. The “roar” is a potent summons, like the “great trumpet,” Isa. xxvii. 13.

10 shall tremble. Rather, “shall flutter”; i.e., fly hastily. Israel shall follow the Lord obediently, and shall hasten from all quarters to enjoy their long-lost privileges; and then will God show His anger against their oppressors; see Isa. lx. 8.

12. Judah yet ruleth with God. The rendering in the text is hardly consistent with ch. xii. 2. The clause is more correctly translated thus: “And Judah still wandereth (see Jer. ii. 31, last part) with respect to God, and to the Most Holy, the Faithful One”: see R.V. marg. The faithlessness of Israel stands in marked contrast to the faithfulness of God. In the Hebrew text this verse is the first of ch. xii.