Hosea 2

2. Plead with your mother. “Mother” here, and in iv. 5, signifies the Israelitish community, the individual members of which might be regarded as her children. Those who are alive to the sin and danger of the nation are called upon to join the prophet in his efforts to arouse and reform it.

she is not my wife. By her base conduct she has forfeited her right to the name and advantages of a wife.

out of her sight. Rather, “from her face.”

3. Lest I strip her naked, etc. Lest I reduce her to a state of utter destitution and misery.

5 my lovers. The idols which I have worshipped. So infatuated had the Israelites become, as to ascribe their prosperity or adversity to these divinities: cp. Jer. xliv. 17-19.

6. I will hedge up thy way with thorns, etc. The “thorns” and the “wall” represent the restraints and sufferings by which God mercifully checks the fatal pursuit of sin.

7 follow after. The Heb. word denotes hot, eager pursuit.

8. Corn . . . wine . . . oil . . . silver and gold. The products of the soil and the fruits of commerce.

they prepared for Baal. Or, “used for Baal,” as R.V.: cp. Isa. xliv. 17. The very gifts which Jehovah bestowed upon His people they devoted to their idols.

9 in the time thereof . . . in the season thereof. Just when she is most confidently counting upon these things as her own (see ver. 5), I will make her feel that they are Mine, by taking them away.

10 in the sight of her lovers. The heathen gods are represented as witnessing the disgrace of their worshippers, without being able to relieve them.

11 her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths. The yearly, monthly, and weekly festivals (still observed, as this passage shows, in the northern nation), were designed to be seasons of holy joy; but the people had deprived them of their sacredness, and had turned them into occasions of sinful pleasure; and now God will deprive them of their joyfulness.

13 the days of (the) Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them. Or, as R.V., “unto which she burned incense.” That is, the days of the worship of Baalim, as opposed to the festivals of Divine appointment (11).

14. Therefore. This word seems to refer to vers. 6, 9. As My people have sinned against Me, therefore I will first check them, then correct them, and lastly will draw them by My long-suffering mercy back to Myself.

15 her vineyards. Her own forfeited heritage: “from thence”; i.e., from the wilderness.

the valley of Achor for a door of hope. As the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness, and the occurrences at Ai and Achor, however painful, had been in reality a most merciful preparation for the conquest and possession of Canaan, so shall the chastenings just mentioned be a preparation for the enjoyment of spiritual blessings: cp. Deut. viii. 2-6; Josh. vii.; viii. 1, 2. So in every human life where there is repentance and trust in God, the valley of trouble becomes the door of hope.

shall sing. Lit., “shall make answer” (R.V.); gratefully responding to God’s kindness. Many regard this as alluding to the song of the Hebrews at the Red Sea: see Exod. xv. 21.

16. Baali. The term Baal, in its common use, signified “lord,” and was usually applied to the husband by the wife: see 1 Pet. iii. 6. But this name had been so connected with idolatrous worship, that God refuses any more to be called by the title. Ish means “husband”; and the termination stands for “my.”

20 thou shalt know the Lord. The meaning probably is, Thou shalt learn by thine own experience that I am, as My name Jahveh implies, unchanging and faithful: see notes on Exod. iii. 14; vi. 3.

21. I will hear (answer) the heavens, etc. “All creation” has groaned under the curse caused by Israel’s sin (ver. 9: cp. Rom. viii. 22); but now, by a beautiful figure, each link in the chain of natural agencies is personified, as calling for vivifying power to that which is above it, and the highest, “the heavens,” as invoking the Eternal. And they no longer ask in vain for the blessing needful to fertility; for He who alone possesses the power will now bless His repentant people. The highest natural causes are but instruments by which the supreme First Cause works out His designs; and all are subordinated by Him to the purposes of His moral government.

22. Jazræl. The name of the restored Israel, “whom God soweth”: see next verse.

23. I will have mercy, etc., “I will have mercy on Nomery” (Moffatt).