Hosea 5

1. Mizpah . . . Tabor. Mizpah of Gilead, and Tabor, well-wooded hills which afforded covert to game. The “snares” and “nets” represent the seductions to idolatry of the kings and priests of Israel: see I Kings xii. 26-33.

2. And the revolters are profound. Or, “And the apostates have deepened (i.e., increased) slaughter, and I [will increase] punishment to them all.”

4. They will not frame their doings, etc. Rather, as R.V., “Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God.”

6 with their flocks and with their herds. i.e., with the costliest sacrifices.

to seek the Lord. To entreat His help in their trouble.

7 strange children. Spurious children: see i. 2; ii. 4.

now shall a month devour them. Perhaps put for “new moon” (see R.V.); the meaning of the clause being that their hypocritical feasts shall be their ruin.

8. Blow ye the cornet. That is, “Sound an alarm.”

After thee, O Benjamin. Or, “[the enemy] is behind thee, O Benjamin”: having conquered the North, he now threatens the Southern capital.

10 like them that remove the bound (landmark). That is, they are grasping and fraudulent: see Deut. xix. 14.

11 walked after the commandment. “The commandment” is, perhaps, the institution of image-worship by Jeroboam, which the people readily adopted (see 1 Kings xii. 28-32).

13. Then went Ephraim to the Assyrian. This refers to the vassalage to the Assyrian king, which both Israel and Judah promised, in the hope of gaining his protection: see 2 Kings xv. 19 (the embassy of Menahem); xvi. 7 (the embassy of Ahaz).

Jareb. Lit., the adversary; it is evidently a symbolical name for Assyria, like “Rahab” for Egypt.

15. I will go and return to My place. God’s withdrawal involves the deprivation of that all-sufficient protection and aid which His presence implies.

early. That is, “earnestly” (R.V.). The verse should be connected with the next, “will seek Me earnestly, [saying] Come,” etc. (R.V., marg.).