Hosea 8

SEt the trumpet to thy mouth The Lord here commands the Prophet to publish, as by sound of Trumpet, that which God will bring upon apostate Israel, awaken them with the alarm of war.: He The King of Assyria, Salmaneser, who carried Israel captive. shall come as an eagle Swift, hungry, surmounting all difficulties, and which from above siezeth his prey, so shall the Assyrian Army come. against Or up to, as far as, so some, but 'tis better as here against. the house of the LORD Either so called because the Israelites pretended their Temples were not Idols houses, but houses of Jehovah, and so the Prophet for once calls them so, perhaps to intitmate to them that their sins would bring an enemy against those houses, though they were indeed what they pretend them to be, the house of the Lord, or else by house of the Lord is meant, the Family of Israel, or the Israelitical Church, which till unchurcht might be called the house of the Lord, or it may be a Sarcasm or Irony against their wilful brutish ignorance, who would not understand what was most plain, that his house was only at Ierusalem, or a softer derision of them, one of whose principal places of Worship was Beth-el, which in signification is near the same with this in the Text, house of God., because they have transgressed my covenant Taken other Gods instead of me, turned Idolaters., and trespassed against my law This explains and confirms the former, Covenant and Law are synonymous, and so are transgressing and trespassing. They have violated the whole Law and Covenant, and are Apostates from their God, Rebels against him their King..

Israel The ten Tribes, shall cry in deep distress, when the Assyrian rangeth over their Country, when Samaria is besieged, they will cry out aloud, but hypocritically; they will roar, but not pray. unto me, My God, Then they'l look to the antient alliance and league between their Fathers and me. we know thee An only Saviour, be ours, for we are thine. Thus in hypocrisie will they carry it..

Israel The whole house of Israel. has cast off With an abhorrence, as an Adulterous Wise puts away her Husband. the thing that is good Moral good to be done, all virtue and goodness; And the supream good to be enjoy'd, God, true Religion and virtue, all cast off for Idols, false Religion and debaucheries. Such a Nation cannot be my people, nor do they know me.: the enemy shall pursue him That enemy he would be deliver'd from, the Assyrian Army shall overthrow, and then pursue, till he has coopt him up in Samaria, and till he have brought them Captives out of their own land into Chalah, Cha or and Gozan, &c. By this they shall know that I know them, their transgressions and hypocrisie.. This seems to be the answer God by his Prophet gives to Israel; in the first part of the verse he does refute their pretence of a peculiar relation and interest in God, in the latter, he tells them what they must expect.

They Israel the prevailing faction among them in Hosea's time. have set up kings Shallum, Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea, who usurpt the Throne., but not by me Not by my direction, or with my approbation, they neither pray'd his blessing, nor askt his leave. And this may be applyed to the very first founding of the Kingdom of Israel, divided from the house of David.: they have made princes Rulers and Magistrates, or Nobles., and I knew it not He that will not approve any one evil when his omniscience discerns all, is pleased to say, he knew not what he did not approve.: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols Heathen like they have made them Gods, and set up Idolatry, so have perverted all in Church and State setled by me., that they may be cut off As if they were resolved to cut themselves off from being a people. By this they thought to establish themselves, but 'twill be quite contrary, these sins will be their ruin..

¶ Thy calf Ieroboam at first set up two Calves at Dan and Bethel, but 'tis probable, that in process of time there were more set up in other places, for when Israel forgot his God, he built Temples, verse 14. The Calf then here is the chief Idol set up in Samaria, and worshipped there; The Prophet in contempt of the Idol, and in derision of their folly, gives it its right name, 'tis no God, but a Calf, nor yet so much, for that it is sensless and without life., O Samaria, has cast thee off Been the occasion of casting thee far off, in that by this thou hast provoked God to anger, and he has cast thee off; Or else thus, if thy God, thy Idol, thy Calf, have done ought, 'tis mischief; thy Calf could not keep it self in Samaria, but is either carried a captive God, or broken into pieces, is carried piece meal into Assyria, and so has cast thee off; it carryeth somewhat of Irony in it.; mine anger is kindled against them Now it is evident, that my anger as fire burneth against the Idols, Idol-makers, and Idol-Worshippers, and shall so burn till they are purified or consumed.: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency The Prophet is very concise, and perhaps here must be supposed some or other (some one of the people, or the Prophet himself) sighing out to God, how long shall thine anger burn? and answer return'd by God, how long will it be ere they be cleansed??

For Or because from Israel by their invention and authority. was it Both the Idol and the worship of it. also, the workman The Founder, Silversmith, or Goldsmith made it fashion'd the Calf., therefore it is not God You are sottish fools to think 'tis a God, if the making it will not convince you 'tis no God, yet I hope the destroying it will prove what ere 'twas made for, or whatever thought to be, yet 'twas not, nor could it ever be a God.: but the calf of Samaria, shall be broken in pieces But when the Idol is broken into pieces, Samaria shall see 'twas but a Calf, and confess their folly in Worshipping it, however the destruction of it will be a perpetual witness of Samaria's sin, and Gods just displeasure in its ruine..

For Since that, or for so much as, (or) verily, so the Heb. Particle is sometime used, Isa. 7.9. they have sown the wind A Proverbial speech to denote either lost labour, or which is much worse, labour that will undo and tear to pieces him that laboureth, both these are in the verse; Mans life and labour is a seed that will bring forth fruit, but when this life and labour is laid out on sin, as here Israels was, 'twill bring forth that fruit the sinner is unwilling to reap., and they shall reap the whirlwind A violent, tearing and dissipating tempest, which beareth down, and destroyeth all that is in its way; an emblem of the wrath of God breaking out against these vain and sinful men, so Ephraim reaped in his civil wars, and much more in Assyrian war, which ended in a Whirlwind that has scattered them into unknown Countries, and where they have layn buried in forgetfulness, above 2400 years.: it has no stalk Suppose this Seed should have its Harvest in no Whirlwind, it will end in loss and disappointment, as Seed that never springs up into a stalk, nor has bud or ear; All your worship of, and dependance on Idols, and forreign assistance, will at best be as seed that yields neither stalk nor bud.: the bud shall yield no meal Or suppose it produced stalk and bud, yet 'twill be no profit, but all lost labour, for the bud shall be lank, shrivel'd and blasted, and never yield meal, so was the fruit Israel reaped, from Pul to Menahem, and from Egypts assistance to Hoshea against Salmaneser.: if so be it yield the strangers Or if yet Meal be ound in the bud, Israel shall be never the better, Forreigners devour it, so did Pul and his, and Salmaneser and his Assyrians eat up all. shall swallow it up.

Israel In the former verse the Prophet foretells the lost labour of such pains and seed as Ephraim bestowed: Now he addeth somewhat more dreadful, the Harvest is ruin and destruction to the seeds man, he is swallowed up, and this is the effect of the Whirlwind, ver. 7. ordinarily Whirlwinds scatter the fruit, but here's one swallows up both labour and labourer. is swallowed up Very soon and irreparably, as a man that is swallowed alive by a mighty overgrown Shark.: now Ere long, within three or four years at most, as I noted on chap. 7. verse 11. let. o. shall they be among the Gentiles Carried out of their own Country by Salmaneser, and dispersed at the pleasure of the Conqueror into Chatah Habor, &c. as a vessel wherein is no pleasure As worthless and useless cast out of doors, or if of any use, yet in basest and most contemptible; so shall these Captives be among the Nations whom they must serv or Israel impoverisht by chargeable confederates, is now lookt upon with contempt by them all, and cast off..

For The Prophet gives now an account why Israel was so impoverisht, and why they should be so severely punisht, why so punisht of God, and why so slighted by man. they are gone up Either gone, i. e. have sent Embassadors with rich presents to purchase assistance from Assyria, or gone with their tribute to procure the continuance of the Assyrian confederacy and aids. This confidence and trust in Assyria was accompanied with a casting off their dependance on, and subjection to God, this their sin was very great, and their punishment shall as their sin, be very great. Others refer this going up, unto their going into Captivity into Assyria, and it surely may be a prediction of what shall be (if it be not a Narrative of what is) done. to Assyria It was at that time a mighty Nation, whose Kings were very great, and yet more proud then great, as appears in Sennacheribs deportment toward God and Man: This Kingdom had now grown on through Pul, iglath Pileser, Salmaneser, and Sennacheribs Reigns, was a terrour to enemies, and the vain confidence of this foolish and sinful people, for which they are particularly threatned, and severely punished., a wild asse This is differently applyed by interpreters, some refer it to the King of Assyria, who is fierce, swift and haughty as the wild Ass, and all for himself, thus the French interpret it: So it suits well, Israel thou wilt be disappointed in thy expectation from Ashur a wild Asse, who seeks himself only. Others do refer wild Asse to Israel, who wild, untamed, and burning in lust, (as is reported of the wild Asse) rangeth far and wide for lovers; seeks every where for aids and succours. alone by himself Solitary, or in a Wilderness, where is no path or tract; this will well suit them in their Captivity, when they shall be left as in a Wilderness, and may, as perhaps many did, fly into more remote and desolate places, and ramble into uninhabited places, and there take rooting, and give being to Nations which are now known to us, though we know not whence they descended. Or alone by himself, in a posture fit to become a prey to the Lyon of Assyria, so 'tis reported the Lions make a prey of the wild Asses in the Wilderness, so will Assyria make Israel a prey.: Ephraim has hired lovers Has dearly bought the Friendship of Assyria in Pul and Salmaneser's time, and more dearly bought Friendship of Egypt in the time of So or Sabacon or Sevechus; for beside all the treasure they laid out on this, they parted with their God for it, and set him against Israel..

Yea, though Or yea, because they think this the way to prevent their calamities, but it shall appear, this was the ready way to bring their calamities upon them, and for as much as they have hired the aid of the Nations to secure them against their God and his Judgments, therefore &c. they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them Bring Israel together by a secret and unfailing train. I will, says God, assemble and herd them together, that they may be taken and destroy'd together. Others say God will gather the Nations together against Israel., and they shall sorrow a little For a while before their final Captivity, they shall complain and be grieved; for the burden The Tribute laid on them of the king of princes by the King and Princes i. e. of Israel, but better as we read it, 'tis King of Assyria, the great King who boasted of his Princes..

Because This refers to what follows. Ephraim has made many altars Multiplyed either to many Idols, every one having his Altar, or multiplyed Altars in several places to the same Idol. They had many high places and Altars in all of them. to sin Both as acting against the Law of God which required but one Altar, and also these Altars were to sin, in that they were for Sacrifices to be offered on them to Idols. These persons did not intend them for sin, but their good intention did not, could not change the thing, 'twas sin however they intended., altars Either those here erected, or those they shall find in Assyria, when they come Captives thither. shall be unto him to sin Either because forced in captivity to worship Assyrian Idols, and to attend their Altars and Sacrifices, or else by a just and dreadful judgment from God, delivering them over to their wilful blindness, and Idolatrous heart, since they would never be reclaim'd, nor taken off from sinful multiplying Altars, let them follow their own hearts, and set up what they will, much like that, Revel. 22.11. Or else thus, Altars shall be the occasion of his greater guilt and punishment, his Altars, i. e. his idolatrous worship shall be that sin that ruins him..

I have written Some read it in the future, and by way of question, shall I write? but most read as we, in the perfect or past Tense, I have written, by Moses first, by other Prophets afterwards, the Law was given to them, as well as to the two Tribes. to him the great things For their importance, weighty; for their excellency, precious; and for multitude of precepts, counsels and directions, sufficient; my Law had all this in it for their conduct in all Righteousness towards God and Man. of my law, but they All these things I have written. were counted as a strange thing Israel looks on them as nothing to them, they are a distinct Kingdom, and have a distinct establishment, their Lawes are now become unpracticable to us, and we have by the wisdom of our Governours, other Lawes establisht for our worship let Iudah keep to theirs, we will keep to our Laws. After 200 years desuetude, would it not be madness to introduce Iudah's Laws, and innovate all in Israel, thus they contemned the excellent things of Gods Law, as if they were nothing concern'd in them. And thus all their sins at last become incurable diseases, which nothing but utter destruction of the sinners can put an end unto..

They sacrifice Or as for Sacrifices, my gifts, so some taking the words absolute, and in apposition read them and perhaps they are plainer and closer connected with the former when so taken. I have written to them, and they count it a strange thing, and the sacrifices and gifts which they call mine, I tell you what I account them to be; as for sacrifices, which now they pretend to give me, it is flesh they sacrifice and eat it when they have done, and I account no more of it: they sacrifice that they may feast and fill themselves with Wine and Mirth, and what is that to me? flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not Neither owneth them as his, nor taketh any pleasure at all in them. These sacrifices shall never expiate their sins nor reconcile me to them, says God; I think here is a Meiosis in these words, they may be a softer expression of Hatred and detestation, which God bears towards such.: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins In his just and hot displeasure, he will reckon with them, and by punishing them for all, make them know he remembers all their sins. Here remembering and visiting are the same, and include punishment.: they shall return to Egypt Either alluding to their Bondage in Egypt, so Assyria shall use them. Or else it is an upbraiding them, for and minding them of their perfidiousness to Salmaneser. They had been ever Covenant Breakers with God and Man, this last part of treachery God will punish. Or else they shall return to Egypt, i. e. many shall to save their lives fly from the Assyrian into Egypt, and there seek their safety, and if they preserve their life there, the punishment of their sins shall follow them. Exile, with misery as bad as Captivity shall be their lot there. So chap. 9.6..

For Israel The ten revolted Idolatrous Tribes. has forgotten The same with chap. 2.8. which see; or chap. 4.1. and 6. ver. Either remembers not at all, or 'tis without love, thankfulness and consideration what becomes him towards God. his Maker Who made, who preserved, who advanced them and gave them all those priviledges wherein they excel other nations, who brought them out of Egypt, &c., and buildeth temples The word will bear Palaces, or Towers. It is like their Idol-Temples were Magnificent that they might boast of them, and strong like towers that they might for need Garrison and Fortifie them, and trust in their strength in a day of War and trouble.: and Judah has multiplied fenced cities On like designs and motives does Iudah multiply strong holds fortifying against threatned Judgments, making flesh their arm whilest their heart (as at this time of Ahaz his Reign and Apostacy) did depart from the living God.: but I will send a fire upon his cities Bring an enemy upon them that shall besiege them in their Cities, and burn them which was effected by Nebuchadnezzar and his Armies about 130 years after., and it shall devour the palaces The stately Palaces of their Princes and Nobles in their Cities, these shall be burnt too, Iudah has imitated Israel, and made himself like to Israel in sin, and God will make them like in sufferings; the Fire which their sin has kindled, shall consume both. thereof.