12 Ephraim H669 compasseth H5437 me about with lies, H3585 and the house H1004 of Israel H3478 with deceit: H4820 but Judah H3063 yet ruleth H7300 with God, H410 and is faithful H539 with the saints. H6918
For your hands H3709 are defiled H1351 with blood, H1818 and your fingers H676 with iniquity; H5771 your lips H8193 have spoken H1696 lies, H8267 your tongue H3956 hath muttered H1897 perverseness. H5766 None calleth H7121 for justice, H6664 nor any pleadeth H8199 for truth: H530 they trust H982 in vanity, H8414 and speak H1696 lies; H7723 they conceive H2029 mischief, H5999 and bring forth H3205 iniquity. H205
Hezekiah H3169 began to reign H4427 when he was five H2568 and twenty H6242 years H8141 old, H1121 and he reigned H4427 nine H8672 and twenty H6242 years H8141 in Jerusalem. H3389 And his mother's H517 name H8034 was Abijah, H29 the daughter H1323 of Zechariah. H2148 And he did H6213 that which was right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 according to all that David H1732 his father H1 had done. H6213 He in the first H7223 year H8141 of his reign, H4427 in the first H7223 month, H2320 opened H6605 the doors H1817 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and repaired H2388 them. And he brought in H935 the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and gathered them together H622 into the east H4217 street, H7339 And said H559 unto them, Hear H8085 me, ye Levites, H3881 sanctify H6942 now yourselves, and sanctify H6942 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers, H1 and carry forth H3318 the filthiness H5079 out of the holy H6944 place. For our fathers H1 have trespassed, H4603 and done H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 our God, H430 and have forsaken H5800 him, and have turned away H5437 their faces H6440 from the habitation H4908 of the LORD, H3068 and turned H5414 their backs. H6203 Also they have shut up H5462 the doors H1817 of the porch, H197 and put out H3518 the lamps, H5216 and have not burned H6999 incense H7004 nor offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 in the holy H6944 place unto the God H430 of Israel. H3478 Wherefore the wrath H7110 of the LORD H3068 was upon Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 and he hath delivered H5414 them to trouble, H2189 H2113 to astonishment, H8047 and to hissing, H8322 as ye see H7200 with your eyes. H5869 For, lo, our fathers H1 have fallen H5307 by the sword, H2719 and our sons H1121 and our daughters H1323 and our wives H802 are in captivity H7628 for this. Now it is in mine heart H3824 to make H3772 a covenant H1285 with the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 that his fierce H2740 wrath H639 may turn away H7725 from us. My sons, H1121 be not now negligent: H7952 for the LORD H3068 hath chosen H977 you to stand H5975 before H6440 him, to serve H8334 him, and that ye should minister H8334 unto him, and burn incense. H6999 Then the Levites H3881 arose, H6965 Mahath H4287 the son H1121 of Amasai, H6022 and Joel H3100 the son H1121 of Azariah, H5838 of the sons H1121 of the Kohathites: H6956 and of the sons H1121 of Merari, H4847 Kish H7027 the son H1121 of Abdi, H5660 and Azariah H5838 the son H1121 of Jehalelel: H3094 and of the Gershonites; H1649 Joah H3098 the son H1121 of Zimmah, H2155 and Eden H5731 the son H1121 of Joah: H3098 And of the sons H1121 of Elizaphan; H469 Shimri, H8113 and Jeiel: H3273 and of the sons H1121 of Asaph; H623 Zechariah, H2148 and Mattaniah: H4983 And of the sons H1121 of Heman; H1968 Jehiel, H3171 and Shimei: H8096 and of the sons H1121 of Jeduthun; H3038 Shemaiah, H8098 and Uzziel. H5816 And they gathered H622 their brethren, H251 and sanctified H6942 themselves, and came, H935 according to the commandment H4687 of the king, H4428 by the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 to cleanse H2891 the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And the priests H3548 went H935 into the inner part H6441 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 to cleanse H2891 it, and brought out H3318 all the uncleanness H2932 that they found H4672 in the temple H1964 of the LORD H3068 into the court H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And the Levites H3881 took H6901 it, to carry it out H3318 abroad H2351 into the brook H5158 Kidron. H6939 Now they began H2490 on the first H259 day of the first H7223 month H2320 to sanctify, H6942 and on the eighth H8083 day H3117 of the month H2320 came H935 they to the porch H197 of the LORD: H3068 so they sanctified H6942 the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 in eight H8083 days; H3117 and in the sixteenth H8337 H6240 day of the first H7223 month H2320 they made an end. H3615 Then they went H935 in H6441 to Hezekiah H2396 the king, H4428 and said, H559 We have cleansed H2891 all the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and the altar H4196 of burnt offering, H5930 with all the vessels H3627 thereof, and the shewbread H4635 table, H7979 with all the vessels H3627 thereof. Moreover all the vessels, H3627 which king H4428 Ahaz H271 in his reign H4438 did cast away H2186 in his transgression, H4604 have we prepared H3559 and sanctified, H6942 and, behold, they are before H6440 the altar H4196 of the LORD. H3068 Then Hezekiah H3169 the king H4428 rose early, H7925 and gathered H622 the rulers H8269 of the city, H5892 and went up H5927 to the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And they brought H935 seven H7651 bullocks, H6499 and seven H7651 rams, H352 and seven H7651 lambs, H3532 and seven H7651 he H6842 goats, H5795 for a sin offering H2403 for the kingdom, H4467 and for the sanctuary, H4720 and for Judah. H3063 And he commanded H559 the priests H3548 the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 to offer H5927 them on the altar H4196 of the LORD. H3068 So they killed H7819 the bullocks, H1241 and the priests H3548 received H6901 the blood, H1818 and sprinkled H2236 it on the altar: H4196 likewise, when they had killed H7819 the rams, H352 they sprinkled H2236 the blood H1818 upon the altar: H4196 they killed H7819 also the lambs, H3532 and they sprinkled H2236 the blood H1818 upon the altar. H4196 And they brought forth H5066 the he goats H8163 for the sin offering H2403 before H6440 the king H4428 and the congregation; H6951 and they laid H5564 their hands H3027 upon them: And the priests H3548 killed H7819 them, and they made reconciliation H2398 with their blood H1818 upon the altar, H4196 to make an atonement H3722 for all Israel: H3478 for the king H4428 commanded H559 that the burnt offering H5930 and the sin offering H2403 should be made for all Israel. H3478 And he set H5975 the Levites H3881 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 with cymbals, H4700 with psalteries, H5035 and with harps, H3658 according to the commandment H4687 of David, H1732 and of Gad H1410 the king's H4428 seer, H2374 and Nathan H5416 the prophet: H5030 for so was the commandment H4687 of H3027 the LORD H3068 by H3027 his prophets. H5030 And the Levites H3881 stood H5975 with the instruments H3627 of David, H1732 and the priests H3548 with the trumpets. H2689 And Hezekiah H2396 commanded H559 to offer H5927 the burnt offering H5930 upon the altar. H4196 And when H6256 the burnt offering H5930 began, H2490 the song H7892 of the LORD H3068 began H2490 also with the trumpets, H2689 and with the instruments H3627 ordained by H3027 David H1732 king H4428 of Israel. H3478 And all the congregation H6951 worshipped, H7812 and the singers H7892 sang, H7891 and the trumpeters H2689 sounded: H2690 H2690 and all this continued until the burnt offering H5930 was finished. H3615 And when they had made an end H3615 of offering, H5927 the king H4428 and all that were present H4672 with him bowed H3766 themselves, and worshipped. H7812 Moreover Hezekiah H3169 the king H4428 and the princes H8269 commanded H559 the Levites H3881 to sing praise H1984 unto the LORD H3068 with the words H1697 of David, H1732 and of Asaph H623 the seer. H2374 And they sang praises H1984 with gladness, H8057 and they bowed their heads H6915 and worshipped. H7812 Then Hezekiah H3169 answered H6030 and said, H559 Now ye have consecrated H4390 H3027 yourselves unto the LORD, H3068 come near H5066 and bring H935 sacrifices H2077 and thank offerings H8426 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And the congregation H6951 brought in H935 sacrifices H2077 and thank offerings; H8426 and as many as were of a free H5081 heart H3820 burnt offerings. H5930 And the number H4557 of the burnt offerings, H5930 which the congregation H6951 brought, H935 was threescore and ten H7657 bullocks, H1241 an hundred H3967 rams, H352 and two hundred H3967 lambs: H3532 all these were for a burnt offering H5930 to the LORD. H3068
He removed H5493 the high places, H1116 and brake H7665 the images, H4676 and cut down H3772 the groves, H842 and brake in pieces H3807 the brasen H5178 serpent H5175 that Moses H4872 had made: H6213 for unto those days H3117 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did burn incense H6999 to it: and he called H7121 it Nehushtan. H5180 He trusted H982 in the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel; H3478 so that after H310 him was none like him among all the kings H4428 of Judah, H3063 nor any that were before H6440 him. For he clave H1692 to the LORD, H3068 and departed H5493 not from following H310 him, but kept H8104 his commandments, H4687 which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And the LORD H3068 was with him; and he prospered H7919 whithersoever he went forth: H3318 and he rebelled H4775 against the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and served H5647 him not.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hosea 11
Commentary on Hosea 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Ho 11:1-12. God's Former Benefits, and Israel's Ingratitude Resulting in Punishment, Yet Jehovah Promises Restoration at Last.
Ho 11:5 shows this prophecy was uttered after the league made with Egypt (2Ki 17:4).
1. Israel … called my son out of Egypt—Bengel translates, "From the time that he (Israel) was in Egypt, I called him My son," which the parallelism proves. So Ho 12:9 and Ho 13:4 use "from … Egypt," for "from the time that thou didst sojourn in Egypt." Ex 4:22 also shows that Israel was called by God, "My son," from the time of his Egyptian sojourn (Isa 43:1). God is always said to have led or brought forth, not to have "called," Israel from Egypt. Mt 2:15, therefore, in quoting this prophecy (typically and primarily referring to Israel, antitypically and fully to Messiah), applies it to Jesus' sojourn in Egypt, not His return from it. Even from His infancy, partly spent in Egypt, God called Him His son. God included Messiah, and Israel for Messiah's sake, in one common love, and therefore in one common prophecy. Messiah's people and Himself are one, as the Head and the body. Isa 49:3 calls Him "Israel." The same general reason, danger of extinction, caused the infant Jesus, and Israel in its national infancy (compare Ge 42:1-43:34; 45:18; 46:3, 4; Eze 16:4-6; Jer 31:20) to sojourn in Egypt. So He, and His spiritual Israel, are already called "God's sons" while yet in the Egypt of the world.
2. As they called them—"they," namely, monitors sent by Me. "Called," in Ho 11:1, suggests the idea of the many subsequent calls by the prophets.
went from them—turned away in contempt (Jer 2:27).
Baalim—images of Baal, set up in various places.
3. taught … to go—literally, "to use his feet." Compare a similar image, De 1:31; 8:2, 5, 15; 32:10, 11; Ne 9:21; Isa 63:9; Am 2:10. God bore them as a parent does an infant, unable to supply itself, so that it has no anxiety about food, raiment, and its going forth. Ac 13:18, which probably refers to this passage of Hosea; He took them by the arms, to guide them that they might not stray, and to hold them up that they might not stumble.
knew not that I healed them—that is, that My design was to restore them spiritually and temporally (Ex 15:26).
4. cords of a man—parallel to "bands of love"; not such cords as oxen are led by, but humane methods, such as men employ when inducing others, as for instance, a father drawing his child, by leading-strings, teaching him to go (Ho 11:1).
I was … as they that take off the yoke on their jaws … I laid meat—as the humane husbandman occasionally loosens the straps under the jaws by which the yoke is bound on the neck of oxen and lays food before them to eat. An appropriate image of God's deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian yoke, and of His feeding them in the wilderness.
5. He shall not return into … Egypt—namely, to seek help against Assyria (compare Ho 7:11), as Israel lately had done (2Ki 17:4), after having revolted from Assyria, to whom they had been tributary from the times of Menahem (2Ki 15:19). In a figurative sense, "he shall return to Egypt" (Ho 9:3), that is, to Egypt-like bondage; also many Jewish fugitives were literally to return to Egypt, when the Holy Land was to be in Assyrian and Chaldean hands.
Assyrian shall be his king—instead of having kings of their own, and Egypt as their auxiliary.
because they refused to return—just retribution. They would not return (spiritually) to God, therefore they shall not return (corporally) to Egypt, the object of their desire.
6. abide—or, "fall upon" [Calvin].
branches—that is, his villages, which are the branches or dependencies of the cities [Calvin]. Grotius translates, "his bars" (so La 2:9), that is, the warriors who were the bulwarks of the state. Compare Ho 4:18, "rulers" (Margin), "shields" (Ps 47:9).
because of their own counsels—in worshipping idols, and relying on Egypt (compare Ho 10:6).
7. bent to backsliding—Not only do they backslide, and that too from Me, their "chief good," but they are bent upon it. Though they (the prophets) called them (the Israelites) to the Most High (from their idols), "none would exalt (that is, extol or honor) Him." To exalt God, they must cease to be "bent on backsliding," and must lift themselves upwards.
8. as Admah … Zeboim—among the cities, including Sodom and Gomorrah, irretrievably overthrown (De 29:23).
heart is turned within me—with the deepest compassion, so as not to execute My threat (La 1:20; compare Ge 43:30; 1Ki 3:26). So the phrase is used of a new turn given to the feeling (Ps 105:25).
repentings—God speaks according to human modes of thought (Nu 23:19). God's seeming change is in accordance with His secret everlasting purpose of love to His people, to magnify His grace after their desperate rebellion.
9. I will not return to destroy Ephraim—that is, I will no more, as in past times, destroy Ephraim. The destruction primarily meant is probably that by Tiglath-pileser, who, as the Jewish king Ahaz' ally against Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Syria, deprived Israel of Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali (2Ki 15:29). The ulterior reference is to the long dispersion hereafter, to be ended by God's covenant mercy restoring His people, not for their merits, but of His grace.
God, … not man—not dealing as man would, with implacable wrath under awful provocation (Isa 55:7-9; Mal 3:6). I do not, like man, change when once I have made a covenant of everlasting love, as with Israel (Nu 23:19). We measure God by the human standard, and hence are slow to credit fully His promises; these, however, belong to the faithful remnant, not to the obstinately impenitent.
in the midst of thee—as peculiarly thy God (Ex 19:5, 6).
not enter into the city—as an enemy: as I entered Admah, Zeboim, and Sodom, utterly destroying them, whereas I will not utterly destroy thee. Somewhat similarly Jerome: "I am not one such as human dwellers in a city, who take cruel vengeance; I save those whom I correct." Thus "not man," and "in the midst of thee," are parallel to "into the city." Though I am in the midst of thee, it is not as man entering a rebellious city to destroy utterly. Maurer needlessly translates, "I will not come in wrath."
10. he shall roar like a lion—by awful judgments on their foes (Isa 31:4; Jer 25:26-30; Joe 3:16), calling His dispersed "children" from the various lands of their dispersion.
shall tremble—shall flock in eager agitation of haste.
from the west—(Zec 8:7). Literally, "the sea." Probably the Mediterranean, including its "isles of the sea," and maritime coast. Thus as Ho 11:11 specifies regions of Africa and Asia, so here Europe. Isa 11:11-16, is parallel, referring to the very same regions. On "children," see Ho 1:10.
11. tremble—flutter in haste.
dove—no longer "a silly dove" (Ho 7:11), but as "doves flying to their windows" (Isa 60:8).
in their houses—(Eze 28:26). Literally, "upon," for the Orientals live almost as much upon their flat-roofed houses as in them.
12. Maurer joins this verse with the twelfth chapter. But as this verse praises Judah, whereas Ho 12:2 censures him, it must belong rather to the eleventh chapter and a new prophecy begins at the twelfth chapter. To avoid this, Maurer translates this verse as a censure, "Judah wanders with God," that is, though having the true God, he wanders after false gods.
ruleth with God—to serve God is to reign. Ephraim wished to rule without God (compare 1Co 4:8); nay, even, in order to rule, cast off God's worship [Rivetus]. In Judah was the legitimate succession of kings and priests.
with the saints—the holy priests and Levites [Rivetus]. With the fathers and prophets who handed down the pure worship of God. Israel's apostasy is the more culpable, as he had before him the good example of Judah, which he set at naught. The parallelism ("with God") favors Margin, "With THE Most Holy One."