19 And I will betroth H781 thee unto me for ever; H5769 yea, I will betroth H781 thee unto me in righteousness, H6664 and in judgment, H4941 and in lovingkindness, H2617 and in mercies. H7356
And they shall dwell H3427 in the land H776 that I have given H5414 unto Jacob H3290 my servant, H5650 wherein your fathers H1 have dwelt; H3427 and they shall dwell H3427 therein, even they, and their children, H1121 and their children's H1121 children H1121 for ever: H5769 and my servant H5650 David H1732 shall be their prince H5387 for H5704 ever. H5769 Moreover I will make H3772 a covenant H1285 of peace H7965 with them; it shall be an everlasting H5769 covenant H1285 with them: and I will place H5414 them, and multiply H7235 them, and will set H5414 my sanctuary H4720 in the midst H8432 of them for evermore. H5769 My tabernacle H4908 also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, H430 and they shall be my people. H5971 And the heathen H1471 shall know H3045 that I the LORD H3068 do sanctify H6942 Israel, H3478 when my sanctuary H4720 shall be in the midst H8432 of them for evermore. H5769
Turn, H7725 O backsliding H7726 children, H1121 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 for I am married H1166 unto you: and I will take H3947 you one H259 of a city, H5892 and two H8147 of a family, H4940 and I will bring H935 you to Zion: H6726 And I will give H5414 you pastors H7462 according to mine heart, H3820 which shall feed H7462 you with knowledge H1844 and understanding. H7919
Whom G3739 God G2316 hath set forth G4388 to be a propitiation G2435 through G1223 faith G4102 in G1722 his G846 blood, G129 to G1519 declare G1732 his G846 righteousness G1343 for G1223 the remission G3929 of sins G265 that are past, G4266 through G1722 the forbearance G463 of God; G2316 To G4314 declare, G1732 I say, at G1722 this G3568 time G2540 his G846 righteousness: G1343 that G1519 he might be G1511 just, G1342 and G2532 the justifier G1344 of him G846 which believeth G4102 in G1537 Jesus. G2424
And G2532 there came G2064 unto G4314 me G3165 one of G1520 the seven G2033 angels G32 which G3588 had G2192 the seven G2033 vials G5357 full G1073 of the seven G2033 last G2078 plagues, G4127 and G2532 talked G2980 with G3326 me, G1700 saying, G3004 Come hither, G1204 I will shew G1166 thee G4671 the bride, G3565 the Lamb's G721 wife. G1135 And G2532 he carried G667 me G3165 away G667 in G1722 the spirit G4151 to G1909 a great G3173 and G2532 high G5308 mountain, G3735 and G2532 shewed G1166 me G3427 that great G3173 city, G4172 the holy G40 Jerusalem, G2419 descending G2597 out of G1537 heaven G3772 from G575 God, G2316
Let us be glad G5463 and G2532 rejoice, G21 and G2532 give G1325 honour G1391 to him: G846 for G3754 the marriage G1062 of the Lamb G721 is come, G2064 and G2532 his G846 wife G1135 hath made G2090 herself G1438 ready. G2090 And G2532 to her G846 was granted G1325 that G2443 she should be arrayed G4016 in fine linen, G1039 clean G2513 and G2532 white: G2986 for G1063 the fine linen G1039 is G2076 the righteousness G1345 of saints. G40 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto me, G3427 Write, G1125 Blessed G3107 are they which are called G2564 unto G1519 the marriage G1062 supper G1173 of the Lamb. G721 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto me, G3427 These G3778 are G1526 the true G228 sayings G3056 of God. G2316
For G3754 the husband G435 is G2076 the head G2776 of the wife, G1135 even G2532 as G5613 Christ G5547 is the head G2776 of the church: G1577 and G2532 he G846 is G2076 the saviour G4990 of the body. G4983 Therefore G235 as G5618 the church G1577 is subject G5293 unto Christ, G5547 so G3779 G2532 let the wives G1135 be to their own G2398 husbands G435 in G1722 every thing. G3956 Husbands, G435 love G25 your G1438 wives, G1135 even as G2531 Christ G5547 also G2532 loved G25 the church, G1577 and G2532 gave G3860 himself G1438 for G5228 it; G846 That G2443 he might sanctify G37 and cleanse it G2511 with the washing G3067 of water G5204 by G1722 the word, G4487 That G2443 he might present G3936 it G846 to himself G1438 a glorious G1741 church, G1577 not G3361 having G2192 spot, G4696 or G2228 wrinkle, G4512 or G2228 any G5100 such thing; G5108 but G235 that G2443 it should be G5600 holy G40 and G2532 without blemish. G299
In G1722 whom G3739 we have G2192 redemption G629 through G1223 his G846 blood, G129 the forgiveness G859 of sins, G3900 according G2596 to the riches G4149 of his G846 grace; G5485 Wherein G3739 he hath abounded G4052 toward G1519 us G2248 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 prudence; G5428
And they shall be my people, H5971 and I will be their God: H430 And I will give H5414 them one H259 heart, H3820 and one H259 way, H1870 that they may fear H3372 me for ever, H3117 for the good H2896 of them, and of their children H1121 after H310 them: And I will make H3772 an everlasting H5769 covenant H1285 with them, that I will not turn away H7725 from them, H310 to do them good; H3190 but I will put H5414 my fear H3374 in their hearts, H3824 that they shall not depart H5493 from me. Yea, I will rejoice H7797 over them to do them good, H2895 and I will plant H5193 them in this land H776 assuredly H571 with my whole heart H3820 and with my whole soul. H5315
Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will make H3772 a new H2319 covenant H1285 with the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 and with the house H1004 of Judah: H3063 Not according to the covenant H1285 that I made H3772 with their fathers H1 in the day H3117 that I took H2388 them by the hand H3027 to bring them out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 which my covenant H1285 they brake, H6565 although I was an husband H1166 unto them, saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 But this shall be the covenant H1285 that I will make H3772 with the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 After H310 those days, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 I will put H5414 my law H8451 in their inward parts, H7130 and write H3789 it in their hearts; H3820 and will be their God, H430 and they shall be my people. H5971 And they shall teach H3925 no more every man H376 his neighbour, H7453 and every man H376 his brother, H251 saying, H559 Know H3045 the LORD: H3068 for they shall all know H3045 me, from the least H6996 of them unto the greatest H1419 of them, saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I will forgive H5545 their iniquity, H5771 and I will remember H2142 their sin H2403 no more. Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 which giveth H5414 the sun H8121 for a light H216 by day, H3119 and the ordinances H2708 of the moon H3394 and of the stars H3556 for a light H216 by night, H3915 which divideth H7280 the sea H3220 when the waves H1530 thereof roar; H1993 The LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name: H8034 If those ordinances H2706 depart H4185 from before H6440 me, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 then the seed H2233 of Israel H3478 also shall cease H7673 from being a nation H1471 before H6440 me for ever. H3117
Thou shalt also be a crown H5850 of glory H8597 in the hand H3027 of the LORD, H3068 and a royal H4410 diadem H6797 H6797 in the hand H3709 of thy God. H430 Thou shalt no more be termed H559 Forsaken; H5800 neither shall thy land H776 any more be termed H559 Desolate: H8077 but thou shalt be called H7121 Hephzibah, H2657 and thy land H776 Beulah: H1166 for the LORD H3068 delighteth H2654 in thee, and thy land H776 shall be married. H1166 For as a young man H970 marrieth H1166 a virgin, H1330 so shall thy sons H1121 marry H1166 thee: and as the bridegroom H2860 rejoiceth H4885 over the bride, H3618 so shall thy God H430 rejoice H7797 over thee.
In a little H8241 wrath H7110 I hid H5641 my face H6440 from thee for a moment; H7281 but with everlasting H5769 kindness H2617 will I have mercy H7355 on thee, saith H559 the LORD H3068 thy Redeemer. H1350 For this is as the waters H4325 of Noah H5146 unto me: for as I have sworn H7650 that the waters H4325 of Noah H5146 should no more go over H5674 the earth; H776 so have I sworn H7650 that I would not be wroth H7107 with thee, nor rebuke H1605 thee. For the mountains H2022 shall depart, H4185 and the hills H1389 be removed; H4131 but my kindness H2617 shall not depart H4185 from thee, neither shall the covenant H1285 of my peace H7965 be removed, H4131 saith H559 the LORD H3068 that hath mercy H7355 on thee.
I have sworn H7650 by myself, the word H1697 is gone out H3318 of my mouth H6310 in righteousness, H6666 and shall not return, H7725 That unto me every knee H1290 shall bow, H3766 every tongue H3956 shall swear. H7650 Surely, shall one say, H559 in the LORD H3068 have I righteousness H6666 and strength: H5797 even to him shall men come; H935 and all that are incensed H2734 against him shall be ashamed. H954 In the LORD H3068 shall all the seed H2233 of Israel H3478 be justified, H6663 and shall glory. H1984
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hosea 2
Commentary on Hosea 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Ho 2:1-23. Application of the Symbols in the First Chapter.
Israel's spiritual fornication, and her threatened punishment: yet a promise of God's restored favor, when chastisements have produced their designed effect.
1. Say … unto … brethren, Ammi, &c.—that is, When the prediction (Ho 1:11) shall be accomplished, then ye will call one another, as brothers and sisters in the family of God, Ammi and Ruhamah.
2. Plead—expostulate.
mother—that is, the nation collectively. The address is to "her children," that is, to the individual citizens of the state (compare Isa 50:1).
for she is not my wife—She has deprived herself of her high privilege by spiritual adultery.
out of her sight—rather, "from her face." Her very countenance unblushingly betrayed her lust, as did also her exposed "breasts."
3. set her as in the day … born—(Eze 16:4; 23:25, 26, 28, 29). The day of her political "birth" was when God delivered her from the bondage of Egypt, and set up the theocracy.
make her as a wilderness—(Jer 6:8; Zep 2:13). Translate, "make her as the wilderness," namely, that in which she passed forty years on her way to her goodly possession of Canaan. With this agrees the mention of "thirst" (compare Jer 2:6).
4. her children—Not even her individual members shall escape the doom of the nation collectively, for they are individually guilty.
5. I will go after—The Hebrew expresses a settled determination.
lovers—the idols which Israel fancied to be the givers of all their goods, whereas God gave all these goods (Ho 2:8-13; compare Jer 44:17-19).
bread and … water—the necessaries of life in food.
wool … flax—clothing.
oil … drink—perfumed unguents and palatable drinks: the luxuries of Hebrew life.
6, 7. thorns … wall—(Job 19:8; La 3:7, 9). The hindrances which the captivity interposed between Israel and her idols. As she attributes all her temporal blessings to idols, I will reduce her to straits in which, when she in vain has sought help from false gods, she will at last seek Me as her only God and Husband, as at the first (Isa 54:5; Jer 3:14; Eze 16:8).
then—before Israel's apostasy, under Jeroboam. The way of duty is hedged about with thorns; it is the way of sin that is hedged up with thorns. Crosses in an evil course are God's hedges to turn us from it. Restraining grace and restraining providences (even sicknesses and trials) are great blessings when they stop us in a course of sin. Compare Lu 15:14-18, "I will arise, and go to my father." So here, "I will go, and return," &c.; crosses in the both cases being sanctified to produce this effect.
8. she did not know that I—not the idols, as she thought: the "lovers" alluded to in Ho 2:5.
which they prepared for Baal—that is, of which they made images of Baal, or at least the plate covering of them (Ho 8:4). Baal was the Phœnician sun-god: answering to the female Astarte, the moon-goddess. The name of the idol is found in the Phœnician Hannibal, Hasdrubal. Israel borrowed it from the Tyrians.
9. my corn … my wool … my flax—in contrast to "my bread … my wool … my flax," (Ho 2:5). Compare also Ho 2:21-23, on God as the great First Cause giving these through secondary instruments in nature. "Return, and take away," is equivalent to, "I will take back again," namely, by sending storms, locusts, Assyrian enemies, &c. "Therefore," that is, because she did not acknowledge Me as the Giver.
in the time thereof—in the harvest-time.
10. lewdness—rather, "the shame of her nakedness"; laying aside the figure, "I will expose her in her state, bereft of every necessary, before her lovers," that is, the idols (personified, as if they could see), who, nevertheless, can give her no help. "Discover" is appropriate to stripping off the self-flatteries of her hypocrisy.
11. her feast days—of Jeroboam's appointment, distinct from the Mosaic (1Ki 12:32). However, most of the Mosaic feasts, "new-moons" and "sabbaths" to Jehovah, remained, but to degenerate Israel worship was a weariness; they cared only for the carnal indulgence on them (Am 8:5).
12. my rewards—my hire as a harlot (Isa 23:17, 18).
lovers—idols.
destroy … vines … make … forest—(Isa 5:6; 7:23, 24). Fulfilled in the overthrow of Israel by Assyria (Ho 9:4, 5).
13. days of Baalim—the days consecrated to the Baals, or various images of Baal in different cities, whence the names Baal-gad, Baal-hermon, &c.
decked herself with … earrings—rather, "nose-rings" (Isa 3:21; Eze 16:12, Margin), with which harlots decked themselves to attract admirers: answering to the ornaments in which the Israelites decked themselves on the idols' feasts.
forgat me—worse than the nations which had never known God. Israel wilfully apostatized from Jehovah, whom she had known.
14. Therefore—rather, "Nevertheless" [Henderson]. English Version gives a more lovely idea of God. That which would provoke all others to unappeasable wrath, Israel's perversity and consequent punishment, is made a reason why God should at last have mercy on her. As the "therefore" (Ho 2:9) expresses Israel's punishment as the consequence of Israel's guilt, so "therefore" here, as in Ho 2:6, expresses, that when that punishment has effected its designed end, the hedging up her way with thorns so that she returns to God, her first love, the consequence in God's wondrous grace is, He "speaks comfortably" (literally, "speaks to her heart"; compare Jud 19:8; Ru 2:13). So obstinate is she that God has to "allure her," that is, so to temper judgment with unlooked-for grace as to win her to His ways. For this purpose it was necessary to "bring her into the wilderness" (that is, into temporal want and trials) first, to make her sin hateful to her by its bitter fruits, and God's subsequent grace the more precious to her by the contrast of the "wilderness." Jerome makes the "bringing into the wilderness" to be rather a deliverance from her enemies, just as ancient Israel was brought into the wilderness from the bondage of Egypt; to this the phrase here alludes (compare Ho 2:15). The wilderness sojourn, however, is not literal, but moral: while still in the land of their enemies locally, by the discipline of the trial rendering the word of God sweet to them, they are to be brought morally into the wilderness state, that is, into a state of preparedness for returning to their temporal and spiritual privileges in their own land; just as the literal wilderness prepared their fathers for Canaan: thus the bringing of them into the wilderness state is virtually a deliverance from their enemies.
15. from thence—returning from the wilderness. God gives Israel a fresh grant of Canaan, which she had forfeited; so of her vineyards, &c. (Ho 2:9, 12).
Achor—that is, "trouble." As formerly Israel, after their tedious journey through the wilderness, met with the trouble resulting from Achan's crime in this valley, on the very threshold of Canaan, and yet that trouble was presently turned into joy at the great victory at Ai, which threw all Canaan into their hands (Jos 7:1-8:28); so the very trouble of Israel's wilderness state will be the "door of hope" opening to better days. The valley of Achor, near Jericho, was specially fruitful (Isa 65:10); so "trouble" and "hope" are rightly blended in connection with it.
sing … as … when she came … out of … Egypt—It shall be a second exodus song, such as Israel sang after the deliverance at the Red Sea (Ex 15:1-21; compare Isa 11:15, 16); and "the song of Moses" (Re 15:2, 3) sung by those who through the Lamb overcome the beast, and so stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire, emblems of fiery trial, such as that of Israel at the Red Sea.
16. Ishi … no more Baali—"my Husband … no more my Lord." Affection is the prominent idea in "Husband"; rule, in "Lord." The chief reason for the substitution of Husband for Lord appears in Ho 2:17; namely, Baali, the Hebrew for my Lord, had been perverted to express the images of Baal, whose name ought not to be taken on their lips (Ex 23:13; Zec 13:2).
17. Baalim—plural, expressing the various images of Baal, which, according to the places of their erection, received various names, Baal-gad, Baal-ammon, &c.
18. for them—for their benefit.
covenant … with the beasts—not to hurt them (Job 5:23). They shall fulfil the original law of their creation by becoming subject to man, when man fulfils the law of his being by being subject to God. To be realized fully in millennial times (Isa 11:6-9).
break the bow … out of the earth—rather, "out of the land"; that is, I will break and remove war out of the earth (Ps 46:9); and "out of the land" of Israel first (Isa 2:4; Eze 39:9, 10; Zec 9:9, 10).
lie down—A reclining posture is the usual one with Orientals when not in action.
safely—(Jer 23:6).
19, 20. "Betroth" is thrice repeated, implying the intense love of God to His people; and perhaps, also, the three Persons of the Triune God, severally engaging to make good the betrothal. The marriage covenant will be as it were renewed from the beginning, on a different footing; not for a time only, as before, through the apostasy of the people, but "forever" through the grace of God writing the law on their hearts by the Spirit of Messiah (Jer 31:31-37).
righteousness … judgment—in rectitude and truth.
loving-kindness, &c.—Hereby God assures Israel, who might doubt the possibility of their restoration to His favor; low, sunk, and unworthy as thou art. I will restore thee from a regard to My own "loving-kindness," not thy merits.
20. faithfulness—to My new covenant of grace with thee (1Th 5:24; Heb 10:23).
21. in that day—of grace to Israel.
heavens … hear the earth—personification. However many be the intermediate instruments, God is the Great First Cause of all nature's phenomena. God had threatened (Ho 2:9) He would take back His corn, His wine, &c. Here, on the contrary, God promises to hearken to the skies, as it were, supplicating Him to fill them with rain to pour on the earth; and that the skies again would hearken to the earth begging for a supply of the rain it requires; and again, that the earth would hearken to the corn, wine, and oil, begging it to bring them forth; and these again would hear Jezreel, that is, would fulfil Israel's prayers for a supply of them. Israel is now no longer "Jezreel" in the sense, "God will SCATTER" (Ho 1:4), but in the sense, "God will PLANT" (Ho 1:11).
23. I will sow her—referring to the meaning of Jezreel (Ho 2:22).