4 They have set up kings, H4427 but not by me: they have made princes, H7786 and I knew H3045 it not: of their silver H3701 and their gold H2091 have they made H6213 them idols, H6091 that they may be cut off. H3772
For she did not know H3045 that I gave H5414 her corn, H1715 and wine, H8492 and oil, H3323 and multiplied H7235 her silver H3701 and gold, H2091 which they prepared H6213 for Baal. H1168
And now they sin H2398 more and more, H3254 and have made H6213 them molten images H4541 of their silver, H3701 and idols H6091 according to their own understanding, H8394 all of it the work H4639 of the craftsmen: H2796 they say H559 of them, Let the men H120 that sacrifice H2076 kiss H5401 the calves. H5695
And Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Jabesh H3003 conspired H7194 against him, and smote H5221 him before H6905 the people, H5971 and slew H4191 him, and reigned H4427 in his stead. And the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Zachariah, H2148 behold, they are written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel. H3478 This was the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 which he spake H1696 unto Jehu, H3058 saying, H559 Thy sons H1121 shall sit H3427 on the throne H3678 of Israel H3478 unto the fourth H7243 generation. And so it came to pass. Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Jabesh H3003 began to reign H4427 in the nine H8672 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of Uzziah H5818 king H4428 of Judah; H3063 and he reigned H4427 a full H3117 month H3391 in Samaria. H8111 For Menahem H4505 the son H1121 of Gadi H1424 went up H5927 from Tirzah, H8656 and came H935 to Samaria, H8111 and smote H5221 Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Jabesh H3003 in Samaria, H8111 and slew H4191 him, and reigned H4427 in his stead. And the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Shallum, H7967 and his conspiracy H7195 which he made, H7194 behold, they are written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel. H3478 Then Menahem H4505 smote H5221 Tiphsah, H8607 and all that were therein, and the coasts H1366 thereof from Tirzah: H8656 because they opened H6605 not to him, therefore he smote H5221 it; and all the women therein that were with child H2030 he ripped up. H1234 In the nine H8672 H8141 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of Azariah H5838 king H4428 of Judah H3063 began Menahem H4505 the son H1121 of Gadi H1424 to reign H4427 over Israel, H3478 and reigned ten H6235 years H8141 in Samaria. H8111 And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD: H3068 he departed H5493 not all his days H3117 from the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 who made Israel H3478 to sin. H2398 And Pul H6322 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 came H935 against the land: H776 and Menahem H4505 gave H5414 Pul H6322 a thousand H505 talents H3603 of silver, H3701 that his hand H3027 might be with him to confirm H2388 the kingdom H4467 in his hand. H3027 And Menahem H4505 exacted H3318 the money H3701 of Israel, H3478 even of all the mighty men H1368 of wealth, H2428 of each H259 man H376 fifty H2572 shekels H8255 of silver, H3701 to give H5414 to the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 So the king H4428 of Assyria H804 turned back, H7725 and stayed H5975 not there in the land. H776 And the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Menahem, H4505 and all that he did, H6213 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel? H3478 And Menahem H4505 slept H7901 with his fathers; H1 and Pekahiah H6494 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead. In the fiftieth H2572 H8141 year H8141 of Azariah H5838 king H4428 of Judah H3063 Pekahiah H6494 the son H1121 of Menahem H4505 began to reign H4427 over Israel H3478 in Samaria, H8111 and reigned two years. H8141 And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD: H3068 he departed H5493 not from the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 who made Israel H3478 to sin. H2398 But Pekah H6492 the son H1121 of Remaliah, H7425 a captain H7991 of his, conspired H7194 against him, and smote H5221 him in Samaria, H8111 in the palace H759 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 with Argob H709 and Arieh, H745 and with him fifty H2572 men H376 of the Gileadites: H1121 H1569 and he killed H4191 him, and reigned H4427 in his room. And the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Pekahiah, H6494 and all that he did, H6213 behold, they are written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel. H3478 In the two H8147 H8141 and fiftieth H2572 year H8141 of Azariah H5838 king H4428 of Judah H3063 Pekah H6492 the son H1121 of Remaliah H7425 began to reign H4427 over Israel H3478 in Samaria, H8111 and reigned twenty H6242 years. H8141 And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD: H3068 he departed H5493 not from the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 who made Israel H3478 to sin. H2398 In the days H3117 of Pekah H6492 king H4428 of Israel H3478 came H935 Tiglathpileser H8407 king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and took H3947 Ijon, H5859 and Abelbethmaachah, H62 and Janoah, H3239 and Kedesh, H6943 and Hazor, H2674 and Gilead, H1568 and Galilee, H1551 all the land H776 of Naphtali, H5321 and carried them captive H1540 to Assyria. H804 And Hoshea H1954 the son H1121 of Elah H425 made H7194 a conspiracy H7195 against Pekah H6492 the son H1121 of Remaliah, H7425 and smote H5221 him, and slew H4191 him, and reigned H4427 in his stead, in the twentieth H6242 year H8141 of Jotham H3147 the son H1121 of Uzziah. H5818
So H7725 when all Israel H3478 saw H7200 that the king H4428 hearkened H8085 not unto them, the people H5971 answered H1697 the king, H4428 saying, H559 What portion H2506 have we in David? H1732 neither have we inheritance H5159 in the son H1121 of Jesse: H3448 to your tents, H168 O Israel: H3478 now see H7200 to thine own house, H1004 David. H1732 So Israel H3478 departed H3212 unto their tents. H168 But as for the children H1121 of Israel H3478 which dwelt H3427 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 Rehoboam H7346 reigned H4427 over them. Then king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 sent H7971 Adoram, H151 who was over the tribute; H4522 and all Israel H3478 stoned H7275 him with stones, H68 that he died. H4191 Therefore king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 made speed H553 to get him up H5927 to his chariot, H4818 to flee H5127 to Jerusalem. H3389 So Israel H3478 rebelled H6586 against the house H1004 of David H1732 unto this day. H3117 And it came to pass, when all Israel H3478 heard H8085 that Jeroboam H3379 was come again, H7725 that they sent H7971 and called H7121 him unto the congregation, H5712 and made him king H4427 over all Israel: H3478 there was none that followed H310 the house H1004 of David, H1732 but H2108 the tribe H7626 of Judah H3063 only.
Whereupon the king H4428 took counsel, H3289 and made H6213 two H8147 calves H5695 of gold, H2091 and said H559 unto them, It is too much H7227 for you to go up H5927 to Jerusalem: H3389 behold thy gods, H430 O Israel, H3478 which brought thee up H5927 out of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing H7043 for him to walk H3212 in the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 that he took H3947 to wife H802 Jezebel H348 the daughter H1323 of Ethbaal H856 king H4428 of the Zidonians, H6722 and went H3212 and served H5647 Baal, H1168 and worshipped H7812 him.
Therefore now thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 the God H430 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Wherefore commit H6213 ye this great H1419 evil H7451 against your souls, H5315 to cut off H3772 from you man H376 and woman, H802 child H5768 and suckling, H3243 out H8432 of Judah, H3063 to leave H3498 you none to remain; H7611 In that ye provoke me unto wrath H3707 with the works H4639 of your hands, H3027 burning incense H6999 unto other H312 gods H430 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 whither ye be gone H935 to dwell, H1481 that ye might cut yourselves off, H3772 and that ye might be a curse H7045 and a reproach H2781 among all the nations H1471 of the earth? H776
O Israel, H3478 thou hast destroyed H7843 thyself; but in me is thine help. H5828 I will H165 be thy king: H4428 where H645 is any other that may save H3467 thee in all thy cities? H5892 and thy judges H8199 of whom thou saidst, H559 Give H5414 me a king H4428 and princes? H8269
But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not. G3756
When once G575 G3739 G302 the master of the house G3617 is risen up, G1453 and G2532 hath shut G608 to the door, G2374 and G2532 ye begin G756 to stand G2476 without, G1854 and G2532 to knock G2925 at the door, G2374 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 Lord, G2962 open G455 unto us; G2254 and G2532 he shall answer G611 and say G2046 unto you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not G3756 whence G4159 ye are: G2075
But G2532 he shall say, G2046 I tell G3004 you, G5213 I know G1492 you G5209 not G3756 whence G4159 ye are; G2075 depart G868 from G575 me, G1700 all G3956 ye workers G2040 of iniquity. G93
I G1473 am G1510 the good G2570 shepherd, G4166 and G2532 know G1097 my G1699 sheep, and G2532 am known G1097 of G5259 mine. G1699
But G1161 now, G3568 after that ye have known G1097 God, G2316 or G1161 rather G3123 are known G1097 of G5259 God, G2316 how G4459 turn ye G1994 again G3825 to G1909 the weak G772 and G2532 beggarly G4434 elements, G4747 whereunto G3739 ye desire G2309 again G3825 G509 to be in bondage? G1398
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Hosea 8
Commentary on Hosea 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Ho 8:1-14. Prophecy of the Irruption of the Assyrians, in Punishment for Israel's Apostasy, Idolatry, and Setting Up of Kings without God's Sanction.
In Ho 8:14, Judah is said to multiply fenced cities; and in Ho 8:7-9, Israel, to its great hurt, is said to have gone up to Assyria for help. This answers best to the reign of Menahem. For it was then that Uzziah of Judah, his contemporary, built fenced cities (2Ch 26:6, 9, 10). Then also Israel turned to Assyria and had to pay for their sinful folly a thousand talents of silver (2Ki 15:19) [Maurer].
1. Set the trumpet, &c.—to give warning of the approach of the enemy: "To thy palate (that is, 'mouth,' Job 31:30, Margin) the trumpet"; the abruptness of expression indicates the suddenness of the attack. So Ho 5:8.
as … eagle—the Assyrian (De 28:49; Jer 48:40; Hab 1:8).
against … house of … Lord—not the temple, but Israel viewed as the family of God (Ho 9:15; Nu 12:7; Zec 9:8; Heb 3:2; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 4:17).
2. My God, we know thee—the singular, "My," is used distributively, each one so addressing God. They, in their hour of need, plead their knowledge of God as the covenant-people, while in their acts they acknowledge Him not (compare Mt 7:21, 22; Tit 1:16; also Isa 29:13; Jer 7:4). The Hebrew joins "Israel," not as English Version, with "shall cry," but "We, Israel, know thee"; God denies the claim thus urged on the ground of their descent from Israel.
3. Israel—God repeats the name in opposition to their use of it (Ho 8:2).
the thing that is good—Jerome translates, "God" who is good and doing good (Ps 119:68). He is the chief object rejected, but with Him also all that is good.
the enemy shall pursue him—in just retribution from God.
4. kings … not by me—not with My sanction (1Ki 11:31; 12:20). Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation.
I knew it not—I approved it not (Ps 1:6).
of … gold … idols—(Ho 2:8; 13:2).
that they may be cut off—that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So Jer 27:10, 15; 44:8.
5. hath cast thee off—As the ellipsis of thee is unusual, Maurer translates, "thy calf is abominable." But the antithesis to Ho 8:3 establishes English Version, "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good"; therefore, in just retribution, "thy calf hath cast thee off," that is, is made by God the cause of thy being cast off (Ho 10:15). Jeroboam, during his sojourn in Egypt, saw Apis worshipped at Memphis, and Mnevis at Heliopolis, in the form of an ox; this, and the temple cherubim, suggested the idea of the calves set up at Dan and Beth-el.
how long … ere they attain to innocency?—How long will they be incapable of bearing innocency? [Maurer].
6. from Israel was it—that is, the calf originated with them, not from Me. "It also," as well as their "kings set up" by them, "but not by Me" (Ho 8:4).
7. sown … reap—(Pr 22:8; Ga 6:7). "Sow … wind," that is, to make the vain show of worship, while faith and obedience are wanting [Calvin]. Rather, to offer senseless supplications to the calves for good harvests (compare Ho 2:8); the result being that God will make them "reap no stalk," that is, "standing corn." Also, the phraseology proverbially means that all their undertakings shall be profitless (Pr 11:29; Ec 5:16).
the bud—or, "growth."
strangers—foreigners (Ho 7:9).
8. vessel wherein is no pleasure—(Ps 41:12; Jer 22:28; 48:38).
9. gone … to Assyria—referring to Menahem's application for Pul's aid in establishing him on the throne (compare Ho 5:13; 7:11). Menahem's name is read in the inscriptions in the southwest palace of Nimrod, as a tributary to the Assyrian king in his eighth year. The dynasty of Pul, or Phalluka, was supplanted at Nineveh by that of Tiglath-pileser, about 768 (or 760) B.C. Semiramis seems to have been Pul's wife, and to have withdrawn to Babylon in 768; and her son, Nabonassar, succeeding after a period of confusion, originated "the era of Nabonassar," 747 B.C. [G. V. Smith]. Usually foreigners coming to Israel's land were said to "go up"; here it is the reverse, to intimate Israel's sunken state, and Assyria's superiority.
wild ass—a figure of Israel's headstrong perversity in following her own bent (Jer 2:24).
alone by himself—characteristic of Israel in all ages: "lo, the people shall dwell alone" (Nu 23:9; compare Job 39:5-8).
hired lovers—reversing the ordinary way, namely, that lovers should hire her (Eze 16:33, 34).
10. will I gather them—namely, the nations (Assyria, &c.) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished (Eze 16:37).
a little—rather, "in a little" [Henderson]. English Version gives good sense: They shall sorrow "a little" at the imposition of the tribute; God suspended yet the great judgment, namely, their deportation by Assyria.
the burden of the king of princes—the tribute imposed on Israel (under Menahem) by the Assyrian king Pul, (2Ki 15:19-22), who had many "princes" under his sway (Isa 10:8).
11. God in righteous retribution gives them up to their own way; the sin becomes its own punishment (Pr 1:31).
many altars—in opposition to God's law (De 12:5, 6, 13, 14).
to sin … to sin—Their altars which were "sin" (whatever religious intentions they might plead) should be treated as such, and be the source of their punishment (1Ki 12:30; 13:34).
12. great things of … law—(De 4:6, 8; Ps 19:8; 119:18, 72; 147:19, 20). Maurer not so well translates, "the many things of My law."
my law—as opposed to their inventions. This reference of Hosea to the Pentateuch alone is against the theory that some earlier written prophecies have not come down to us.
strange thing—as if a thing with which they had nothing to do.
13. sacrifices of mine offerings—that is, which they offer to Me.
eat it—Their own carnal gratification is the object which they seek, not My honor.
now—that is, "speedily."
shall return to Egypt—(Ho 9:3, 6; 11:11). The same threat as in De 28:68. They fled thither to escape from the Assyrians (compare as to Judah, Jer 42:1-44:30), when these latter had overthrown their nation. But see on Ho 9:3.
14. forgotten … Maker—(De 32:18).
temples—to idols.
Judah … fenced cities—Judah, though less idolatrous than Israel, betrayed lack of faith in Jehovah by trusting more to its fenced cities than to Him; instead of making peace with God, Judah multiplied human defenses (Isa 22:8; Jer 5:17; Mic 5:10, 11).
I will send … fire upon … cities—Sennacherib burned all Judah's fenced cities except Jerusalem (2Ki 18:13).
palaces thereof—namely, of the land. Compare as to Jerusalem, Jer 17:27.