10:1 Israel [is] an a empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto
himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath
increased the altars; according to the b goodness of his
land they have made goodly images.
(a) Of which though the grapes were gathered, yet always as
it gathered new strength it increased in new
wickedness, so that the correction which should have
brought them to obedience, only proclaimed their
stubbornness.
(b) As they were rich and had abundance.
10:2 Their heart is c divided; now shall they be found faulty:
he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their
images.
(c) That is, from God, by serving their false gods.
10:3 For now they shall say, We have no d king, because we
feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
(d) The day will come that God will take away their king,
and then they will feel the fruit of their sins, and
how they trusted in him in vain; (2Ki 17:6-7).
10:4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making e a
covenant: thus f judgment springeth up as hemlock in the
furrows of the field.
(e) In promising to be faithful toward God.
(f) In this way their integrity and fidelity which they
pretended, was nothing but bitterness and grief.
10:5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall g fear because of the
calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over
it, and the h priests thereof [that] rejoiced on it, for
the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
(g) When the calf will be carried away.
(h) These were certain idolatrous priests, who wore black
apparel during their sacrifices, and cried with a loud
voice: which superstition Elijah derided, (1Ki 18:27).
)See Geneva "2Ki 23:5")
10:8 The high places also of i Aven, the sin of Israel, shall
be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on
their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover
us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
(i) This he speaks in contempt of Bethel. )Read Geneva t
"Ho 4:15")
10:9 O Israel, thou hast k sinned from the days of Gibeah:
there they l stood: the battle in Gibeah against the
children of iniquity did not m overtake them.
(k) In those days you were as wicked as the Gibeonites, as
God there partly declared: for your zeal could not be
good in executing God's judgments, seeing your own
deeds were as wicked as theirs.
(l) That is, to fight, or, the Israelites remained in that
stubbornness from that time.
(m) The Israelites were not moved by the example of the
Gibeonites to cease from their sins.
10:10 [It is] in my desire n that I should chastise them; and
the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall
bind themselves in their two o furrows.
(n) Because they are so desperate, I will delight to
destroy them.
(o) That is, when they have gathered all their strength
together.
10:11 And Ephraim [is as] an heifer [that is] taught, [and]
loveth to p tread out [the corn]; but I passed over upon
her q fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah
shall plow, [and] Jacob shall break his clods.
(p) In which is pleasure, whereas in plowing there is
labour and pain.
(q) I will lay my yoke upon her fat neck.
10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; r
break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the
LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
10:14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all
thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as s Shalman spoiled
Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in
pieces upon [her] children.
(s) That is, Shalmaneser in the destruction of that city
spared neither type nor age.
