6:1 Come, and let a us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn,
and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us
up.
(a) He shows the people that they ought to turn to the Lord,
so that he might stop his plagues.
6:2 After two days will b he revive us: in the third day he
will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
(b) Though he correct us from time to time, yet his help
will not be far off, if we return to him.
6:4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I
do unto thee? for c your goodness [is] as a morning cloud,
and as the early dew it goeth away.
(c) You seem to have a certain holiness and repentance, but
it is very sudden, and as a morning cloud.
6:5 Therefore have I d hewed [them] by the prophets; I have
slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy e judgments
[are as] the light [that] goeth forth.
(d) I have still laboured by my prophets, and as it were
prepared you to bring you to correction, but all was in
vain: for my word was not food to feed them, but a sword
to slay them.
(e) My doctrine which I taught you, was most evident.
6:6 For I desired f mercy, and not sacrifice; and the
knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
(f) He shows to what his doctrine was aimed at, that they
should unite the obedience of God, and the love of their
neighbour, with outward sacrifices.
6:7 But they g like men have transgressed the covenant: there
have they dealt treacherously against me.
(g) That is, like small and weak persons.
6:8h Gilead [is] a city of them that work iniquity, [and is]
polluted with blood.
(h) Which was the place where the priests dwelt, and which
should have been best instructed in my word.
6:11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an i harvest for thee, when I
returned the captivity of my people.
(i) That is, imitates your idolatry, and has taken grafts
of your trees.
