View Hosea 11 in the note window.
Upbraidings, threatenings and promises mingled, ver. 1 - 11.
A commendation of Judah, ver. 12.
1: Was a child - In the infancy of Israel.
I loved him - Manifested my tender and paternal affection to him.
Called my son - Adopted him to be my son, and as my son, provided for him,
and brought him out of servitude. Out of Egypt - But Israel, the first
adopted son was a type of Christ the first - born. And the history of
Israel's coming out was a type of Christ's future coming out of Egypt.
2: They - Moses and Aaron, and other prophets.
Called - Persuaded, intreated, and urged by exhortations, the whole
house of Israel. From them - From the prophets counsel and commands.
Baalim - In the desert they began this apostacy, and held on with
obstinacy in it.
3: I taught - As a mother or nurse helps the child.
Taking them - Supporting and bearing them up.
They knew not - They would not see nor acknowledge me in it.
4: Cords of man - With such kindness as best fits and most prevails
with a man. I was to them - As a careful husband - man in due season takes
the yoke from his labouring oxen, and takes off the muzzle with which
they were kept from eating, when at work. I laid meat unto them - Brought
them provision in their wants.
5: He - Ephraim. Shall be king - Shall rule them with rigour
and cruelty. They refused - The reason of all is, their obstinacy
in idolatry.
6: His branches - The lesser towns and villages.
Their own counsels - Which they have followed in opposition to
all the good counsels the prophets gave them from time to time.
7: They - The prophets. None at all - Scarce any one would hearken
and obey.
8: Give thee up - To utter destruction. Admah and Zeboim were
two of the four cities which were destroyed with fire from heaven.
My repentings - Not that God is ever fluctuating or unresolved; but
these are expressions after the manner of men, to shew what severity
Israel had deserved, and yet how divine grace would be glorified in
sparing them.
9: Return - Conquerors that plunder the conquered city, carry away the
wealth of it, and after some time return to burn it; God will not do so.
Not man - Therefore my compassions fail not. The holy One - A holy God,
and in covenant, though not with all, yet with many among you.
Enter into the city - Utterly to destroy thee, as I did Sodom.
10: They - The remnant shall hear and obey the Lord.
Like a lion - The word of the Lord, so saith the Chaldee, shall
roar as a lion. Christ is called, The lion of the tribe of Judah:
and when he cried with a loud voice, it was as when a lion roared.
The voice of the gospel was heard far, as the roaring of a lion;
and it was a mighty voice. Tremble - The spirit by its power
awakening them to a sight of sin, shall make them fear and tremble.
From the west - From the ends of the earth.
11: They shall tremble - At their return into their own land, some
shall hasten, yet with solicitude, out of Egypt, whither they fled for
shelter; others like doves shall hasten out of Assyria, but with fear
and trembling. I will place them - A seasonable and comfortable promise.
12: Ephraim - Most of the people of Israel.
With lies - Play the hypocrite with me still. Judah - The two tribes.
Yet ruleth - While idolaters are slaves to the devil, the true
worshippers of God, like princes, rule with God. Faithful - Retains
purity, at least truth of worship, and comparatively is faithful.
Judah adheres to God's holy prophets, priests, and other saints of God.
