--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 509 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/509/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 509. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/509/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 509. Hosea · 12 of 13 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/509/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/509/#p-N [¶0] 9. And--rather, "And yet." Though Israel deserves to be cast off for ever, yet I am still what I have been from the time of My delivering them out of Egypt, their covenant God; therefore, "I will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles," that is, to keep the feast of tabernacles again in remembrance of a new deliverance out of bondage. Fulfilled primarily at the return from Babylon ([Ne 8:17]). Fully and antitypically to be fulfilled at the final restoration from the present dispersion ([Zec 14:16]; compare [Le 23:42], ). [¶1] 10. by ... the prophets--literally, "upon," that is, My spirit resting on them. I deposited with them My instructions which ought to have brought you to the right way. An aggravation of your guilt, that it was not through ignorance you erred, but in defiance of God and His prophets [Calvin]. Ahijah the Shilonite, Shemaiah, Iddo, Azariah, Hanani, Jehu, Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah, Joel, and Amos were "the prophets" before Hosea. [¶2] visions ... similitudes--I adopted such modes of communication, adapted to man's capacities, as were calculated to arouse attention: I left no means untried to reform you. The first, second, and third chapters contain examples of "similitudes." [¶3] 11. Is there iniquity in Gilead?--He asks the question, not as if the answer was doubtful, but to strengthen the affirmation: "Surely they are vanity"; or as Maurer translates, "They are nothing but iniquity." Iniquity, especially idolatry, in Scripture is often termed "vanity." [Pr 13:11]: "Wealth gotten by vanity," that is, iniquity. [Is 41:29]: "They are all vanity ... images." "Gilead" refers to Mizpah-gilead, a city representing the region beyond Jordan ([Ho 6:8]; [Jud 11:29]); as "Gilgal," the region on this side of Jordan ([Ho 4:15]). In all quarters alike they are utterly vile. [¶4] their altars are as heaps in the furrows--that is, as numerous as such heaps: namely, the heaps of stones cleared out of a stony field. An appropriate image, as at a distance they look like altars (compare [Ho 10:1], ; ). As the third member in the parallelism answers to the first, "Gilgal" to "Gilead," so the fourth to the second, "altars" to "vanity." The word "heaps" alludes to the name "Gilgal," meaning "a heap of stones." The very scene of the general circumcision of the people, and of the solemn passover kept after crossing Jordan, is now the stronghold of Israel's idolatry. [¶5] 12. Jacob fled ... served--Though ye pride yourselves on the great name of "Israel," forget not that your progenitor was the same Jacob who was a fugitive, and who served for Rachel fourteen years. He forgot not ME who delivered him when fleeing from Esau, and when oppressed by Laban ([Ge 28:5]; , ; [De 26:5]). Ye, though delivered from Egypt ([Ho 12:13]), and loaded with My favors, are yet unwilling to return to Me. [¶6] country of Syria--the champaign region of Syria, the portion lying between the Tigris and Euphrates, hence called Mesopotamia. Padan-aram means the same, that is, "Low Syria," as opposed to Aramea (meaning the "high country") or Syria ([Ge 48:7]). [¶7] 13. by a prophet--Moses ([Nu 12:6-8]; [De 18:15], ). [¶8] preserved--Translate, "kept"; there is an allusion to the same Hebrew word in [Ho 12:12], "kept sheep"; Israel was kept by God as His flock, even as Jacob kept sheep ([Psa 80:1]; [Is 63:11]). [¶9] 14. provoked him--that is, God. [¶10] leave his blood upon him--not take away the guilt and penalty of the innocent blood shed by Ephraim in general, and to Molech in particular. [¶11] his reproach shall his Lord return unto him--Ephraim's dishonor to God in worshipping idols, God will repay to him. That God is "his Lord" by right redemption and special revelation to Ephraim only aggravates his guilt, instead of giving him hope of escape. God does not give up His claim to them as His, however they set aside His dominion. ### Chapter 13 ### Ho 13:1-16. Ephraim's Sinful Ingratitude to God, and Its Fatal Consequence; God's Promise at Last [¶14] This chapter and the fourteenth chapter probably belong to the troubled times that followed Pekah's murder by Hoshea (compare [Ho 13:11]; [2Ki 15:30]). The subject is the idolatry of Ephraim, notwithstanding God's past benefits, destined to be his ruin. [¶15] 1. When Ephraim spake trembling--rather, "When Ephraim (the tribe most powerful among the twelve in Israel's early history) spake (authoritatively) there was trembling"; all reverentially feared him [Jerome], (compare [Job 29:8], [9, 21]). [¶16] offended in Baal--that is, in respect to Baal, by worshipping him ([1Ki 16:31]), under Ahab; a more heinous offense than even the calves. Therefore it is at this climax of guilt that Ephraim "died." Sin has, in the sight of God, within itself the germ of death, though that death may not visibly take effect till long after. Compare [Ro 7:9], "Sin revived, and I died." So Adam in the day of his sin was to die, though the sentence was not visibly executed till long after ([Ge 2:17]; ). Israel is similarly represented as politically dead in [Eze 37:1-28]. [¶17] 2. according to their own understanding--that is, their arbitrary devising. Compare "will-worship," [Col 2:23]. Men are not to be "wise above that which is written," or to follow their own understanding, but God's command in worship. [¶18] kiss the calves--an act of adoration to the golden calves (compare [1Ki 19:18]; [Job 31:27]; [Psa 2:12]). [¶19] 3. they shall be as the morning cloud ... dew--([Ho 6:4]). As their "goodness" soon vanished like the morning cloud and dew, so they shall perish like them. [¶20] the floor--the threshing-floor, generally an open area, on a height, exposed to the winds. [¶21] chimney--generally in the East an orifice in the wall, at once admitting the light, and giving egress to the smoke. [¶22] 4. ([Ho 12:9]; [Is 43:11]). [¶23] no saviour--temporal as well as spiritual. [¶24] besides me--([Is 45:21]). [¶25] 5. I did know thee--did acknowledge thee as Mine, and so took care of thee ([Psa 144:3]; [Am 3:2]). As I knew thee as Mine, so thou shouldest know no God but Me ([Ho 13:4]). [¶26] in ... land of ... drought--([De 8:15]). [¶27] 6. Image from cattle, waxing wanton in abundant pasture (compare [Ho 2:5], ; [De 32:13-15]). In proportion as I fed them to the full, they were so satiated that "their heart was exalted"; a sad contrast to the time when, by God's blessing, Ephraim truly "exalted himself in Israel" ([Ho 13:1]). [¶28] therefore have they forgotten me--the very reason why men should remember God (namely, prosperity, which comes from Him) is the cause often of their forgetting Him. God had warned them of this danger ([De 6:11], ). [¶29] 7. ([Ho 5:14]; [La 3:10]). [¶30] leopard--The Hebrew comes from a root meaning "spotted" (compare [Jr 13:23]). Leopards lurk in thickets and thence spring on their victims. [¶31] observe--that is, lie in wait for them. Several manuscripts, the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic read, by a slight change of the Hebrew vowel pointing, "by the way of Assyria," a region abounding in leopards and lions. English Version is better. [¶32] 8. "Writers on the natures of beasts say that none is more savage than a she bear, when bereaved of her whelps" [Jerome]. [¶33] caul of ... heart--the membrane enclosing it: the pericardium. [¶34] there--"by the way" ([Ho 13:7]). [¶35] 9. thou ... in me--in contrast. [¶36] hast destroyed thyself--that is, thy destruction is of thyself ([Pr 6:32]; ). [¶37] in me is thine help--literally, "in thine help" (compare [De 33:26]). Hadst thou rested thy hope in Me, I would have been always ready at hand for thy help [Grotius]. [¶38] 10. I will be thy king; where--rather, as the Margin and the Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, "Where now is thy king?" [Maurer]. English Version is, however, favored both by the Hebrew, by the antithesis between Israel's self-chosen and perishing kings, and God, Israel's abiding King (compare [Ho 3:4], ). [¶39] where ... Give me a king--Where now is the king whom ye substituted in My stead? Neither Saul, whom the whole nation begged for, not contented with Me their true king ([1Sa 8:5], 7, 19, 20; ), nor Jeroboam, whom subsequently the ten tribes chose instead of the line of David My anointed, can save thee now. They had expected from their kings what is the prerogative of God alone, namely, the power of saving them. [¶40] judges--including all civil authorities under the king (compare [Am 2:3]). [¶41] 11. I gave ... king in ... anger ... took ... away in ... wrath--true both of Saul ([1Sa 15:22], ; ) and of Jeroboam's line ([2Ki 15:30]). Pekah was taken away through Hoshea, as he himself took away Pekahiah; and as Hoshea was soon to be taken away by the Assyrian king. [¶42] 12. bound up ... hid--Treasures, meant to be kept, are bound up and hidden; that is, do not flatter yourselves, because of the delay, that I have forgotten your sin. Nay ([Ho 9:9]), Ephraim's iniquity is kept as it were safely sealed up, until the due time comes for bringing it forth for punishment ([De 32:34]; [Job 14:17]; ; compare [Ro 2:5]). Opposed to "blotting out the handwriting against" the sinner ([Col 2:14]). [¶43] 13. sorrows of a travailing woman--calamities sudden and agonizing ([Jr 30:6]). [¶44] unwise--in not foreseeing the impending judgment, and averting it by penitence ([Pr 22:3]).