Hosea Chapter 10
From The Open Bible Project
10:1 Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
- (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 divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.
- (c) That is, from God, by serving their false gods.
10:3 Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we don't fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for 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; (2 Kings 17:6-7).
10:4 They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds 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 will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has 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, (1 Kings 18:27). See 2 Kings 23:5
10:6 It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
10:7 Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water.
10:8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, "Cover us!" and the hills, "Fall on us!"
- (i) This he speaks in contempt of Bethel.
10:9 "Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gibeah.
- (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 When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.
- (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 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will 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 according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
- (r) See (Jeremiah 4:4)
10:13 You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
10:14 Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
- (s) That is, Shalmaneser in the destruction of that city spared neither type nor age.
10:15 So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.
