Hosea Chapter 11
From The Open Bible Project
11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
- (a) While the Israelites were in Egypt, and did not provoke my wrath by their malice and ingratitude.
11:2 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.
- (b) They rebelled and went a contrary way when the Prophets called them to repentance.
11:3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by his arms; but they didn't know that I healed them.
11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
- (c) That is, friendly, and not as beasts or slaves.
11:5 "They won't return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.
- (d) Seeing that they condemn all this kindness, they will be led captive into Assyria.
11:6 The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.
11:7 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won't exalt them.
- (e) That is, the Prophets.
11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.
- (f) God considers with himself, and that with a certain grief, how to punish them.
- (g) Which were two of the cities that were destroyed with Sodom; (Deuteronomy 29:23).
- (h) Meaning that his love with which he first loved them positioned him between doubt and assurance in terms of what to do: and in this appears his Fatherly affection, that his mercy toward his own will overcome his judgments, as he declares in the next verse.
11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you; and I will not come in wrath.
- (i) To consume you, but will cause you to yield, and so have mercy on you: and this is meant of the final number who will walk after the Lord.
11:10 They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11:11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses," says Yahweh.
- (k) The Egyptians and the Assyrians will be afraid when the Lord maintains his people.
11:12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
- (l) Governs their state according to God’s word, and does not degenerate.
