Bible Commentaries

Ho 8:1-14.

PROPHECY OF THE IRRUPTION OF THE ASSYRIANS, IN PUNISHMENT FOR ISRAEL'S APOSTASY, IDOLATRY, AND SETTING UP OF KINGS WITHOUT GOD'S SANCTION.

In

Ho 8:14,

Judah is said to multiply fenced cities; and in

Ho 8:7-9,

Israel, to its great hurt, is said to have gone up to Assyria for help. This answers best to the reign of Menahem. For it was then that Uzziah of Judah, his contemporary, built fenced cities

(2Ch 26:6, 9, 10).

Then also Israel turned to Assyria and had to pay for their sinful folly a thousand talents of silver

(2Ki 15:19)

[MAURER].

1. Set the trumpet, &c.--to give warning of the approach of the enemy: "To thy palate (that is, 'mouth,'

Job 31:30,

Margin) the trumpet"; the abruptness of expression indicates the suddenness of the attack. So

Ho 5:8.

as . . . eagle--the Assyrian

(De 28:49; Jer 48:40; Hab 1:8).

against . . . house of . . . Lord--not the temple, but Israel viewed as the family of God

(Ho 9:15; Nu 12:7; Zec 9:8; Heb 3:2; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 4:17).

2. My God, we know thee--the singular, "My," is used distributively, each one so addressing God. They, in their hour of need, plead their knowledge of God as the covenant-people, while in their acts they acknowledge Him not (compare

Mt 7:21, 22; Tit 1:16;

also

Isa 29:13; Jer 7:4).

The Hebrew joins "Israel," not as English Version, with "shall cry," but "We, Israel, know thee"; God denies the claim thus urged on the ground of their descent from Israel.

3. Israel--God repeats the name in opposition to their use of it

(Ho 8:2).

the thing that is good--JEROME translates, "God" who is good and doing good

(Ps 119:68).

He is the chief object rejected, but with Him also all that is good.

the enemy shall pursue him--in just retribution from God.

4. kings . . . not by me--not with My sanction

(1Ki 11:31; 12:20).

Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation.

I knew it not--I approved it not

(Ps 1:6).

of . . . gold . . . idols--

(Ho 2:8; 13:2).

that they may be cut off--that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So

Jer 27:10, 15; 44:8.

5. hath cast thee off--As the ellipsis of thee is unusual, MAURER translates, "thy calf is abominable." But the antithesis to

Ho 8:3

establishes English Version, "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good"; therefore, in just retribution, "thy calf hath cast thee off," that is, is made by God the cause of thy being cast off

(Ho 10:15).

Jeroboam, during his sojourn in Egypt, saw Apis worshipped at Memphis, and Mnevis at Heliopolis, in the form of an ox; this, and the temple cherubim, suggested the idea of the calves set up at Dan and Beth-el.

how long . . . ere they attain to innocency?--How long will they be incapable of bearing innocency? [MAURER].

6. from Israel was it--that is, the calf originated with them, not from Me. "It also," as well as their "kings set up" by them, "but not by Me"

(Ho 8:4).

7. sown . . . reap--

(Pr 22:8; Ga 6:7).

"Sow . . . wind," that is, to make the vain show of worship, while faith and obedience are wanting [CALVIN]. Rather, to offer senseless supplications to the calves for good harvests (compare

Ho 2:8);

the result being that God will make them "reap no stalk," that is, "standing corn." Also, the phraseology proverbially means that all their undertakings shall be profitless

(Pr 11:29; Ec 5:16).

the bud--or, "growth."

strangers--foreigners

(Ho 7:9).

8. vessel wherein is no pleasure--

(Ps 41:12; Jer 22:28; 48:38).