the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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THE MESSAGE
Hosea 8:9
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
For they have gone up to Assyrialike a wild donkey going off on its own.Ephraim has paid for love.
For they have gone up to Ashshur, Like a wild donkey wandering alone. Efrayim has hired lovers for himself.
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has paid fees for lovers.
Israel is like a wild donkey all by itself. They have run to Assyria; They have hired other nations to protect them.
For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey wandering alone and taking her own way; Ephraim has hired lovers (pagan allies).
For they are gone vp to Asshur: they are as a wilde asse alone by himselfe: Ephraim hath hired louers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.
For they have gone up to AssyriaLike a wild donkey all alone;Ephraim has hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.
You are like a wild donkey that goes its own way. You've run off to Assyria and hired them as allies.
For they have gone up to Ashur; like a wild donkey, alone by itself, Efrayim has bargained for lovers.
For they are gone up [to] Assyria [as] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Ephraim went to his ‘lovers.' Like a stubborn donkey, they led him off to Assyria.
For they are gone up to Assyria, as a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim has loved gifts.
Stubborn as wild donkeys, the people of Israel go their own way. They have gone off to seek help from Assyria and have paid other nations to protect them.
For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey alone to itself; Ephraim has sold itself for lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself. Ephraim has hired lovers.
For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria like an ass going by himself; Ephraim has given money to get lovers.
For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired lovers.
For they are gone vp to Assyria, a wilde Asse alone by himselfe; Ephraim hath hired louers.
For they haue gone vp to Assyria [and are as] a wilde asse solitarie by him selfe: Ephraim hath hired louers.
For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.
For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
for thei stieden to Assur. Effraym is a wielde asse, solitarie to hym silf. Thei yauen yiftis to louyeris;
For they have gone up to Assyria, [like] a wild donkey alone by himself: Ephraim has hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.
Like a wild donkey looking for a mate, they have gone up to Assyria. The people of Israel have sold themselves— sold themselves to many lovers.
They have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey all alone. Ephraim has hired lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.
For, they, have gone up to Assyria, A wild ass going alone for himself, is Ephraim! They have hired lovers!
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath given gifts to his lovers.
For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; E'phraim has hired lovers.
For they -- they have gone up [to] Asshur, A wild ass alone by himself [is] Ephraim, They have hired lovers!
Sens they went vp to the Assirians, they are become like a wylde asse in the deserte. Ephraim geueth rewardes to get louers,
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
they: Hosea 5:13, Hosea 7:11, 2 Kings 15:19, Ezekiel 23:5-9
a wild: Job 39:5-8, Jeremiah 2:24
hath: Hosea 2:5-7, Hosea 2:10, Hosea 12:1, Isaiah 30:6, Ezekiel 16:33, Ezekiel 16:34
lovers: Heb. loves
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:11 - the king Job 24:5 - wild asses Hosea 14:3 - Asshur
Cross-References
I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."
"What's that we see in the distance, a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky? It's ships from the distant islands, the famous Tarshish ships Returning your children from faraway places, loaded with riches, with silver and gold, And backed by the name of your God , The Holy of Israel, showering you with splendor. Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings assist you in the conduct of worship. When I was angry I hit you hard. It's my desire now to be tender. Your Jerusalem gates will always be open —open house day and night!— Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations, and their kings, the delivery boys! Any nation or kingdom that doesn't deliver will perish; those nations will be totally wasted. The rich woods of Lebanon will be delivered —all that cypress and oak and pine— To give a splendid elegance to my Sanctuary, as I make my footstool glorious. The descendants of your oppressor will come bowing and scraping to you. All who looked down at you in contempt will lick your boots. They'll confer a title on you: City of God , Zion of The Holy of Israel. Not long ago you were despised refuse— out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored. But now I've put you on your feet, towering and grand forever, a joy to look at! When you suck the milk of nations and the breasts of royalty, You'll know that I, God , am your Savior, your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob. I'll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs! Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron, bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones. I'll install Peace to run your country, make Righteousness your boss. There'll be no more stories of crime in your land, no more robberies, no more vandalism. You'll name your main street Salvation Way, and install Praise Park at the center of town. You'll have no more need of the sun by day nor the brightness of the moon at night. God will be your eternal light, your God will bathe you in splendor. Your sun will never go down, your moon will never fade. I will be your eternal light. Your days of grieving are over. All your people will live right and well, in permanent possession of the land. They're the green shoot that I planted, planted with my own hands to display my glory. The runt will become a great tribe, the weakling become a strong nation. I am God . At the right time I'll make it happen."
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For they are gone up to Assyria,.... Or, "though they should go up to Assyria" g; to the king of Assyria, to gain his friendship, and enter into alliance with him; as, when Pal king of Assyria came against them, Menahem king of Israel went forth to meet him, and gave him a thousand talents of silver to be his confederate, and strengthen his kingdom, 2 Kings 15:19; yet this hindered not but that Israel was at length swallowed up by that people, and scattered by them among the nations; for this is not to be understood of their going captive into the land of Assyria, as the Targum interprets it:
a wild ass alone by himself; which may be applied either to the king of Assyria, and be considered as a description of him, to whom Israel went for help and friendship; who, though he took their present, and made them fair promises, yet was perfidious, unsociable, and inhuman, studied only his own advantage, and not their good: or to the Israelites that went to him, who were as sottish and stupid as the ass, and as headstrong and unruly as that, and, like it, lustful, and impetuous in their lusts; running to and fro for the satisfying of them, and taking no advice, nor suffering themselves to be controlled, and, being alone, became an easy prey to the Assyrian lion: or yet they should be as "a wild ass alone by itself" h; notwithstanding all the methods they took to obtain the friendship and alliance of the king of Assyria, yet they should be carried captive by him, and dwell in the captivity like a wild ass in the wilderness; and so it is to be understood here, agreeably to Job 24:5; otherwise, as Bochart i has proved from various writers, these creatures go in flocks:
Ephraim hath hired lovers; by giving presents to the kings of Assyria and Egypt, to be their allies and confederates, patrons and defenders,
2 Kings 15:19; who are represented as their gallants, with whom Ephraim or the ten tribes committed adultery, departing from God their Husband, and liege Lord and King, and from his true worship; see
Ezekiel 16:26. R. Elias Levita k observes, that some interpret the words, "Ephraim made a covenant with lovers".
g כי המה עלו "quamvis, etiamsi ascenderint"; so Schmidt observes it may be rendered, though he chooses to render it by "quando", "when they should go up", &c. h פרא בודד לו "erunt onager, qui solitarius sibi est", Schmidt. i Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 3. c. 16. col. 870. k Tishbi, p. 267.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For they are gone up to Assyria - The ground of this their captivity is that wherein they placed their hope of safety. They shall be presently swallowed up; “for” they went to Asshur. The holy land being then honored by the spectral presence of God, all nations are said to “go up” to it. Now, since Israel forgetting God, their strength and their glory, went to the Assyrian for help, he is said to “go up” there, where he went as a suppliant.
A wild donkey alone by himself - As “the ox” which “knoweth its owner, and the donkey its Master’s crib,” represents each believer, of Jew or Gentile; Israel, who would not know Him, is called the “wild ass.” The “pere,” or “wild ass” of the East , is “heady, unruly, undisciplinable” , “obstinate, running with swiftness far outstripping the swiftest horse” , whither his lust, hunger, thirst, draw him without rule or direction, hardly to be turned aside from his intended course.” Although often found in bands, one often breaks away by himself, exposing itself for a prey to lions, from where it is said, “the wild donkey is the lion’s prey in the wilderness” (Ecclus. 13:19). Wild as the Arab was, a “wild ass’ colt by himself” , is to him a proverb for one , “singular, obstinate, pertinacious in his purpose.” Such is man by nature Job 11:12; such, it was foretold to Abraham, Ishmael would be Genesis 16:12; such Israel again became; “stuborn, heady, selfwilled, refusing to be ruled by God’s law and His counsel, in which he might find safety, and, of his own mind, running to the Assyrian,” there to perish.
Ephraim hath hired lovers or loves - The plural, in itself, shows that they were sinful loves, since God had said, “a man shall cleave unto his wife and they twain shall be one flesh.” These sinful “loves” or “lovers” she was not tempted by, but she herself invited them (see Ezekiel 16:33-34). It is a special and unwonted sin, when woman, forsaking the modesty which God gives her as a defense, becomes the temptress. “Like such a bad woman, luring others to love her, they, forsaking God, to whom, as by covenant of marriage, they ought to have cleaved, and on Him alone to have depended, sought to make friends of the Assyrian, to help them in their rebellions against Him, and so put themselves to that charge (as sinners usually do) in the service of sin, which in God’s service they need not to have been at.”
And yet that which God pictures under colors so offensive, what was it in human eyes? The “hire” was presents of gold to powerful nations, whose aid, humanly speaking, Israel needed. But wherever it abandoned its trust in God, it adopted their idols. “Whoever has recourse to human means, without consulting God, or consulting whether He will, or will not bless them, is guilty of unfaithfulness which often leads to many others. He becomes accustomed to the tone of mind of those whose protection he seeks, comes insensibly to approve even their errors, loses purity of heart and conscience, sacrifices his light and talents to the service of the powers, under whose shadow he wishes to live under repose.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Hosea 8:9. They are gone up to Assyria — For succour.
A wild ass alone by himself — Like that animal, jealous of its liberty, and suffering no rival. If we may credit Pliny and others, one male wild ass will keep a whole flock of females to himself, suffer no other to approach them, and even bite off the genitals of the colts, lest in process of time they should become his rivals. "Mares singuli faeminarum gregibus imperitant; timent libidinis aemulos, et ideo gravidas custodiunt, morsuque natos mares castrant." - Hist. Nat., lib. viii., c. 30. The Israelites, with all this selfishness and love of liberty, took no step that did not necessarily lead to their thraldom and destruction.
Ephraim hath hired lovers. — Hath subsidized the neighbouring heathen states.
