Bible Commentaries
Hosea 2

Verse 1

Ammi = My People.

Ruhamah = Pitied One.

Verse 2

your mother. Gomer (Hosea 1:3 ). The ten tribes personified by their royal capital.

her husband. Compare Jeremiah 31:32 .

whoredoms . . . adulteries = idolatries. See note on Hosea 1:2 .

between her breasts = her embraces.

Verse 3

Lest, &c. Hosea 2:3 refers to Israel's earliest history.

her: i.e. her land, as shown by the words following. Compare Ezekiel 16:23-43 .

in the day. See App-18 .

Verse 4

children = sons: i.e. the individual members of the nation collectively.

Verse 5

played the harlot: i.e. practiced idolatries. The silence as to details here is eloquent.

my lovers = my Baals, or lords. Compare Jeremiah 44:17 , Jeremiah 44:18 .

my, &c. Note the three pairs, including food, clothing, and luxuries. All are claimed as hers.

Verse 6

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ) for emphasis.

hedge up, &c. Compare Job 8:23 ; Job 19:8 . Lamentations 3:7 , Lamentations 3:9 .

thy way. Jehovah had spoken of Israel. Now He speaks to her.

make a wall = Hebrew wall a (stone) wall. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ) for emphasis = rear a stone wall.

Verse 7

follow after = eagerly follow after.

I will go, &c. Compare Hos 6:15 .Luke 15:18 .

first husband. Compare Ezekiel 16:8 .

than. Supply the Ellipsis : "than [it is] now".

Verse 8

did not know. Compare Isaiah 1:3 .

that I = that [it was] I Who. Compare Ezekiel 16:17-19 .

wine = new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

which they, &c. = they made offerings to Baal. Compare Hosea 8:4 .

Verse 9

will I return. In judgment.

take away = take back. Compare Hosea 2:3 .

My wine, &c. They were all His, and from Him.

recover = rescue (Genesis 31:16 ).

Verse 10

will I discover. Compare Ezekiel 16:37 ; Ezekiel 23:29 .

Verse 11

her feast days. All these are in the sing, here = her feast, her new moon, her sabbath, her every appointed season.

Verse 12

destroy = lay waste. Compare Psalms 105:33 .

whereof. In Hosea 2:5 .

rewards = my hire, or fee. A technical term. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18 ). App-92 .

Verse 13

I will visit, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:34 ). App-92 .

the days: i.e. the feast days.

Baalim. (Plural) including Baal-gad, Baal-Hermon, Baal-zephon, Baalberith, &c.

decked herself. Compare Ezekiel 23:40 , Ezekiel 23:42 .

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 14

Therefore = Nevertheless. Note that the whole of this present dispensation comes between Hosea 2:13 and Hosea 2:14 . See App-72 .

I = I myself (emphatic).

bring her, &c. Compare Ezekiel 20:35 .

comfortably = to the heart. Compare Isaiah 40:2 .

Verse 15

from thence: i.e. [when she cometh] from thence. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 16:13 , Numbers 16:14 ). App-92 .

the valley of Achor. Ref to Joshua 7:26 . App-92 . The events must have been written down at the time and preserved. See App-47 .

Achor = trouble. Compare Joshua 7:24-26 .

door = entrance.

hope = expectation; no longer of trouble.

shall sing there. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:1 ). App-92 .

there. Where Jehovah allureth, and bringeth, and speaketh.

as in the days, &c. Compare Jeremiah 2:2 .Ezekiel 16:8 , Ezekiel 16:22 , Ezekiel 16:60 .

when she came up. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 1:10 ; Exodus 12:38 ; Exodus 13:18 , &c); and when Jehovah said "My son" (Exodus 4:22 ). App-92 .

Verse 16

Ishi = My husband.

Baali = My lord.

Verse 17

I will take away, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 23:13 ). Compare Joshua 23:7 . Psalms 16:4 .Isaiah 2:18 . Ezekiel 6:6 ; Ezekiel 36:25 , Ezekiel 36:26 ; Ezekiel 37:23 .Zechariah 13:2 .

Verse 18

in that day. That yet future day of Israel's restoration.

make a covenant, &c. Compare Job 5:23 .Isaiah 11:6-9 . Ezekiel 34:25 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) to emphasize each item.

and I will break. Compare Psalms 46:9 . Isaiah 2:4 .Zechariah 9:10 .

make them to lie down safely. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 25:18 , Leviticus 25:19 ; Leviticus 26:5 , Leviticus 26:6 . Deuteronomy 12:10 ; Deuteronomy 33:12 , Deuteronomy 33:28 ). App-92 .

Verse 19

I will betroth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:16 . Deuteronomy 20:7 ; Deuteronomy 22:23 , Deuteronomy 22:25 , Deuteronomy 22:27 , Deuteronomy 22:28 ; Deuteronomy 28:30 ). App-92 . Elsewhere only in 2 Samuel 3:14 ("espouse"). Notice the thrice-repeated word here, and in verses: Hosea 2:19 , Hosea 2:20 .

Verse 20

thou shalt know, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:7 , &c). This is the sign of Israel's blessing (Isaiah 11:9 ; Isaiah 54:13 .Jeremiah 31:33 , Jeremiah 31:34 .John 6:45; John 6:45 ). Their evils came from not knowing (Isaiah 1:3 .Luke 19:42 , Luke 19:44 ).

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. (with ' eth) = Jehovah Himself. App-4 .

Verse 21

I will hear. The restoration comes from, and begins with, Jehovah.

hear = answer, or respond to (Zechariah 8:12 ).

Verse 22

the earth. Note the Figure of speech Anadiplosis ( App-6 ), by which the word at the end of Hosea 2:21 is repeated at the beginning of Hosea 2:22 .

Jezreel = the seed of GOD [which He will sow], as stated in Hosea 2:23 .

Verse 23

I will sow her: i. e. the new Israel.

will have mercy, &c. = have pity; i. e. will [call her] Ruhamah.

her that had not obtained mercy = Lo-Ruhamah (Not pitied).

not My People = Lo-ammi.

Thou art My People = Ammi [art] thou.

they shall say = and he, he shall say, &c: i. e. the whole nation as one man. Compare Hosea 1:11 .Zechariah 13:9 . Romans 9:26 . 1 Peter 2:10 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .