Bible Commentaries
Hosea 7

Verse 1

spoileth = strippeth.

Verse 3

consider not in = say not to. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vnlg., read "say not in".

Verse 4

all = all of them (kings, princes, and People are idolaters). "All" is put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), for the greater part.

adulterers: i.e. idolaters. See note on Hosea 1:2 .

as = [hot] like.

ceaseth = leaves off.

raising = stoking it.

after he hath kneaded, &c. = from [the time of] kneading the dough until it is ready for the fire. Then he heats the oven to stop the fermentation. Even so these idolaters. See note on "baker", Hosea 7:6 .

Verse 5

In the day of our king. See 2 Kings 15:10 .

day. Perhaps = [feast] day.

him. Supply "themselves" instead of "him".

sick, &c. Sick with the heat of wine.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

Verse 6

they, &c. Like the baker in Hosea 7:4 .

their baker sleepeth = their anger smoketh: reading ye'shan 'apphem instead of yashen 'ophehem. Owing to the similarity in pronunciation and in the ancient form of Ayin ( ') and Aleph ('). these letters were interchanged. The Massorah contains lists of words where Aleph (= ') stands for Ayin (= ') and vice versa (see Ginsburg's Massorah, letter, vol. i, p. 57, 514; and letter, vol. ii, p. 390, 352, 360, &c). See notes on Isaiah 49:7 . Amos 6:8 . Zephaniah 3:1 , &c. The Aram, and Syriac preserve the reading of the primitive text: "their anger smoketh all night" (like the "oven" in Hosea 7:4 ).

it: i.e. the oven.

Verse 7

all their kings, &c. Compare Hosea 8:4 . Of the two houses of Omri and Jehu: Nadab, Zimri, Tibni, Jehoram, Zachariah, Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah were all slain by their successors, or others.

there is. Some codices, with two early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), read "and there".

Verse 8

people = peoples, or nations.

a cake not turned: i.e. a thin (pan)cake, burnt one side and moist the other, and therefore uneatable.

Verse 9

Strangers = Outsiders. Compare Hosea 8:7 .

here and there = sprinkled.

Verse 10

the pride of Israel. See note on Hosea 5:5 .

they do not return, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:29 ).

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 11

silly = harmless, innocent. Ang. -Sax., saelig, happy they call, &c. See 2 Kings 15:19 ; 2 Kings 17:4-6 . Compare Hosea 5:13 ; Hosea 9:3 ; Hosea 12:1 .

Verse 12

When = Howsoever.

as their congregation hath heard. Those who know not the Pentateuch may call this "unintelligible"; but see Leviticus 26:14 , Leviticus 26:28 . Deuteronomy 27:14-26 .

congregation. Hebrew. 'edah is a technical Pentateuchal word which occurs in Exodus fourteen times, in Leviticus twelve times, in Numbers over eighty times, in Joshua fifteen times, in Judges four times, and twice in Kings and Jeremiah. Elsewhere used of any multitude only a few times.

Verse 13

transgressed = revolted. Hebrew. pash a', as in Hosea 14:9 . Not the same word as in Hosea 6:7 , and Hosea 8:1 .

I have redeemed them. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:8 ; Deuteronomy 9:26 ; Deuteronomy 15:15 ; Deuteronomy 21:8 ; Deuteronomy 24:18 ).

redeemed. Heb padah. See note on Exodus 6:6 , and Exodus 13:13 .

Verse 14

they have not cried. Compare Job 35:9 , Job 35:10 . Psalms 78:36 . Jeremiah 3:10 . Zechariah 7:5 .

with their heart. They cried with their voice.

assemble themselves. In their idol temples.

wine = new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 . Not the same word as in Hosea 7:5 .

rebel against = apostatized from.

Verse 15

Though I have bound = Though I, even I, have warned (or instructed). Compare Psalms 18:34 ; Psalms 144:1 .

Verse 16

to the Most High = to Him Who is on high. Compare Hosea 11:7 .

a deceitful bow. That disappoints the user, and cannot be depended upon. Compare Psalms 78:57 .

for = because of.

derision = ridicule.