Hosea 9

REjoice not This might seem a morose humour of a discontented sullen Preacher; what, forbid a people to rejoyce when things prosper with them? when should a people rejoyce if not then? the Prophet who had a deeper reach, and took a larger prospect of things, had good cause to advise, or warn, or forbid as he does, for he saw more cause to grieve then to rejoyce and to mourn than to be merry, the reason you will have presently., O Israel You of the ten tribes., for joy For any thing that is counted just matter of Joy, though at present you prosper either under Ieroboam 2d. his victorious Arms, or under Menahem and the safety he has procured by a Confederacy with Assyria, though at other times these might be matter of rejoycing, now in thy circumstances, O Israel, 'tis not meet thou shouldst show any gladness., as other people With Feastings, publick Games, and Triumphs, or with solemn Sacrifices of thanksgiving, or with erecting Statues to the memory of your great and brave Commanders, or for continuing the remembrance of their atchievements.: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God With thee, O Israel, 'tis as unseemly as 'tis for an Adulteress wife to rejoyce and be jovial, whilest the guilt of her Adulteries, and the shame of her lewdnesses and the displeasure of her Husband fly in her face and whisper reproofs in her ear., thou hast loved a reward Such as is given by Adulterers to lewd women. on every corn-floor Thou hast loved to see thy floor full and hast thought and said thy Idols had so furnished thee, and therefore thou didst love them. Though mirth might become an honest woman, it does not so well suit with a dishonest Adulteress; the very place, the company and occasion do upbraid such an one rejoycing with her lewd Adulterers: beside, this Adulteresses joys will be short, and end in sorrows and shame, so will thine, O Israel..

The floor The Corn which is gathered into the floor and that is threshed there, that plenty which these sottish Idolaters have, and think they have it from their Idols, the bread they eat. For here is the floor put for the Corn, and the bread made of it. and the wine-press By the same figure, put for the Wine that is prest out in it, though there is great plenty, and the fats overflow as well as the press full. shall not feed All this plenty shall not nourish and strengthen them. Since they think their Idols give them their Corn and Wine, let them give also, what I will not give, a blessing on these that they may support, and refresh them; they shall be lean and half-starved in their plenty unless their Idols can do this for them, i. e. bless their food. them Who seek to Idols for Corn and Wine, and praise their Idols as givers of it. These I will b ast, their provision shall be as theirs, Hag. 1.6., and the new wine shall fail in her Or lie unto her, or fail her expectation. Samaria and all Israel expect a fair and full vintage, but they expect it from their Idols which are a Doctrine of Lies, and in this as in all other will Lie..

They Who worship Idols, and give my glory to them, depending on them, and ascribing to them what I alone give them. shall not dwell in the LORDs land Though they have been in possession many years, and though now they seem out of fear of losing it, being great at home and in peace with neighbours abroad, yet in midst of this prosperity and security, let them note it, they shall not much longer dwell in the Lords Land, which God gave them according to promise, with express condition that they should obey him and fear him, and him only, Deut. 6.2, 3. and with express menace of Exile and ruine if they forgat God, Deut. 8.19, 20. This land which is the Lords propriety, and theirs only on condition, and this condition broken, shall be their possession no longer.: but Ephraim shall return to Egypt Many of Ephraim, for 'tis not meant of all or the most part, but of the more timorous, wary, and who consult their safety before-hand many shall fly into Egypt, and shift out of the Enemies reach. So again ver. 6., and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria The residue who fly not into Egypt, shall be carried captives, and in Assyria be forced to eat forbidden meats, called here unclean, such polluted the eater..

They Captived for their Idolatry and other sins. shall not offer wine-offerings These were by the Law appointed to be offered with the morning and evening sacrifice, the sacrifice representing Christ, and pardon by him, the Wine offering represented the spirit of Grace, the sacrifice repeated daily continued their peace and pardon. The Spirit of Grace supported, guided, comforted and refreshed, all which shall be withheld from these Captives, the Law of God forbidding on one account, the Law of their Conquerors forbiding on other account. to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him Or if any should venture to do it and think thereby to appease Gods anger, they shall miss their aim, 'twill not please God.: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners Their Eucharistical sacrifices in which they were use to feast with joy shall be to them as the bread of Mourners, as if they had buried a father or mother, and to comfort or support their sadned spirits did force themselves to some larger allowance and choicer meats, so great should be their greif in midst of their Joys. Or else thus their sacrifices should as much pollute them and displease God as if one mourning for the dead, and forbidden to sacrifice in Tears and mourning should yet venture to do it, and against Law, sacrifice to his God, when polluted by the dead, Num. 19.11, 12, 13, 14. and Deut. 26.14.: all that eat thereof shall be polluted So far shall these mens sacrifices be from expiating and purifying that they should increase their guilt and danger, and incur the penalty threatned against the polluted, Deut. 26.13. and Num. 19.13.: for Or surely the particle is not here causal but assertive, as in many other places 'tis. their bread Their Mincha or bread, which they always offer'd and were bound to offer with their sacrifices. Or else the first fruits of their Corn, which were to be brought to the Lord, and which being rightly offered did sanctifie and ensure the rest to them, with a blessing. This should not be done, they should be at that distance from the Temple, and under the confinement of Captives, so that they should not be able to do it if they were willing. for their soul shall not come Be brought in to the Priest in the Temple, Deut. 26.2, 3. &c. into the house of the LORD.

What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? Think with yourselves what you are likely to do then, on those days you were wont to cease from your labours, to offer sacrifices to God (as you thought and said) to feast with one another, all was full of seeming Religion, and real Feasting and jollity on those days in your own Countrey, but will your hard Masters that love their own profit, that hate your persons, and despise your Religion, will they lose your labour, indulge your ease, incourage your Religion, and suffer you to exercise it? Is this imaginable?

For lo, Mark it well, and observe the event. they are gone, because of destruction Some of the wary and timerous are already withdrawn from the desolation that cometh on their Countrey, and more will fly from the Assyrian invader, and 'tis very near, and very certain, exprest therefore in the perfect Tense.: Egypt shall gather them up In Egypt they hope to be quiet, and survive these Desolations, and to return into their own Land, but they shall die in Egypt, and Egyptians shall lay them out, and prepare them to their Grave. So this phrase, Ier. 8.2. and Ezek. 29.5., Memphis Which elsewhere is called Noph, Isa. 19.13. a very greatly traded City in those days, and at this day also known by the name which speaks its greatness, Grand Cairo: shall bury them Many of the Ten Tribes flying their own wasted Country, did no doubt remove so far as Memphis, partly for safety, that they may be out of the Assyrians reach, but more principally for conveniency of a Trade, that they might at least get a livelyhood, if not grow rich on their Trade; there many of these Fugitives dyed, and perhaps by the Pestilence (which is a disease that frequently sweeps that City) multitudes of them might be swept away into their Graves in and about that City., the pleasant places for their silver Their beautiful and strong Houses built for keeping their Wealth in., nettles shall possess them They shall be ruin'd, and lie long in Rubbish, till Nettles grow up in them.: thornes Or Briars, or whatever (one kind for all) worthless, and hurtful shrubs use to grow in perpetuated desolations. shall be in their tabernacles. in their dwelling places, their houses which here retain the Name of their antient Habitations when they dwelt in Tents.

The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come The Prophet doubleth the same thing both to confirm the certainty of it, and to awaken the stupid Israelites, the days of God's just displeasure, in which he will punish, and render to these incorrigible Idolaters, and abominable debauchees as their wickedness deserveth, are come, they are very near, within four years at most., Israel shall know it Israel will not believe it, though God has often told them of it, but when 'tis come, and they feel it, they shall then know indeed as Fools know when they smart for their folly.: the prophet is a fool That their false Prophets were all, to a man of them Fools and rash, judging by present greatness or alliances of Israel, not observing what were their sins and Gods wrath; Now when Hosea preacht what was contained in this ninth chap. Israel had made a League with So King of Egypt, cast off the Assyrian and not sought to God, but vainly trusted to the Egyptian Succours; now any wise man might imagin that likely which the Prophet Hosea did foretel as certain, that the Assyrian with all his Power would fall upon the Revolters; none but Fools would promise such a people a time of safety when the War was falling upon their heads., the spiritual man is mad Whom we thought a true Prophet, but now find by sad experience that we believed a mad man, one much out of his wits, yet were we more to believe what he promised., for the multitude of thine iniquity God was highly displeased with the multitude of their iniquities, and began his punishments in giving them over to believe the lies of their false Prophets, and to expect what peace those Prophets did promise.; and the great hatred Which God had against your sins and wayes: You would walk in wayes which God hated, yet would have Prophets to foretel peace and plenty; such you have had as described Mic. 2.11. and you believed them and God, out of his just dislike, suffered this to be, left you to your choice.. That pretends to be full of the Spirit of prophecy, and foretels good to them.

The watchman The old true Prophets indeed were with God, heard what he spake, and told it to the people; they were for God, for his Honour, Law, Worship, and Temple; and so should Prophets now be. Ephraim once had such Prophets, such were Elijah and Elisha, but none such now, or Ephraim cares not for them. of Ephraim was with my God The Prophet speaks of God the true God, as his God, in opposition to Idols on which Ephraim doted now, whose pretended Oracles they believed.: but the prophet The Prophets now adays, who call themselves Prophets, and are so accounted by the people have, as the people, left God, and do no more consult with God. is a snare of a fowler Their pretended predictions and promises are but a snare, such as Fowlers lay to take Fowl in, and these Impostors are conscious to themselves that they are deceivers; at least they cannot but know that the true God never gave them answer at any of their Images, yet they pre end he has done it, and that he will prosper them; so they ensnare the people first in in, next in punishment. in all his wayes And all they design and endeavour by all means is to keep the people in this opinion and hope., and hatred in the house of his God So is hatred in the sight of God, he does hate such Deceivers, and he is hatred; i. e. e're long will be hatred in the sight of the people he deceived, they shall hate their false Prophets, who from the house of their God, by answers from the Idols in their Temples confirm d the people in their Rebellion, and hardned them against returning to God, which ends in their ruin, or else hatred, &c. i. e. cause of the peoples hatred against God, and one another..

They The People of the Ten Tribes, Prophets, Priests, Princes and People have deeply corrupted themselves have strangely, and horribly debauched one another; beside all their Idolatry there is more than brutish filthiness among them., as in the days of Gibeah The story whereof you have Iudg. 19.18.: therefore he God who hateth such workers of Iniquity. He will not pardon their iniquity, but charge it upon them; when God says he will not remember, 'tis a promise of pardon, when he threatens he will remember, 'tis a threat of not pardoning. will remember e their iniquity, he will visit their sins He will punish, see ver. 7. let. l..

I The Lord speaks of himself found Israel like grapes in the wilderness in the person of a Traveller, who unexpectedly in the wilderness findeth a Vine loaded with Grapes, which are most delightful and welcom to him; such Love did God bear to Israel, i. e. a very strong and hearty love; the simile expresseth the greatness, not the cause of the Divine Love.: I saw your fathers Not Abraham or Isaac, and Iacob, but your Fathers whom I brought out of Egypt. as the first ripe in the fig-tree at her first time As the earliest ripe Fruit, either of the Fig-tree as our Version, or the First-ripe of any sweet and delicious Fruit-Tree as the word will bear, which are most valued and desired; so was Israel dear and valued.: but they went to Baal-Peor This evinceth that the Prophet speaketh not of Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, but of those who were brought out of Egypt, as appears in the story of their deportment in Shittim, Numb. 25.1, 2, 3. where they committed Idolatry with Baal-peor, of whose rites Authors do variously discourse, some reporting them to have been practised with shameless looseness, as the rites of Bacchus, Venu or Priapus among the Romans; others say, this Idol of Moa his Name from a Mountain in Moab where he was worshipped, and had a stately and famous Temple; this Mountain is mentioned Numb. 22.41. with 23.28. and this is the more likely opinion., and separated They did consecrate, and dedicate themselves; themselves Possibly some turn'd Priests to the Idol, however, they addicted themselves to, and worshipt the Idol, and brought their Sacrifices. to that shame By way of contempt and detestation the Prophet speaks of this Idol, and gives it the name of shame in the abstract to express the greatest degree of detestation of it, and of that they did.; and their abominations Their Idols and way of worshipping them. were according as they loved Either as they fancied, or as the Idolatress Women whom they loved were multiplyed; so their Idols were, for they took the Idols with them..

As for Ephraim, their glory Their Children or posterity, which was as much the glory of Israel, as their multiplying was above the common rate of other Nations multiplying; it was to them a singular blessing, and performing of promise, and they did greatly rejoice, and glory in this blessing, Psal. 128. tot. Prov. 17.6. shall fly away like a bird 'Tis proverbial, and speaks a sudden and unexpected loss of Children, which vanish, and are gone as a Bird. Prov. 23.5. where suddain loss of riches is exprest in the same Proverb.; from the birth Shall die so soon as born., and from the womb Prove abortive, their Mothers shall not bring the Fruit of the womb to perfection, or alive into the World., and from the conception Through barrenness their Wives shall not conceive..

Though they bring up their children Or suppose neither of these but that their Children live, grow up, and come to some maturity, yet God provoked by their sins, will deprive them of their Children by Famine, or by Civil Wars which were long and bloody on each other; or by Pestilence, or by Captivity, and dispersing them among Enemies, to whom they shall be Slaves; and as Slaves beget Children not to themselves, but to their Masters., yet will I bereave them z, that there shall not be a man left There shall be a total extirpation of them, and their memory, or else I will cut them off from among men as the phrase will bear.: yea, wo also to them when I depart from them To complete their misery, I will leave them, I will depart from them. It is sad to lose Children, it is sadder to lose their God..

Ephraim Kingdom of Israel., as I saw Tyrus of which see Ezek. 26, 27. and 2. cap. a very rich, well fortified, and pleasant City, and secure too, that afterward held out thirteen years siege against all the Power of the Babylonian Empire in Nebuchadnezzars time., is planted in a pleasant place Is now well provided seems invincible, is as secure, as Tyr s was in her prosperity; perhaps reckons either strength shall break the Enemies, or money buy friends; or the magnificence and beauty of their places, and dwellings shall be some safety to them; but all this shall avail nothing.: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murtherer Though multitude of Children to send forth in mighty Armies against the Enemy, yet twill be but a sending them out to the slaughter; God is departed from them, and will not go out with their Armies, so they shall fall by the sword of the Enemy, as they needs must, whom God does not befriend in a War..

Give them O LORD It is an abrupt but very pathetical speech of one that shows his trouble for the state of a sinking, undon Nation, it is an intercession for them.: what wilt thou give As if he should say he knew not what to ask, or how to pray for them; he knew God had peremptorily determin'd to punish them with a total extermination, and in most dreadful manner, as describ'd ver. 11, 12, 13. Now give some mercy;? give them a miscarrying womb the days are coming when the barren womb will be a blessing; give this O Lord! 'tis less misery to have none, than to have all our Children murther'd by a barbarous Enemy. Luk. 23.29., and dry breasts Not to starve the Children born, but 'tis further explication of the former; dry Breasts are Symtoms of a barren womb, whether by Abortion, or non-Conception; by one or other: Prevent these woful Effects of our Enemies unjust rage, and of thy most righteous displeasure against us, O Lord. ·

All The chief, or summ, or beginning, it is not to be understood exclusive to other places, for every City was full, there was all kind of sin elsewhere. their wickedness In rejecting God and his Government; here Saul was made King, and Samuel was rejected. Here they begun to turn the remarkable Blessings God gave them in this place into a Superstitious and Hyp tical Veneration of the place, and began their Will Wors and Idolatries: If all the Impiety of Ephraim may be reduced to their horrible degeneracy and Corruption in State and Church, here it began, and so all was here. is in Gilgal Where Israel first pitched their Tents after they passed over Iordan, &c. Vid. cap. 15. let,.: for there I hated them As there they began to sin so notoriously, there also I began to show that I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings for the continued wickedness which from their first beginning there they have propagated to other places, and increased dayly, and with obstinacy., I will drive them out As men thrust out of their houses one that is altogether unworthy to dwell longer with them. of mine house By a Synechdoche, the House for Land, or out of their House, which tho' theirs for use, was yet Gods propriety, and when God casts Ephraim out of his House, he sends him into Captivity., I will love them no more I will cease to express any more love to thee, it is a Meiosis, I will add no more to love them, i. e. I will add to hate them, and punish them, I will leave them in the hand, and under the fury of their Enemies in a strange Land.: all their princes Their Kings, Rulers both Civil and Ecclesiastical. are revolters. Are and have been Idolaters ever since the Division in Ieroboam Son of Nebat, not one of their Kings but were Idolaters, and obstinate, and perverse in it also.

Ephraim is smitten This gives us some ghess at the time of this prophecie, which was after Ieroboam's Death, in whose Life, and Reign, Ephraim was as a very flourishing Tree, whose roots were full of Sap and Life; but after the Death of this King they were as here 'tis exprest a Tree smitten, as if scorcht with Lightning, or burnt up with a vehement and continued heat and drought by day; blasted they were, what ever was the means; or possibly it may refer to those Seditions, Civil Wars, and Rebellio s Conspiracies which (say some) did for some years afflict the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, which unnatural Wars were as an Ax to the Root of this Tree, and gave Pul King of Assyria opportunity and courage to set upon them, of whom they were forced to buy their peace at a dear rate, viz. a thousand Talents of silver; or to the captivating of Napthali, and taking many fortified Towns out of Pekah's hand by Tiglath Pileser, who came up to the rescue of Ahaz. 2 Kings cap. 15., their root is dried up This has dryed up the very Roots of this Tree; this blast from Heaven has not only scorcht the top oughs, but rended the very body of this Israeliti h Tree, and has spoiled its Roots; or Civil Wars first, and Foreign Wars next have cut up the Roots of this Tree, the strong and valiant young men, who were to perpetuate the life and beauty of this people., they shall bear no fruit As such a dead root cannot spring out; so these Ephraimites never shall spring forth, they shall ever be barren.: yea, though they bring forth Suppose they should yet bring forth, (such a supposition you meet with ver. 12. which see) they shall not grow to maturity and greatness., yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb Either by Diseases which are legibly from God's hand, or by the sword of one another, or of a Forreign Invader, if you do not enumerate all the wayes God will take; we are sure he will ake wayes enough to make good his own word, and slay their Beloved Children, those Children that were the more beloved, for that their Parents had either few, or else had lost some they had before..

My God No more thy God, O Ephraim, thou canst no more have hope on that account, but my God, says the Prophet, my God who has revealed his purpose to me, and who will accomplish it, who will make good the word I have spoken against you. will cast them away Your sins have been a weariness, a loathing to my God, and now as a vile, loathed, and wearisom thing is cast off by a man, so shall you be cast off from your God., because they did not hearken unto him Neither did hearken to God to prevent Apostacy, nor would ever after hearken to God at first to repent and turn to him like a wilful Adulteress, they would not keep faithful to their Husband, nor return to him when once departed from him.: and they shall be wanderers Have no City of their own, no setled dwelling place, as much suspected, hated, ill used, and punished as Vagabonds are in well-order'd Commonwealths, all which is fully come upon them. among the nations Gentiles were such the proud Circumcision did despise and hate; but now the sins of the circumcised shall bring them under as much contempt with the Nations; nay these proud Apostates from God, when cast off; and wanderers shall account it a favour to be admitted to incorporate with, and so to grow up Heathens among Heathens, as after long time they did..