COMMENTARY.

(25) The first part of the general conclusion, contained in the 24th verse, is, that the Gentiles are eligible to the blessings of Christ's king- dom. This the apostle confirms by two passages from the prophecies of Hosea, which express the general sentiment that those who, under the old economy, were not regarded as the people of God, should here- after (i. e. under the Messiah) become his people. The first passage cited is from' Hos. 2 : 23, which in our version is, " I will have mercy on her that had not obtained mercy ; and I will say to them which were not my people, thou art my people." The Hebrew, however, admits of the rendering given by the apostle, as the word translated to have mercy may signify to love. The difficulty with regard to this passage is, that in Hosea it evidently has reference not to the heathen, but to the ten