The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 45

EXPOSITION. ent generations to the children of whoredoms. CHAP'fER IL Before them the prophet says, 'Plead with Ver. 1.-(Sce p. [).) yow.- mother"' (Ki.mchi). Adultery per se Ver. 2.-Plea.d with your mother,ploa.d: for is a virtual dissolution of the ma.rriage-tie ; she is not my wife, neither am I her husband, idolo.try is spiritual adultery; the close and In this second chapter the same cycle of tender relationship into which God ha.a events recurs a.s in the first, with this differ- graciously condescended to take Israel is ence, that what is expressed by symbol in rendered null and void, and that through the one is simply narrated in the other. Israel's own fault. God threatens the re- 'fhe cycle is the common one of sin : its nunciation of it, unless perchance the plead- usual consequences of suffering and sorrow; ing of the still faithful children might reeall then succour and sympathy in case of re- the erring mother to penitence and purity. pentance. The persons addressed in the A case the converse of t!Jis is that presented verse before us a.re those individu11ls in in Isa, 1 1, where the mother's divorce is Israel who had still retained their integrity, attributed to the unfaithlillness of the and who, notwithstanding surrounding de- children. "Where," asks the Lord in that fection and abounding ungodliness, had passage, "is the bill of your mother's di- continued steadfast in their' loyalty and love vorcement, whom I have put away? ... for to the Lord. They might tbe few in number, your transgressions is your mother put widely sc11ttered, perhaps unknown to each away." Ki before the second clause is other, and of comparatively little uote; yet either recitative, introducing the words of they are here ca.lled on to raise their voice pleading, or assigns a. reason; the latter in solemn warning and earnest protest seems preferable. Let her therefore put against the national defection a.ud wicked- a.way her whoredome out of her sight, and Jless. "The congregation in its totality, her adulteries from between her breasts. er whole people taken conjointly, is com- The word 111ippaneyha is rother to be ren- p11red to the mother, but individua.l mem- dered "from her face" than ·• out of her bers to the children, and the sense is that sight." The expression is to be taken they are to ple11d with ea.eh other to bring literally,a.s the word" breasts" in the parallel them back to the way of goodness" (Kim- clause proves. 'l'hus Kimchi rightly ex- chi). 'fhe nation a.s such, and in its im- plains it, saying, " Since he compares her piety, is the mother ; the pious persons still to e. harlot, he attributes to her the ways of fouucl iu it a.re here required to testify harlots ; for the harlot's way is to adoru her for God both by exhortation and example. face with various kinds of colours, that she "Tho congreg11tion of Isrnel is compared to m11y appear fair in the eyes of her par- an adulteress, and the children of tht- r!iffer- amours," Buth1 addition to ornaments such  4'.l THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [ CH. U. 1-23,