tion. In p11rtic11lnr, his new relation to Gomer foreshadowed: I. Jsrrul's lnng seclrision. (Ver. 4.) Although the primary reference of the passage is to the ten tribe~, the prophecy really embraces the whole Hebrew nation. God has not utterly rejected Israel; she is still "a people near unto him;" but he does not meantime dwell with her ns of old. The specific features of her seclusion are noted in the six "withouts" of the verse, and these arrange themselves naturally into three pa.ire. The whole representa- tion etrik)ngly describes what hae been t~e actu~l condi_tion of the Jewish nation during the last eighteen hundred years. (1) Without cwi'l polity. It had been a passion with Israel to have a king. But within three generations after the Lord gave Hosea this oracle, the ten northern tribes were "without a king, and without a prince." And when at last " Shiloh " Game, "the sceptre " finally "departed from Judah" also, That was a memorable day on which the spiritual leaders of the nation professed so empha- tically their willing subjection to the world-power: "We have no king but Cresar" (John xix.15); but during all the subsequent centuries Jerusalem has" sat solitary," and" is become as a widow." (2) Without temple service. The temple was the centrn of the Hebrew religious system. When it was destroyed the Mosaic ritual collapsecl. Such worship as the Jews now offer is conducted" with maimed rites." How sad that they should be" without a sacrifice" I Sacrifice was the very soul of the Hebrew worshiµ. Every sinner needs a sacrifice of atonement before he can stand in God's gracionH presence; but the poor Jew, who still clings to the old covenant, has none. It follows that he is also" without an ephod." The ephod was part of the dress of the hig\1 priest. In the breast of it were the Urim and Tbummim, by which Jehovah ga,·c responses. But now, alas! to the Jew "the oracles are dumb." He has no altar, no priest, no access! (3) Without gross idolatry. In Hosea's time tbe nation was attempt- ing to combine the worship of Jehovah and of the Baalim; but the Lord tells him that for "many days" the people shall be without any god, true or false. They shall be "without an image," i.e. any public monument of idolatry such as the two golden calves were. And " without teraphim," i. e. those portable household gods which were sometimes kept as tutelary deities, and worshipped as the givers of earthly prosperity. It is a fact that ever since the Assyrian exile the Hebrew nation have not been able to endure any gross idolatry, Tbey doubtless break the first commandment after the more refined fashion of civilized peoples; many Jews, e.g., are money-lovers, and "covetousness is idolatry." But they have been at least free from the guilt of setting up" an image" or of worshipping" teraphim." Israel was to" abide many days" in this long seclusion; and it has already lasted for two millenniums. During all that period the Jewish nation has been the miracle or history. Its situation since Christ came is one of the most convincing of the external evidences of Christianity. And that situation shall continue until Messiah, the Prince of the house of David, shall assemble all the children of Jacob under his spiritual sceptre. 2. Israel's final restoration. (Ver. 5.) 'l'his is to take place "afterward "-" in the latter days," i. e. in go~pel times, and as one of" the last things" or the Christian dispensation. Both Jewish uud Christian commentators understand by "the latter days" the Messianic economy, which was to be ushered in by the advent of the Messiah himself. The restoration shall be characterized by: (1) Religious earnestness. They shall "seek Jehovah their God," and make the most assiduous efforts to find him. The Jews as a nation are not yet doing this. It is true, doubtless, that there are many devout families among them- many who cherish the deep piety which Sir Walter Scott has expressed so beautifully in his "Hymn of the Hebrew Maid," in' Ivanhoe.' But among the cultured Jews much scepticism prevails. Many are pantheists, like the eminent Jew Spinoza. Allll among the mercantile Jews there is often an excessive devotion to wealth, together with indifference to all religion. "In the latter days," however, the Hebrew nation shall diligently "seek Jehovah their God." (2) Loyalty to King Jes'U8. 'l'hey shail resume also the allegiance to the royal line of David which the ten tribes renounced when they apostatized from Jehovah under Jeroboam I. The Jewish rabbis them- selves acknowledge that "Davhl" in this verse means the Messiah. But Christendom i8 persuaded that he began to reign eighteen hundred years ago, and that he is reigning still. Jesus of Nazareth is" the Root and the Branch of David.'' His birth Gabriel announced beforehand to his mother (Luke i. 32, 33); and Israel, 11t the time of her 1·eRt.or11tiou, aha.11 accept that angelic oracle and rejoice in it. (3) Holy reveren.ce for her THE BOOK OF llOSEA. [ce.·m, 1-6.
Divine Hwband. Israel "shAII fear Jehovah and his goodness." She shall have such a grateful remembrance of bis loving-kindness in forgiving her adultery as ehnll constrnin lwr to t.lie most ,i!(ilant obedience.. "In the latter days" her ~ee.rt ehe.11 say "Amen" 10 the de,·ont sentiment of the ancient psalm, "'l'hero is forgiveness with thee, that ~hou mayest be feared" {Ps. ~xio,. ~~· She s~all ~nd that to know the Lord (eh. ii. ~O) and to partake of"' }us goodness are blessmgs msr.parable from ea.eh other. Coi-cLFSIO~. The threatened isolation of Israel has· been abuude.n\ly .fulfilled• e.nd shall noL also the ,promised restoration? If ver:.4 has. a.!ready become 1µat·t~of hi~tory, and so nry marvellously, may we not expect that ver. 5 ~hall also, in the' ~\i's time? We are sure that it shall. Jehovah'spromisemustbe'fullilled. ''Ohthat't esalve.tion of Israel were come out of Zion! "-C. J. ,,,, r: