The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 100

EXPOSITION. hid themselves from the face of the mul- CHAPTER IV. titude who were wicked." Troth and mercy Ver. 1.-A new e.nd distinct division of are e.t once Divine attributes and human the book commences with this fourth chl!.pter virtues; it is in the latter sense, of C01ll'S8, e.nd continues till the close. What he.d pre- that they a.re here employed. Truth in- viously been presented in :figure and symbol cludes works as well 89 words, doing as is now plainly e.nd literally ste.ted. The well ns saying; it implies uprightness in children of Israel e.re summoned in the first speech and behe.violll'-thorough integrity verse of this che.pter to hear the charge of character e.nd conduct. Mercy goes be- preferred a.go.inst them e.nd the sentence yond and supplements this. We sometimes pronounced.· Having, convened, 89 it were, say of suoh a one that he is an honest but a public assembly llnd cited the persons e. hard me.n. Mercy combined with truth, concerned, the prophet proceeds to show on the contrary, mu.Ires a man kind as well cause why they e.re bound to give an atten- as honest, be□evolent as well as upright. tive hearing. In God's controversy with In a somewhat similar sense the apostle the people of the land the prophet acts e.s conjoins goodness and righteousness when his e.mbaseador, accusing the people of great he says, "Scarcely for a righteous man will e.nd grievous sins, e.nd vindicating the justice one die: yet peradventure for a good man of God's judgments in their punishment. some would even dare to die." The know- The ki with which the le.at cle.use of the ledge of God is the ree.l root of these two verse commences· may be either causal or virtues of truth and mercy. If we know recitative, and may thus specify either the God as he is in himself and e.s he stands in ground or subject of controversy. It is his relations to us, we shall conform our commonly understood here in the former conduct to his character and onr actions to sense. lsre.el is charged with want of truth, his will. If we know God to be e. God of meroy, e.nd the knowledge of God. Kimchi truth,-who delighteth in truth in the inw1ml comments on this controversy· as follows: parts, we shall cultivate truth in our hearts, "With the inhabitants of the land of Israel express it with our lips, a□d practise it in I have e. controversy, for I gave them the our lives. If we know God as a God of le.nd on the condition that they should mercy, who has shown such boundless mercy exercise righteousness e.nd judgment, aud to us in pardoning our multiplied and aggra- on this condition I pledged myself to them vated offences, we shall imitate that mercy thRt my eyes would be upon them from the in our relations to our fellow-man; nor shall beginning of the year to the end of the we enact the part of the merciless man in year. But sinoe they practise the opposite the parable, who owed his lord ten thousand -cursing, lying, etc.-I also will aot with talents, and who, having nothing to pay, them in e. we.y contrary to what I assured was freely forgiven the debt; but finding hi~ them, and will hide my face from them." fellow-serve.nt, who owed him only an hun- He adds, "There were some righteous dred pence, laid hands on him and took him among them, but they were few, and they by the throat, se.ying, " Pe.y me tha.t tho 1 HOSEA, H  98 THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [en. 1v. 1-10.