The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 202

bftel We me.y, with eome, underste.nd this Ver. 2.-.lnd they ooneider not in their bee.Jing of those (1) prophetic e.dmonitions hearts (margin, eay not to their heart) that I and rebukes by whioh God designe,l to remember all their wickedness. Between oure the transgressions e.nd heal the b1tck- the oommon reading libravlten and bilravken •lidings of his people. (2) It is more pro- found iu several manusoripte by Kmnioott be hie, however, the.t the refer,,noe is to the e.nd De Rossi, tllnre is a not unimportant dif- partial restoration of the nntional prosperity ference. The latter, equivalent to saying "in m the d1tys of Jeroboam II., who "restored tlleir heart," which is the ueu11l expression, the coast of Israel from the entering of denotes one's inward thoughts or reasoninge Hamath nnto the sea of the pie.in." (3) with himself; the former, equivalent to say- Jerome's exposition is nnt so nature.I when ing "to their heart," is an address to, or re• he savs, "The sense is: When I wished to monstrance with, the heart with the view ot blot out the old sins of my people, on restraining its evil purposes. God's remem- account of ancient idolat.ry, Ephraim and brance of wiokedness imports its punishment. Se.maria discovered new idols; " the old Now their own doings have beset them about. Bin, and anoient idolatry he refers to the Their doings (l) he.ve become evident or making e.nd worshipping of the golden calf conspicuous as a robe or garment with in the wilderness, while the new idols were which a man is surrounded, or e. troop of the ea.If-worship whir.h Jeroboam of the body-guards plaoed about him. Or (2) the tribe of Ephraim instituted, and the people terrors and penal oonseq uences of their sine of the capital, Samaria, e.dopted. When ha.ve surrounded them like e. garment, as God would heal, or as often as he proceeded we eleewllere ree.d, "He clothed himself to heal, Israel, the evils broke out afresh, or with cursing like a.a with hie garment." In CID\e more fully to light, just like a wonnd this latter sense the figure is rather ta.ken the liangeroue nature of which is disoovered from enemies besieging o, town or city, e.nd by the surgeon's probe in the effort to heal beleaguering it closely all around, or from it. Then the iniquity of Ephraim was dia- lictors, i.e. officers of the law surrounding oovered, and the wickedness of Samaria. them, or even witnesses confronting them The sin of the northern kingdom manifested on every side. Kimchi exple.ins the sense itself in high qnarters-in tbe premier tribe as follows: "Now their evil deeds surround of Israel, and in the capital city of Samaria.. them, which were before my face and were "Because," savs Aben Ezra, in hie comment, not hidden from me; and, while they receive "they ea.id, He bath torn, and he will heal tile punishment, they will rewember the.t I ns, he says, When I was disposed to heal know all the whole, o.nd that it is I who them, the wickedness concealed in their return their reward upon their head." They heart stood before my face, which they are before my face, in the last clause, ho.a e. have not left off' until the present time, for striking e.nd awe-inspiring parallel in the they practise falsehood; by night Uiey steal, ninetieth pee.Im: " Thou hast set our ini- and by day troops (of bandits) spread them- quities before thee, our secret sins in the selves outside the cities." Similarly, :Re.shi light of thy countenance." Aben Ezre.'e ex• explainB : " When I was willing to he! p position is somewhat obscure; it is as follows: and to heal them, their iniquities manifested "They tllink that I do not see them, and themsel vee before me, for tlley practised they do not observe that their actions lying constantly; while thieves of their encircle them, as they are before my face," number entered in continnally, and stole Ver. 3.-They make the king glad with the wee.Ith of their companions, e.nd even their wickedness, and the princes with their their gangs spree.d themsel "ee for robberies lies. T!Je moral corruption and depravity to rob men." For they oom.mit fe.laehood ; of Israel were extreme and universal. 'fhey e.nd the thief oometh in, and the troop of reached from the rabble to royalty, from the robbers spoileth (margin, strippeth) without, oommon people t.o the princes of the court. Here follows e.n enumeration of the crimes The king and princes were in full accord of which they were guilty. There was with follows of the basest sort, taking falsehood, or fraud, or deception generally, pleasure fo tueir wickedness nnd applauding and that, not only in words, but in works; their lies. (1) Rosenmiiller quotes the ex- llt:Xt comes dishonesty, both in public and planation of Abarbanel to the following in private. The thief privately entered the purport: "He (the prophet) means to say honses, e.nd committed burglary; gangs of that the violent men of that age were ao• highwaymen publicly infested the roe.de, cuetomed to narrate their atrocities to their spoiling the passers-by, or rather roamed or kings, that the latter might thence derive spread themseh•es abroe.d for plunder, since entertainment." It is much the same it is the causative conjugation of pasl,,at whetller the king and princes of that time tha~ _has the signification of stripping or took plea.sure in the villaniee which were spo1hog otbers. The thief witJiin, the perpetrated, or in the narratives of thocu rol,ber roba without. vilLui ie,, to which they listened. (.2) A  OIL VII, 1-16,] 'l'HE BOOK OF HOSEA. 201