The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 210

worship to Jeho,·a.h; or for the purpose of free'] nor helper for Israel . . . the Lord plunder in R sea.son of BCRrrity; or 11:encrl\lly . . . BRved them by the hond of Jeroboe.m 1heir R•~emhling- in knots a.nd crowds to the son of Joo.eh.'' Notwithst,mding all disc11ss anxiously a.nd lRment despairingly this, they (1) e.ct,ed tho p11rt of o.poeto.tes the distr,•ssed state of 1he country ;-their end rebels l\g&inst him : they devised mis- chier design Rnd highest aim beii;g a good chief ago.inst him by their idolatry whioh supply of Mrn and wine, that is, the supply denied him the Godhood glory which we.a of mere bodily wa.nts. (2) The LXX. seem hie due, and by thoir rebellion which e.imed to have r<'ad ,,,lri•\ as their rendering is at depr1ving him of his kin!!:ly power and Kan,-,1,vov-ro, equivalent to "they cut them- dignity. The reference of the la.et ola.use, scl,es," or" pined for corn and wine;" corre- (2) a.ccording to Ewa.Id, is to the treaties sponding to which rendering is Cyril's which Israel entered into with Assyria a.nd C'xposition : "As C'nthusiasts and fanatics Egypt for safety and defence; and (3) ac- mnking incisions with steel in their breasts cording to Kimchi, to Israel's false represen- nod both he.nds, nnd absurdly Rl! but shed- tations of the government a.nd providence ding in sacrifice their o= blood, perhaps to of Jehovo.h: "For they eo.y the good or 1'raven images." (3) Jerome, ta.king the verb evil does not come to them from me, but is from -;-,,, to ruminate. translates accordingly: purely accidental." With respect to ii,,, it "supertriticum et ,inum ruminabant." (4) must be borne in mind tha.t, like r,i•, it he.e The Syria.a, trncing it to in, to be afraid, two meanings, viz. the cha.stieement of pun- translates: "They feared (or, were fearfully ishment (rco.\acru) and the cha.etisement of anxious) a.bout Mrn and wine." The com- love (1ra16•la). mon reading nnd rendering are clearly pre- Ver. 16.-They return, but not t.o the Most ferable; Kimchi's exposition is in harmony Righ. Thie verse is closely connected in therewith: "When corn or new wine comes sense with the preceding. Their God-defying into the city for sale, they a.11 assemble at (or, attitude, e.s described in ver. 15, ie repre- round) it on account of the famine which is sented in ver. 16 allegorioa.lly as a deceitful in the city ; and yet they fall a.way from bow, which fails to send the e.rrow to the me." The construction of the last clause is ma.rk; a.lso their unsucoees is represented pregnant, tha.t is (1) "they turn aside (a.nd as exposing them to the derision of Egypt ; tum) against me." Here.a.gain (2) the LXX. while the princes who epa.ke so exceeding seem to have read 1"11;)?, to which their trans- proudly, and who instigated their ungod- lation, /.,,.culi,i,e,,,crCU1 •l., l/Lol, eqnivalent to lfoess and consequent wretchedness, would " they were inetrncted by me," corresponds. be slain with the sword. Thie is the drift of the whole verse; its details, however, Ver. 15.-Though I have bolllld (margin, demand more particular consideration. I. chastenea) e.nd strengthened their e.rme, yet do they imagine mischief e.gainst me. The The word S)/ ie by some identified in mean- first clause of this verse ie more accurately ing with (1) the adjective Ji'7P,, equivalent translated BB follows : And yet I ha11e to "the Most High;" by others (2) it is instrudell, ha11e strengthened their arms. taken adverbially,a.nd tranela.ted "upwards." Here we have another instance of God's (3) The Septuagint does not express it, gooduees a.nd Israel'• ingratitude. He had translating a.1mnp&<1>11crav t/s o~B,v, "They done much for them, e.nd would fain have turned aside to that which is not [litera.lly, done more ; and yet the return they made 'nothing']." (4) Jerome translates it a.s if was devising mischief against him. The ',ji, were equivalent to "yoke:" "They re- arms e.re the see.t and symbol of strength, turne<l that they might be without a yoke." as the he.nde e.nd fingers symbolize skill; Their return, according to Jerome, would be thw,, in refer,-nce to the latter the psalmist to their pristine condition before the call of se.ys, "Blesoed be tl,e Lord my Strength, Abram, like the other nations, without yoke which teacheth my be.ode to war, and my or knowledge of law. 2. The return spoken fingers to fight;" a.nd with regard to the of implies that there were junctures at former he says, "He teacheth my hands to which they seemed disposed to return to war, so iha.t a bow of steel ie broken by religiousness, but ere long they a.gain re- mine e.rms." Two benefits are here included lapsed into idolatry. They disappointed in the prophet's enumeration. He instructed the high hopes raised, e.nd missed their own the arrue, by which is meant that he showed high destiny, and thus they resembled e. them how a.nd where to get etrenip;h. But bow, of which the string, losing its elasticity, thiB wu not all; he not only directed to could not propel the arrow to the objed the source, e.nd te.ught the secret of ac- e.imed at. Appearing to return to the wor- quiring strength, he actually supplied ship of Jebova.b, they turned oeide to an strength, thereby giving them power to con- idol. Thus in Ps. l.u:viii. 57, they "turne,l tend age.iDl!t e.nd conquer their enemies. back a.nd dealt unfaithfully like their At a. time when "there waa not e.ny shut fa.there : they were turned a11ide like e. ·,p, nor a.ny left [1hat is,• neither bond nor deceitful bow." OH, VU. 1-16,] THE BOOK OF HOSEA..