Hosea 8:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 8:8-14

It was the honour and happiness of Israel that they had but one God to trust to and he all-sufficient in every strait, and but one God to serve, and he well worthy of all their devotions. But it was their sin, and folly, and shame, that they knew not when they were well off, that they forsook their own mercies for lying vanities; for, I. They multiplied their alliances (Hos. 8:9): They have hired lovers, or (as the margin reads it) they have hired loves. They were at great expense to purchase... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:14

For Israel hath forgotten his Maker ,.... The Creator and Preserver of everyone of them, and who had raised them up to a state and kingdom, and had made them great and rich, and populous, and bestowed many favours and blessings on them; and yet they forgot him, to give him glory, and to serve and worship him: and buildeth temples ; to idols, as the Targum adds; to the calves at Dan and Bethel, at which places, as there were altars set up, and priests appointed, so temples and houses of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 8:14

Israel hath forgotten his Maker - And therefore built temples to other gods. Judah had lost all confidence in the Divine protection, and therefore built many fenced cities. But the fire of God's anger burnt up both the temples and the fortified cities. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 8:14

Verse 14 Here the Prophet concludes his foregoing observations. It is indeed probable that he preached them at various times; but, as I have already said, the heads of the sermons which the Prophet delivered are collected in this book, so that we may know what his teaching was. He then discoursed daily on idolatry, on superstitions, and on the other corruptions which then prevailed among the people; he often repeated the same threatenings, but afterwards collected into certain chapters the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 8:5-14

Sin its own punishment. These verses exhibit But perhaps the most prominent thought in the passage is that of the self-punishing nature of sin, as illustrated in the early history and the later fortunes of Ephraim. We see this fact reflected— I. IN THE NATIONAL CALF - WORSHIP . ( Hosea 8:5-7 ) Samaria had "cast off good" ( Hosea 8:3 ) by departing from the pure ritual which Jehovah had prescribed; and therefore the "calf" which she had set up, and in which she gloried,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 8:11-14

Religion become sin Israel's holiest things became sin to them through their disregard of God's commandments. I. THE ALTAR BECOME SIN . ( Hosea 8:11 ) The law required that there should be but one altar, and that in the place where God had put his Name ( Deuteronomy 12:1-32 ). Ephraim disregarding this command, multiplied altars, and so committed sin. The worship at local altars was at most but tolerated in the days of the judges, of Samuel, and the early kings, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 8:13-14

For the sacrifice of mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not. The mention of altars naturally suggests that of sacrifices, and, as a matter of fact, with the multiplication of those altars they multiplied their sacrifices, so that the latter kept pace with the former, and a due proportionateness maintained between them. And yet, numerous as those sacrifices were, they were not real sacrifices; they were no more and no better than slaying so many... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 8:14

Israel and Judah both in the transgression. In this closing verse of the chapter God takes Judah to task as well as Israel for forgetfulness of God; while that forgetfulness of his Maker on the part of Israel manifested itself in idolatry, and so in building idol-temples, but on the part of Judah by carnal confidences, and so in multiplying fenced cities. The one set up idols m the place of God, the other confided in outward means of defense and safety instead of trusting in God; thus the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 8:14

The Maker forgotten. It is not an uncommon case that one who has received very substantial benefits from a fellow-man forgets his benefactor, and, when raised to a higher position in life, ignores those who by their exertions, sacrifices, and sympathy have contributed to his elevation. We deem such ingratitude reprehensible and almost monstrous. Yet how lightly do we regard those who are guilty of forgetfulness of their Creator and Redeemer! And yet this has been a common fault from the days... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 8:14

Neither the religion nor security of a nation to be judged by appearances. "For Israel bath forgotten," etc. The "temples" referred to here are the idolatrous temples which Israel had built after the models of those built by the Syro-phoenicians; and the "fenced cities" refers to those fortified places which they had erected against foreign invaders. The words imply that neither the temples nor the "fenced cities" were any proof either of their religion or their security. I. THE ... read more

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