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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 8:1-7

The reproofs and threatenings here are introduced with an order to the prophet to set the trumpet to his mouth (Hos. 8:1), thus to call a solemn assembly, that all might take notice of what he had to deliver and take warning by it. He must sound an alarm, must, in God's name, proclaim war with this rebellious nation. An enemy is coming with speed and fury to seize their land, and he must awaken them to expect it. Thus the prophet must do the part of a watchman, that was by sound of trumpet to... read more

Matthew Henry

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 8:7

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind ,.... The sense is, the Israelites took a great deal of pains in the idolatrous worship of the calves, and made a great stir, bustle, and noise in it, like the wind; were very vainglorious and ostentatious, made a great show of religion and devotion, and promised themselves great things from it, peace and plenty, wealth and riches, all prosperity and happiness, enjoyed by Heathen nations; but this was lost labour, it was... read more

John Gill

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

Israel is swallowed up ,.... Not only their substance, but their persons also, the whole nation of them, their whole estate, civil and ecclesiastic: it notes the utter destruction of them by the Assyrians, so that nothing of them and theirs remained; just as anyone is swallowed up and devoured by a breast of prey; the present is put for the future, because of the certainty of it: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure ; when Shalmaneser took Samaria,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:9

For they are gone up to Assyria ,.... Or, "though they should go up to Assyria" F7 כי המה עלו "quamvis, etiamsi ascenderint"; so Schmidt observes it may be rendered, though he chooses to render it by "quando", "when they should go up", &c.; ; to the king of Assyria, to gain his friendship, and enter into alliance with him; as, when Pal king of Assyria came against them, Menahem king of Israel went forth to meet him, and gave him a thousand talents of silver to be his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:10

Yea, though they have hired among the nations ,.... That is, lovers, as before; got into confederacies and alliances with the nations about them, thinking thereby to strengthen their hands, and secure themselves and their kingdom; particular regard may be had to the Egyptians, as distinct from the Assyrians, whom they privately engaged on their side to shake off the Assyrian yoke, or their obligation to send yearly presents to the Assyrian king: now will I gather them ; either the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:11

Because Ephraim hath, made many altars to sin ,.... Not with an intention to commit sin, but to offer sacrifice for sin, and make atonement for it, as they thought; but these altars being erected for the sake of idols, and sacrifices offered on them to them, they sinned in so doing, and were the cause of sin in others, who were drawn into it by their example; as they were made to sin, or drawn into it, by Jeroboam their king, These altars were those set up at Dan and Bethel, and in all high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:12

I have written to him the great things of my law ,.... Which was given by Moses to Israel at the appointment of God, in which were many commands, holy, just, and true; a multiplicity of them, as the Targum, relating to the honour of God, and the good of men; many excellent and useful ones of a moral nature, and others of a ceremonial kind; and particularly concerning sacrifices, showing what they should be, the nature and use of them, and where and on what altar they should be offered; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:13

They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings , and eat it ,.... Or, "as to the sacrifices mine offerings" or "gifts, they sacrifice flesh, and eat it" F15 זבחי הבהבי יזבחו בשר ויאכלו "quod attinet ad sacrificia donariorum meorum, sacrificant illi quidem carnem, et comedunt", Piscator, De Dieu; "quantum ad sacrificia", &c.; Schmidt. So Reinbeck. De Accent. Hebr. p. 445. ; these sacrifices, which, according to the law, should given to God when they... 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

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