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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 11:1-7

Here we find, I. God very gracious to Israel. They were a people for whom he had done more than for any people under heaven, and to whom he had given more, which they are here, I will not say upbraided with (for God gives, and upbraids not), but put in mind of, as an aggravation of their sin and an encouragement to repentance. 1. He had a kindness for them when they were young (Hos. 11:1): When Israel was a child then I loved him; when they first began to multiply into a nation in Egypt God... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 11:8-12

In these verses we have, I. God's wonderful backwardness to destroy Israel (Hos. 11:8, 9): How shall I give thee up? Here observe, 1. God's gracious debate within himself concerning Israel's case, a debate between justice and mercy, in which victory plainly inclines to mercy's side. Be astonished, O heavens! at this, and wonder, O earth! at the glory of God's goodness. Not that there are any such struggles in God as there are in us, or that he is ever fluctuating or unresolved; no, he is in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:5

He shall not return into the land of Egypt ,.... Ephraim or Israel, the ten tribes: and the Septuagint and Arabic versions express them by name, though they give a wrong sense of the words, rendering them, "and Ephraim dwelt in Egypt"; he did so indeed with the other tribes formerly; but here it is said he shall not go thither again to be a captive there, but shall go into bondage more severe than that in Egypt, even into captivity in Assyria: rather the sense is, they should not go thither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:6

And the sword shall abide on the cities ,.... Or "shall fall" F25 חלה "cedet", Calvin; "incidet", Schmidt; "irruet", Zanchius, Drusius, Liveleus. , and continue; meaning the sword of the Assyrians, whereby Ephraim should be brought into subjection to them, and the king of Assyria become king over them; his sword should be drawn, and rest upon them, not only on their chief city Samaria, besieged three years by him, but upon all their other cities, which would fall into his hands, with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:7

And my people are bent to backsliding from me ,.... There is a propensity in thorn to it, through prevailing corruption in them; they are inclined unto it, the bias of their minds is that way; they are bent upon it, and pertinaciously abide in it; nor will they be reclaimed from it, by all the means and methods made use of, even though they had been, and professed themselves to be the people of God. Some understand this, not of their backsliding and aversion from God; but either of his... read more

John Gill

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

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee , Israel ?.... That is, as usually interpreted, into the hand of the enemy, or unto wrath, ruin, and destruction; for, notwithstanding all the sins of this people before observed, and the punishment threatened to be inflicted on them, the Lord is pleased here, and in the following verses, to give some intimations of his goodness, grace, and mercy to them; not to the whole body of them, for they as such were given and delivered... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:9

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger ,.... That is, his wrath and fury to the uttermost; his people are deserving of his wrath as others, being by nature children of wrath as the rest; which they are sensible of under spiritual conviction, and therefore flee from it, where they may be safe: and though the Lord often chastises and afflicts them, yet not in wrath; or however but in a little wrath, as it seems to them; he does not stir up all his wrath, nor any in reality; all being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:10

They shall walk after the Lord ,.... That is, after the Messiah, who is Jehovah our righteousness; that Jehovah the Jews pierced, and now shall mourn at the sight of, being converted to him; for these are the chosen of God among that people, who in the latter day shall partake of the grace and favour before expressed, in consequence of which they shall be set a seeking the Lord their God, and David their King; and, finding him, shall follow after him, as sheep go after their shepherd, being... read more

John Gill

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

They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt ,.... They shall come from thence with fear and trembling; which may allude to the trembling of birds at the roaring of a lion, or to the trembling motion of their wings in flying; and denotes the swiftness of the motion of the Israelites and Jews to Christ, and to his church and people, and to their own land, under divine influence and direction: or "shall come with honour" F11 יחרדו "cum honore advenient", Schmidt. ; with all readiness and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 11:12

Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit ,.... Here properly we should begin a new chapter, as many interpreters and commentators do; for the prophet, or the Lord by him, in Hosea 11:11 , having finished his predictions concerning the call and conversion of the Israelites, and their return to their land, here begins a new discourse, by comparing the characters of Ephraim and Judah, and thence descends to the sins and punishment of both. The former, namely,... read more

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