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
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