Hosea 7:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 7:8-16

Having seen how vicious and corrupt the court was, we now come to enquire how it is with the country, and we find that to be no better; and no marvel if the distemper that has so seized the head affect the whole body, so that there is no soundness in it; the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, as well as the sin of Samaria, of the people as well as the princes, of which here are divers instances. I. They were not peculiar and entire for God, as they should have been, Hos. 7:8. 1. They did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 7:9

Strangers have devoured his strength ,.... Or his substance, as the Targum; his wealth and riches, fortresses and strong holds: these strangers were either the Syrians, who, in the times of Jehoahaz, destroyed Ephraim or the Israelites, and so weakened them, as to make them like the dust by threshing, 2 Kings 12:7 ; or the Assyrians, first under Pul king of Assyria, who came out against Menahem king of Israel, and exacted a tribute of a thousand talents of silver, and so drained them of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 7:9

Gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not - The kingdom is grown old in iniquity; the time of their captivity is at hand, and they are apprehensive of no danger. They are in the state of a silly old man, who through age and infirmities is become nearly bald, and the few remaining hairs on his head are quite gray. But he does not consider his latter end; is making no provision for that eternity on the brink of which he is constantly standing; does not apply to the sovereign... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 7:9

Verse 9 The Prophet follows the same subject, that is, that Israel had not repented, though the Lord had in various ways invited them to repentance; yea, and constrained them by his scourges. It is indeed a proof of desperate and incurable wickedness, when God prevails nothing with us either by his word or by his stripes. When we are deaf to his teaching and admonitions, it is quite evident that we are wholly perverse: but when the Lord also raises up his hand and inflicts punishment, if then... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:8-9

Sad aspects of character. "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, grey hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not." The primary application of these words to Ephraim is obvious from the context, anti from the history of Israel at the time. We shall use them as indicating certain bad aspects of human character. I. WRONG COMPANIONSHIP . "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:8-10

Mixing with the ungodly. "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people "—had adopted heathenish ways, had sot at naught the command of God requiring separation from the ungodly, had intimately associated himself with the idolatrous nations around. The mixing, as Keil well points out, was an inward one before it became an outward one. There is first a mixing in the heart with the spirit of the world, then comes outward worldly conformity. It is this which Christians have constantly to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:8-11

The silly sinful pride and obduracy of Israel, in spite of many manifest tokens of decay, or their disastrous foreign policy. The prophet had described the corruption; he now turns to the state of the country. From the iniquity of the princes he descends to the sin of the people. The figure of baking is still present to the prophet, as is evident from the metaphor of a cake. I. THE INCONSISTENCY AND WORTHLESSNESS OF DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE . God had intended to separate Israel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:9

Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not. Israel's intercourse with other nationalities could not but issue in disaster; a specimen of that disaster is here given. As the Greeks called all who did not speak the Greek language, whether they were savage or civilized, barbarians, so Israel called all foreigners, whether near or far off, strangers. The foreign nations here meant were those with which Israel had entered into treaties or formed alliances, in contravention of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:9

Grey hairs. In Scripture these are sometimes associated with sentiments of honor and reverence, for they suggest the thought of ripe wisdom and venerable piety (Le 19:32; Proverbs 16:31 ). Here, however, they are viewed simply as premonitions of old age, and of an old age, besides, that was premature. There is a lesson in our text, taking it even in its most literal sense. The believer's first grey hairs should remind him that the grace of God will enable him to "grow old gracefully." Bat... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 7:9

The unperceived signs of moral decay. This chapter is occupied with a denunciation of the sins of the princes and chief men in Israel, who are designated (in Hosea 7:1 ) by "Ephraim," the principal tribe, and "Samaria," the principal city. Such men are ever most condemned in Scripture, because they have A godless lad who has been brought up under Christian influence, and has seen the Christian life represented in his home, is more deserving of condemnation than the waif thrown up by the... read more

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