Hosea 7:9-10

Hosea 7:9 calls attention to the blindness which prevented Israel from recognizing its helpless condition. He, Ephraim, knoweth it not Not only, he does not understand the significance of the calamity, but he is blind and in absolute ignorance concerning it.

Strangers have devoured his strength The foreign nations, instead of helping and strengthening, have sapped his resources. If the above-given interpretation is correct the reference cannot be primarily to territory lost in war, though this may not be excluded entirely (2 Kings 8:12; 2 Kings 10:32-33; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:7), but to the strength and resources lost by adopting foreign customs and entering into alliances with foreign nations. The introduction of foreign customs was accompanied by moral degradation. That immorality saps the strength of nations needs no proof. “Moral decay means political decay; sins… are the gangrene of nations.” That foreign alliances sapped the nation’s resources is definitely stated in 2 Kings 15:19-20; compare 2 Kings 16:7-8. Hosea may have had in mind the act of Menahem.

Gray hairs are here and there upon him Literally, are sprinkled upon him. The nation is personified as an individual passing through the various stages of life (compare Hosea 11:1; Isaiah 46:4). Gray hair is an indication of old age, of impending death and dissolution. To all this the nation is blind.

The connection of Hosea 7:10 with the preceding verse is obscure; perhaps it is unfortunate that the verse division was made where it now is, for Hosea 7:10 a closely connects with the preceding, while 10b gives expression to a new thought and logically connects more closely with Hosea 7:11.

The pride of Israel testifieth The proud and arrogant attitude toward Jehovah, manifesting itself in blindness (see on Hosea 5:5).

For all this Though apparently all resources are sapped, and the nation is rapidly approaching dissolution, they have not returned to Jehovah nor sought him who alone could heal and restore the lost strength (Amos 4:6 ff.; compare Isaiah 9:12 ff.). Instead Hosea 7:11 like a silly dove they sought help where not only no help could be found but where their hurt increased. Marti omits Hosea 7:10, but without sufficient reason. Silly dove without heart [“understanding”] The dove is celebrated for its simplicity and unsuspicious nature (Matthew 10:16). An Arabic proverb says, “There is nothing more simple than a dove.”

Egypt… Assyria To the action of a silly dove is likened the policy of Israel past and present. The point of comparison is the absence of any settled plan or fixed purpose. Now they appeal to the one, now to the other, without regard for possible dangers. The additional thought brought out by many commentators, “As a dove fleeing from a hawk is snared in the fowler’s net, so Ephraim when afraid of Assyria calls in the help of Egypt, and when afraid of Egypt appeals to Assyria,” is not contained in the text. Israel is seeking to escape, not from Assyria or from Egypt, but from its own helpless condition (Hosea 7:8-9); in this attempt it does not seek help from Jehovah (Hosea 7:10), but now from Egypt and now from Assyria (Hosea 7:11), as the Egyptian or the Assyrian party may predominate. 2 Kings 15:19, illustrates the pro-Assyrian policy; of the pro-Egyptian policy we have no indication in the historical books as early as the date of this prophecy, but compare 2 Kings 17:4, which speaks of events about a dozen years later.