= I. Author. HOSEA, Deliverance, safety, son of Beeri (i. 1), not Reerah (1 Ch. v. 6). Prob. an Israelite, as (1) his predics. have most to do with Israel; and (2) his rough Aramaising diction sug. the N. as his residence. II. Time. 784-723 B.C. III. Theme. The sins of the people, committed ag. mercy and privilege, are denounced in strong language; and judgment is threatened against them. Judah is to take warning by her sister's fall; and promises of forgiveness to the returning backslider, with predictions of future blessing, to have their accomplishment in Messianic times, are given and enforced." Style. "The language of Hos. is to us peculiarly difficult. His style is concise and abrupt, abounding with figs. and metaphors, wh. are often much intermixed; and the transitions fr. one subject and fig. to another are frequent and sudden. The particular occasions on which his prophecies were delivered are in themselves rarely obvious, and are never specified by the author. Some parts of them, however, are peculiarly pathetic, animated, and sublime" (Angus). Additional note.-The book opens with what has generally been supposed to be an allegorical representation of the infidelity of the Prophet's wife, who bears him three children, with symbolical names, significant of God's judg ment upon the house of Jehu and the kingdom of Israel. The whole represents the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel to the covenant (chap. i., ii.) The rest of the book contains severe rebukes, interspersed with affecting invitations to repentance. The Christian subject is not prominent in Hosea; he alludes, however, to the calling of Christ from Egypt (xi. 1), and celebrates in sublime strains the triumph of the Redeemer and His people over the grave (xiii. 14: comp. 1 Cor. xv. 55). The narrative of Hosea's marriage we (Angus) have described as symbolical. Some (Augustine, Grotius, Hosley) regard it as literal history; others suppose that a marriage with an Israelitish woman is all that is intended; but most (Jerome, Rossenm., Lowth, Hengs.) regard it as an allegory only, or as a vision. It may be added, that the narrative exactness of the whole, and the use of names, are as consistent with the supposition that it is a parable or a vision, as with the supposition that it is a real occurrence which is described (Ez. xxiii.; Luke xvi. 20-31). CHAPTER THE FIRST. 1. 1. word, etc., the common formula for prophetic inspiration.a a Comp. Joel i. 1; Hosea, the name means deliverance, safety. He was prob. an Mic. i. 1; Zep. i. Israelite. "His rough Aramaising diction indicates the north as his residence." Beeri, an unknown name, not the same as Beerah in 1 Chr. v. 6. Uzziah, etc., 2 Chr. xxvi. 1, etc. Jeroboam, the second, in whose reign the kingdom of the Ten Tribes rose to the highest pitch of prosperity. After Jeroboam a period of anarchy ensued. Scripture, kings, and truth (v. 1). This verse leads us to consider them. I. The essence of Scripture. 1. It is a word; 2. A Divine word; 3. Concerning men; 4. A Divine word concerning man coming through man. II. The mortality of kings, kings die. 1. This fact is a blessing; 2. A lesson. III. The perpetuity of truth. 1. Adapted to all generations; 2. Is necessary for all generations.d "He prophesied before the captivity of the ten tribes, to whom he chiefly directs his prophecy, and threatens them with ૧. sudden for destruction their great and them."-Lowth. to a Dr. Thomas. most eloquent tattle about our The prophecies of Hosca.-The prophecies of Hosea were addressed immediately to the kingdom of the Ten Tribes, yet so that he did not overlook Judah; for he considered the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel as constituting together the covenant people of God. Of his personal history we know nothing, except that he was the son of Beeri, for the transactions of the first three chapters may be best understood as symbolic acts seen only in vision. For anything that appears to the contrary, he small coterie, to was of Israelitish descent. As it is generally agreed that Isaiah fill other persons' began to prophesy in the last year of Uzziah's reign, or but a few mouths with silly years before his death, while Hosea prophesied in the reign of selves, seems to Jeroboam II., the great-grandson of Jehu, who died about twenty- be the ambition six years before Uzziah, it follows that Hosea, though partly of most of us. To contemporary with Isaiah, was called to the prophetic work at an spend the day listlessly in lookearlier period. If we suppose him to have commenced prophesy-ing for some new ing two years before the death of Jeroboam, and then add the remaining twenty-six years of Uzziah's reign, the sixteen of Jotham, the sixteen of Ahaz, and two of the first years of Hezekiah, we shall have a period of sixty-two years. To Israel this was a calamitous period, embracing four usurpations and murders of the reigning sovereigns, and three invasions of the Assyrians. In the last of these Hosea, king of Israel, became tributary to Shalmaneser, king of Assyria; but he proved unfaithful to his master, and sought the alliance of So, king of Egypt. For this the Assyrian king besieged him in Samaria, and after a siege of three years took him with the city, and put an end to the kingdom of Israel in the fifth year of Hezekiah, king of Judah. Hosea seems to have closed his writings when Hoshea was seeking the help of Egypt, while he had, at the same time, a covenant with Assyria, consequently somewhere early ine Dr. Burrows. Hezekiah's reign. excitement, and the night as frivolously in that excitement, to keep up fictitious distinctions, and friends and companions from those people who are well off and rather than those who are clever, good, and great, to select our well known, seems to be the rule of most people. with 2, 3. (2) beginning.. Hosea, better, "the beginning of a "The phrase the Lord's talking with Hosea." a wife.. whoredoms, i.c. one who will be faithless to thee, and so represent the Israelitish nation as unfaithful to God. Whoredom is the Bible figure for spake Hosea' in the what peculiar: Heb. is some denote the internal converse it seems to the sin of idolatry. (3) Gomer, lit. "Completion, daughter of grape-cakes;" prob. meaning "one completely given up to sensuality." Perfect wife. which the Divine Spirit held with one who was intended to impart the communications he received to others."-Spk. Com. b Poss. not externally acted, but internally, and in vision, as a pictorial illus. of Israel's faithfulness." Hengstenberg. c Fausset. d Tennyson. un a "No child in the E. receives more than one name at its birth, and this name is generally given Eyes not down-dropp'd, nor over bright, but fed Madonna-wise, on either side her head; A hate of gossip parlance, and of sway, 4, 5. (4) Jezreel," after the place where Ahab and Jezebel had committed their crimes. The word means, "God will scatter." avenge, visit in judgment. house, or dynasty, see 2 Ki. xv. 12. cease the kingdom, it lasted only some forty or fifty in accordance years after the overthrow of Jehu's house. (5) that day, or with some par- season. bow, the chief weapon of the warrior in those days, ticular circum- and the symbol of power. valley of Jezreel, or plain of stance existing Esdraelon. at the time.". Gadsby. a "The birth Retribution (v. 5).-I. God's retribution takes away the power of its victim. II. God's retribution despises the prestige of its victim. III. God's retribution defies the opposition of its victim." Responsibility of the eare of children.-It is a very solemn and serious matter for you to be entrusted with the care of God's little children. One would think, to see the mating that goes on in society-and it is a beautiful thing in its way-that butterflies were let loose, so light and gay and happy are the hearts that sail together and play around each other. One would think, to hear the cheerful congratulations that accompany the putting out of a young life in the family state, that there was no responsibility connected with the event. And when there begin to be "angels unawares coming into the household, one after another, how joyous it is! And the silver cups and little congratulatory notes are plenty. But how few there are who feel that, from the time the door of life opens, and a child is born, God has drawn His hand out from near to His own heart and lent something of Himself to the parent, and said, "Keep it till I come; take this, My own child, and educate it for Me, and bring it to heaven, and let its improving and its profiting appear when ye and it stand together in the last day." It is a very solemn thing to have a family, and to have children, of which you are not the parent, but only the guardian and the guide, and in some sense the saviour. 6,7. (6) Lo-ruhamah, meaning, "Not pitied, not favoured." and naming of "Israel forfeited God's love and pity by unfaithfulness to Him." this child mark a utterly.. away, so that they should never be restored again as a nation. (7) mercy, in prolonging her day of grace, and restoring her as a nation. by the Lord, by special Divine inter further phase of northern the kingdom: it is vention, not by mere human instrumentalities. battle, or resources of the warrior. Ref. may in part be to the overthrow of Sennacherib, in part to the restoration from Babylon; both being miraculous interventions. The vanity of positive philosophy (v. 7).-Here we learn-1. That all human and material succours are alone and by themselves inadequate; 2. That Divine succours are alone and by themselves adequate; 3. That in all cases such Divine succours are therefore to be solely trusted." 8, 9. (8) weaned, in the E. children are usually nursed by the mother for nearly three years.a (9) Lo-ammi, meaning, "not my people." Little children.-"I am fond of children. I think them the poetry of the world, the fresh flowers of our hearts and homes; little conjurers, with their 'natural magic,' evoking by their spells what delights and enriches all ranks, and equalises the different classes of society. Often as they bring with them anxieties and cares, and live to occasion sorrow and grief, we should get along very badly without them. Only think if there never were anything anywhere but grown-up men and women, how we should long for the sight of a little child! Every infant comes into the world like a delighted prophet, the harbinger and herald of good tidings, whose office it is to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and to draw the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.' A child softens and purifies the heart, warming and melting it by its gentle presence; enriches the soul by new feelings, awakens in it what is favourable to virtue. It is a beam of light, a fountain of love, a teacher whose lessons few can resist. Infants recall us from much that endangers and encourages selfishness, and freezes the affections, roughens the manners, indurates the heart; they brighten the home, deepen love, invigorate exertion, infuse courage, and vivify and sustain the charities of life. It would be a miserable world, I do think, if it was not embellished by little children." a So Wordsworth. Ro. ix, 25, 23; 1 10, 11. (10) yet.. sea, the threatenings apply to their national life. Their actual numbers would be preserved. Some think the assurance refers to the ingathering from all nations to the Church of Christ." in the place, the same district. Israel would return with Judah from captivity, but would not exist as a separate people. The return was the Divine recognition of fulfilled penitence and conversion. (11) one head, or prince. out of the land, i.e. the captive land. The destiny of the race (vr. 10, 11).-I. The race is destined to an indefinite increase in the number of good men. II. The race is destined to a transcendent privilege. 1. To a general conversion to God; 2. To a general adoption into the family of God. III. The race is destined to a common leadership-1. Which shall unite the most hostile; 2. Be by common appointment; 3. And be glorious. The future. For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonders that would be: F in Most perfectly Messiah, the Christ. "This prophecy denotes not local a remove, but a spiritual ascent to Christ." -Mat. Henry. v. 11. G. Curry, Huls. Lec. 153. c Dr. Thomas. "O, if this were seen, the happiest [youth,-viewing his progress through what perils past, what crosses to ensue, -would shut the book and sit him down and die." Shakespeare. d Tennyson. Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a ghastly From the nation's airy navies grappling in the centre blue : Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle-flags were In the Parliament of man, the federation of the world. There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe, mained firm in make an earnest wickedness Com. li. 13. с "The with idols CHAPTER THE SECOND. a "The Prophet 1-5. (1) Ammi.. Ruhamah, the names of the prev. ch.. urgently calls upon all who in without the Heb. negative lo. The not would be removed from the northern their names in the day of restoration ch. i. 11. (2) mother, kingdom still re-.e. the nation collectively. not my wife, Is. 1. 1. breasts, their allegiance Eze. xxiii. 3. (3) strip her, of wealth, population, land, etc. to Jehovah to born, Eze. xvi. 4. wilderness, comp. Is. lviii. 11; Je. xxxi. come promptly 12. thirst, as one in a parched desert; Je. ii. 6. (4) chilforward, and dren, who were devoted to the service of idols. (5) after my and public pro- lovers, away from God, her true and only Husband. bread, test against the etc., i.e. my food, clothing, and luxuries. idolatry and Lot of woman.-Woman's is comparatively a fixed, a secluded. which so widely and a meditative life. She is more the companion of her own prevailed."-Spk. thoughts and feelings; and if they are turned to ministers of sorrows, where shall she look for consolation? Her lot is to be wooed and won; and if unhappy in her love, her heart is like b Je. vi. 8; Zep. some fortress that has been captured, and sacked, and abandoned, and left desolate. How many bright eyes grow dim-how many soft cheeks grow pale-how many lovely forms fade away whom into the tomb, and none can tell the cause that blighted their the Israelites loveliness? As the dove will clasp its wings to its side, and committed cover and conceal the arrow that is preying on its vitals, so is it tion; and the the nature of woman to hide from the world the pangs of idolatrous na- wounded affection. The love of a delicate female is always shy tions, whose and silent. Even when fortunate, she scarcely breathes it to alliance the herself; but when otherwise, she buries it in the recesses of her ed, and in order bosom, and there lets its cower and brood among the ruins of her to it practised peace. With her, the desire of her heart has failed-the great charm of her existence is at an end. She neglects all the cheerful exercises which gladden the spirits, quicken the pulse, and send the tide of life in healthful currents through the veins. Her rest is broken, the sweet refreshment of sleep is poisoned by melancholy dreams. " dry sorrow drinks her blood." until her enfeebled frame sinks under the slightest external injury. Look for her, after a little while, and you will find friendship weeping over her untimely grave, and wondering that one, who but lately glowed with all the radiance of health and beauty, should so speedily be brought down to "darkness and the worm." You will be told of some casual indisposition that laid her low; but no one knows the mental malady that sapped her strength and made her so easy a prey to the spoiler.d spiritual fornica Israelites court their idolatries. -Lowth. Je. xxii. 20, 22; Eze. xvi. 33, 36, 37, xxiii. 5, 9. . 2. J. C. Die teric, Ant. 722. d Washington Irving. |