---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Hosea 6:1. Come, and let us return unto the Lord — When God had purposed to abandon them, and they found that he had returned to his place - to his"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/hosea/6"
---

Verse [Hosea 6:1](../../../kjv/hosea/6/1). ***Come, and let us return unto the Lord*** — When God had purposed to abandon them, and they found that he had *returned to* *his place* - to his temple, where alone he could be successfully sought; they, feeling their weakness, and the fickleness, weariness, and unfaithfulness of their idols and allies, now resolve to "return to the Lord;" and, referring to what he said, [Hosea 5:14](../../../kjv/hosea/5/14): "I will tear and go away;" they say, he "hath torn, but he will heal us;" their allies had *torn*, but they gave them no healing. While, therefore, they acknowledge the *justice* of God in their punishment, they depend on his well-known mercy and compassion for restoration to life and health.

Verse [Hosea 6:2](../../../kjv/hosea/6/2). ***After two days will he revive*** — Such is his power that in *two* or *three* days he can restore us. He can realize all our hopes, and give us the strongest token for good.
***In the third day he will raise us up*** — In so short a time can he give us complete deliverance. These words are supposed to refer to the *death and resurrection of our Lord*; and it is thought that the apostle refers to them, [1 Corinthians 15:4](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/4): "Christ rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures;" and this is the *only place* in the *Scriptures*, i.e., of the Old Testament, where his resurrection on the *third* day seems to be hinted at. The original, יקמנו *yekimenu*, has been translated, *he will raise him up*. Then they who trusted in him could believe that they should be *quickened* together with him.
***And we shall live in his sight.*** — *His resurrection* being a proof of *theirs*.

Verse [Hosea 6:3](../../../kjv/hosea/6/3). ***Then shall we know*** — We shall have the fullest evidence that we have not believed in vain.
If ***we follow on to know the Lord*** — If we *continue* to be as much in *earnest* as we *now* are.
***His going forth*** — The manifestation of his mercy to our souls is as certain as the *rising of the sun* at the appointed time.
***And he shall come unto us as the rain*** — As surely as the early and the latter rain come. The first, to prepare the earth for the seed; this fell in *autumn*: the second, to prepare the full ear for the harvest; this fell in *spring*. Here is strong confidence; but not misplaced, however worthless the persons were. As surely as the *sun*, who is *now set*, is running his course to *arise* on us in the *morning*, and make a glorious *day* after a dreary *night*; so surely shall the Lord *come again from his place*, and the Sun of righteousness shall arise on our souls with healing in his wings. He is already *on his way* to save us.

Verse [Hosea 6:4](../../../kjv/hosea/6/4). ***O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?*** — This is the answer of the Lord to the above pious resolutions; sincere while they lasted, but frequently forgotten, because the people were fickle. Their *goodness* (for goodness it was while it endured) was *like the morning cloud that fadeth away* before the rising sun, or like the *early dew* which is speedily evaporated by heat. Ephraim and Judah had too much *goodness* in them to admit of their total rejection, and too much *evil* to admit of their being placed among the children. Speaking after the manner or men, the *justice* and *mercy* of God seem puzzled how to act toward them. When *justice* was about to *destroy* them for their iniquity, it was prevented by their *repentance* and *contrition*: when *mercy* was about to pour upon them as penitents its choicest blessings, it was prevented by their *fickleness* and *relapse*! These things induce the just and merciful God to exclaim, "O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee?" The only thing that could be done in such a case was that which God did.

Verse [Hosea 6:5](../../../kjv/hosea/6/5). ***Therefore have I hewed*****them*****by the prophets*** — I have sent my prophets to testify against their fickleness. They have smitten them with the most solemn and awful threatenings; they have, as it were, slain them by the words of my mouth. But to what purpose?
***Thy judgments*****are as*****the light*****that*****goeth forth*** — Instead of ומשפטיך אור יצא *umispateycha or yetse*, "and thy judgments a light that goeth forth," the *versions* in general have read ומשפטי כאור *umishpati keor*, "and my judgment *is* as the light." The final כ *caph* in the common reading has by mistake been taken from אור *aur*, and joined to משפטי *mishpati*; and thus turned it from the *singular* to the *plural* number, with the postfix כ *cha*. The proper reading is, most probably, "And my judgment is as the light going forth." It shall be both *evident* and *swift*; alluding both to the *velocity* and *splendour* of light.

Verse [Hosea 6:6](../../../kjv/hosea/6/6). ***I desired mercy, and not sacrifice*** — I taught them righteousness by my prophets; for I desired mercy. I was more willing to *save* than to *destroy*; and would rather see them full of *penitent* and *holy resolutions*, than behold them offering the *best* and most *numerous victims* upon my altar. See [Matthew 9:13](../../../kjv/matthew/9/13).

Verse [Hosea 6:7](../../../kjv/hosea/6/7). ***But they like men*** (כאדם keadam, "like Adam") ***have**********transgressed the covenant*** — They have sinned against light and knowledge as *he* did. This is *sense*, the other is scarcely so. There was a striking similarity in the two cases. *Adam, in* *Paradise*, transgressed the commandment, and I *cast him out:* *Israel*, in possession of the *promised land*, transgressed my covenant, and I cast *them* out, and sent them into captivity.

Verse [Hosea 6:8](../../../kjv/hosea/6/8). ***Gilead*****is*****a city of them that work iniquity*** — In this place Jacob and Laban made their covenant, and set up a *heap of* *stones*, which was called *Galeed*, the *heap of testimony*; and most probably idolatry was set up here. Perhaps the very *heap* became the object of superstitious adoration.

Verse [Hosea 6:9](../../../kjv/hosea/6/9). ***As troops of robbers*** — What a sad picture is this of the state of the priesthood! The country of Gilead was infamous for its robberies and murders. The idolatrous priests there formed themselves into companies, and kept possession of the roads and passes; and if they found any person going to Jerusalem to worship the true God, they put him to death. The reason is given:-
***For they commit lewdness.*** — They are gross idolaters.

Verse [Hosea 6:10](../../../kjv/hosea/6/10). ***I have seen a horrible thing*** — That is, the idolatry that prevailed in Israel to such a degree that the whole land was defiled.

Verse [Hosea 6:11](../../../kjv/hosea/6/11). ***O Judah, he hath set a harvest for thee*** — Thou also hast transgressed; thy *harvest* will come; thou shalt be *reaped* *down* and sent into captivity. The *sickle* is already thrust in. That which thou *hast sowed* shalt thou *reap*. They who *sow* unto the *flesh* shall *reap corruption*.
***When I returned the captivity of my people.*** — Bp. *Newcome* translates, "Among those who lead away the captivity of my people." There is thy harvest; they who have led Israel into captivity shall lead thee also into the same. The Assyrians and Babylonians were the same kind of people; equally idolatrous, equally oppressive, equally cruel. From the common reading some suppose this to be a *promise of return from captivity*. It is true that *Judah* was gathered together again and brought back to their own land, but the majority of the *Israelites* did not return, and are not now to be found.

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