---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Hosea 6"
description: "CHAPTER 6   :-. THE
ISRAELITES"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/hosea/6"
---

CHAPTER 6

. THE
ISRAELITES' EXHORTATION
TO ONE ANOTHER
TO SEEK THE LORD.
At a new discourse, *complaining of them,* begins; for evidently belong to , and form the *happy* termination of Israel's
*punishment:* primarily, the return from Babylon; ultimately,
the return from their present long dispersion. perhaps refers to the murder of Pekahiah; the discourse
cannot be later than Pekah's reign, for it was under it that *Gilead*
was carried into captivity ().

**1. let us return**—in order that
God who has "returned to His place" may return to us ().
**torn, and . . . heal**—
([Deuteronomy 32:39](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/39); [Jeremiah 30:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/30/17)).
They ascribe their punishment not to fortune, or man, but to God, and
acknowledge that none (not the Assyrian, as they once vainly thought,
[Hosea 5:13](../../../kjv/hosea/5/13)) but God can heal their
wound. They are at the same time persuaded of the mercy of God, which
persuasion is the starting-point of true repentance, and without
which men would not seek, but hate and flee from God. Though our
wound be severe, it is not past hope of recovery; there is room for
grace, and a hope of pardon. He hath smitten us, but not so badly
that He cannot heal us ([Psalms 130:4](../../../kjv/psalms/130/4)).

**2.** Primarily, in type, Israel's
national revival, *in a short period* ("*two or three*"
being used to denote a *few* days, [Isaiah 17:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/17/6);
[Luke 13:32](../../../kjv/luke/13/32); [Luke 13:33](../../../kjv/luke/13/33));
antitypically the language is so framed as to refer in its *full
accuracy* only to Messiah, the ideal Israel ([Luke 13:33](../../../kjv/luke/13/33); compare [Matthew 2:15](../../../kjv/matthew/2/15);
[Hosea 11:1](../../../kjv/hosea/11/1)), raised on the third
day ([John 2:19](../../../kjv/john/2/19); [1 Corinthians 15:4](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/4);
compare [Isaiah 53:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/10)). "He
shall *prolong* His *days.*" Compare the similar use
of Israel's political resurrection as the type of the general
resurrection of which "Christ is the first-fruits" ([Isaiah 26:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/19);
[Ezekiel 37:1-14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/1-14); [Daniel 12:2](../../../kjv/daniel/12/2)).
**live in his sight**—enjoy
His favour and the light of His countenance shining on us, as of old;
in contrast to [Hosea 5:6](../../../kjv/hosea/5/6); [Hosea 5:15](../../../kjv/hosea/5/15),
"Withdrawn Himself from them."

**3. know, if we follow on to know the
Lord**—The result of His recovered favor () will be onward growth in saving knowledge of God, as the
result of perseverance in following after Him ([Psalms 63:8](../../../kjv/psalms/63/8);
[Isaiah 54:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/13)). "Then"
implies the consequence of the revival in [Isaiah 54:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/13). The "if" is not so much *conditional,* as
expressive of the *means* which God's grace will sanctify to the
full enlightenment of Israel in the knowledge of Him. As want of
"knowledge of God" has been the source of all evils
([Hosea 4:1](../../../kjv/hosea/4/1); [Hosea 5:4](../../../kjv/hosea/5/4)),
so the knowledge of Him will bring with it all blessings; yea, it is
"life" ([John 17:3](../../../kjv/john/17/3)).
This knowledge is practice, not mere theory ([Jeremiah 22:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/15);
[Jeremiah 22:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/16)). Theology is life, not
science; realities, not words. This onward progress is illustrated by
the light of "morning" increasing more and more "unto
the perfect day" ([Proverbs 4:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/4/18)).
**prepared**—"is
sure," literally, "fixed," ordered in His everlasting
purposes of love to His covenant-people. Compare "prepared of
God" ([Genesis 41:32](../../../kjv/genesis/41/32), *Margin;*
[Revelation 12:6](../../../kjv/revelation/12/6)). Jehovah shall surely
come to the relief of His people after their dark night of calamity.
**as the morning**— ([Revelation 12:6](../../../kjv/revelation/12/6)).
**as the rain . . . latter . .
. former**— ([Job 29:23](../../../kjv/job/29/23);
[Joel 2:23](../../../kjv/joel/2/23)). First, "the rain"
generally is mentioned; then the two rains ([Joel 2:23](../../../kjv/joel/2/23)) which caused the fertility of Palestine, and the absence
of which was accounted the greatest calamity: "the latter rain"
which falls in the latter half of February, and during March and
April, just before the harvest whence it takes its name, from a root
meaning "*to gather*"; and "the former rain,"
literally, "the darting rain," from the middle of October
to the middle of December. As the rain fertilizes the otherwise
barren land, so God's favor will restore Israel long nationally
lifeless.

**4. what shall I do unto thee**—to
bring thee back to piety. What more could be done that I have not
done, both in mercies and chastenings ()? At this verse a new discourse begins, resuming the threats
([Hosea 5:14](../../../kjv/hosea/5/14)). See [Hosea 5:14](../../../kjv/hosea/5/14) on this chapter.
**goodness**—godliness.
**morning cloud**—soon
dispersed by the sun ([Hosea 13:3](../../../kjv/hosea/13/3)).
There is a tacit contrast here to the promise of God's grace to
Israel hereafter, in [Hosea 6:3](../../../kjv/hosea/6/3). *His*
going forth is "as the morning," shining more and more unto
the perfect day; *your* goodness is "as a morning cloud,"
soon vanishing. His coming to His people is "as the
(fertilizing) latter and former rains"; your coming to Him "as
the early dew goeth away."

**5. I hewed them by the prophets**—that
is, I *announced* by the prophets that they should be hewn
asunder, like trees of the forest. God identifies His act with that
of His prophets; the word being His instrument for executing His will
([Jeremiah 1:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/10); [Ezekiel 43:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/43/3)).
**by . . . words of my mouth**—
([Isaiah 11:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/4); [Jeremiah 23:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/29);
[Hebrews 4:12](../../../kjv/hebrews/4/12)).
**thy judgments**—the
judgments which I will inflict on thee, Ephraim and Judah ([Hebrews 4:12](../../../kjv/hebrews/4/12)). So "*thy* judgments," that is, those
inflicted *on thee* ([Hebrews 4:12](../../../kjv/hebrews/4/12)).
**are as the light,** c.—like
the light, palpable to the eyes of all, as coming from God, the
punisher of sin. HENDERSON
translates, "lightning" (compare *Margin,* [Job 37:3](../../../kjv/job/37/3)
[Job 37:15](../../../kjv/job/37/15)).

**6. mercy**—put for *piety*
in general, of which *mercy* or *charity* is a branch.
**not sacrifice**—that is,
"*rather than* sacrifice." So "not" is
merely comparative ([Exodus 16:8](../../../kjv/exodus/16/8);
[Joel 2:13](../../../kjv/joel/2/13); [John 6:27](../../../kjv/john/6/27);
[1 Timothy 2:14](../../../kjv/1-timothy/2/14)). As God Himself
instituted sacrifices, it cannot mean that He desired them not
absolutely, but that even in the Old Testament, He valued *moral
obedience* as the only end for which *positive* ordinances,
such as sacrifices, were instituted—as of more importance than a
mere external ritual obedience ([1 Samuel 15:22](../../../kjv/1-samuel/15/22);
[Psalms 50:8](../../../kjv/psalms/50/8); [Psalms 50:9](../../../kjv/psalms/50/9);
[Psalms 51:16](../../../kjv/psalms/51/16); [Isaiah 1:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/11);
[Isaiah 1:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/12); [Micah 6:6-8](../../../kjv/micah/6/6-8);
[Matthew 9:13](../../../kjv/matthew/9/13); [Matthew 12:7](../../../kjv/matthew/12/7)).
**knowledge of God**—experimental
and practical, not merely theoretical ([Hosea 6:3](../../../kjv/hosea/6/3);
[Jeremiah 22:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/16); [1 John 2:3](../../../kjv/1-john/2/3);
[1 John 2:4](../../../kjv/1-john/2/4)). "Mercy"
refers to the *second* table of the law, our duty to our fellow
man; "the knowledge of God" to the *first* table, our
duty to God, including inward spiritual worship. The second table is
put first, not as superior in dignity, for it is secondary, but in
the order of our understanding.

**7. like men**—the common sort of
men ([Psalms 82:7](../../../kjv/psalms/82/7)). Not as *Margin,*
"like Adam," [Job 31:33](../../../kjv/job/31/33).
For the *expression* "covenant" is not found elsewhere
applied to Adam's relation to God; though the *thing* seems
implied ([Romans 5:12-19](../../../kjv/romans/5/12-19)).
Israel "transgressed the covenant" of God as lightly as men
break everyday compacts with their fellow men.
**there**—in the northern
kingdom, Israel.

**8. Gilead . . . city**—probably
Ramoth-gilead, metropolis of the hilly region beyond Jordan, south of
the Jabbok, known as "Gilead" (; compare ).
**work iniquity**— ().
**polluted with blood**—"marked
with blood-traces" [MAURER].
Referring to Gilead's complicity in the regicidal conspiracy of Pekah
against Pekahiah ([2 Kings 15:25](../../../kjv/2-kings/15/25)).
See on [Hosea 6:1](../../../kjv/hosea/6/1). Many homicides
were there, for there were beyond Jordan more cities of refuge, in
proportion to the extent of territory, than on this side of Jordan
([Numbers 35:14](../../../kjv/numbers/35/14); [Deuteronomy 4:41-43](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/4/41-43);
[Joshua 20:8](../../../kjv/joshua/20/8)). Ramoth-gilead was one.

**9. company**—"association"
or guild of priests.
**murder by consent**—literally,
"with one shoulder" (compare , *Margin*). The image is from oxen putting their
*shoulders together* to pull the same yoke [RIVETUS].
MAURER translates, "in
the way *towards Shechem.*" It was a city of refuge between
Ebal and Gerizim; on Mount Ephraim ([Joshua 20:7](../../../kjv/joshua/20/7);
[Joshua 21:21](../../../kjv/joshua/21/21)), long the civil capital
of Ephraim, as Shiloh was the religious capital; now called Naploos;
for a time the residence of Jeroboam ([Joshua 21:21](../../../kjv/joshua/21/21)). The priests there became so corrupted that they waylaid
and murdered persons fleeing to the asylum for refuge [HENDERSON];
the sanctity of the place enhanced the guilt of the priests who
abused their priestly privileges, and the right of asylum to
perpetrate murders themselves, or to screen those committed by others
[MAURER].
**commit lewdness**—*deliberate*
crime, presumptuous wickedness, from an *Arabic* root, "to
form a deliberate purpose."

**10. horrible thing**— ([Jeremiah 5:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/30);
[Jeremiah 18:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/18/13); [Jeremiah 23:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/14)).
**whoredom**—idolatry.

**11. an harvest**—namely, of
judgments (as in [Jeremiah 51:33](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/33);
[Joel 3:13](../../../kjv/joel/3/13); [Revelation 14:15](../../../kjv/revelation/14/15)).
Called a "harvest" because it is the fruit of the seed
which Judah herself had sown ([Hosea 8:7](../../../kjv/hosea/8/7);
[Hosea 10:12](../../../kjv/hosea/10/12); [Job 4:8](../../../kjv/job/4/8);
[Proverbs 22:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/8)). Judah, under Ahaz,
lost a hundred twenty thousand "slain in one day (by Israel
under Pekah), because they had forsaken the Lord God of their
fathers."
**when I returned the captivity
of my people**—when I, by Oded My prophet, caused two hundred
thousand women, sons, and daughters, of Judah to be restored from
captivity by Israel ([Proverbs 22:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/8)). This prophecy was delivered under Pekah [LUDOVICUS
DE DIEU].
MAURER explains, When
Israel shall have been exiled for its sins, and has been subsequently
restored by Me, thou, Judah, also shalt be exiled for thine. But as
Judah's punishment was not at the time *when* God restored
Israel, LUDOVICUS DE
DIEU'S explanation must be
taken. GROTIUS translates,
"When I *shall have returned to make captive* (that is,
when I shall have again made captive) My people." The first
captivity of Israel under Tiglath-pileser was followed by a *second*
under Shalmaneser. Then came the siege of Jerusalem, and the capture
of the fenced cities of Judah, by Sennacherib, the forerunner of
other attacks, ending in Judah's captivity. But the *Hebrew* is
elsewhere used of *restoration,* not *renewed punishment*
([Deuteronomy 30:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/30/3); [Psalms 14:7](../../../kjv/psalms/14/7)).

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