1.
Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
people = peoples.
gone a whoring: i.e. gone into idolatry. See note on Hosea 1:2 .
a reward = a love-fee. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18 , "hire"). App-92 .
2.
The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
floor = threshing-floor.
winepress = wine fat. Hebrew. yekeb, the wine receptacle; not gath , the winepress. See note on Isaiah 5:2 .
new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 . Not same as Hosea 9:4 .
her. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), with some codices, one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, give "them"; some give "with her" in margin
3.
They shall not dwell in the LORD's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
return to Egypt. See Hosea 8:13 ; Hosea 11:5 . Compare Ezekiel 4:13 .
in Assyria. See 2 Kings 17:6 . 2 Kings 11:11 .
4.
They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . Not same as in Hosea 9:2 .
bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of food.
of mourners. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 26:14 .Numbers 19:14; Numbers 19:14 ). App-92 . Hebrew. 'aven. A Homonym. See note on "Benjamin", Genesis 35:18 .
5.
What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
6.
For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
because of = from.
Egypt = [yet] Egypt. Compare Hosea 7:16 .
shall gather them up = shall rake them out [for manure, or for burning]; not for burial in their own land; this would be 'asaph. But here it is kabaz. (Jeremiah 8:2 .Ezekiel 29:5 .)
Memphis. The capital of Lower Egypt (near Cairo). Now Mitrahumy ; also called Noph.
tabernacles = tents. Hebrew. 'ohel ( App-40 .); "tents" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the place where their tents were pitched.
7.
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
The days of visitation are come. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:34 ). App-92 . Compare Luke 19:44 ; Luke 21:22 .
recompence = retribution.
know [it] = discover [her wickedness, when she said].
spiritual man = man of the Spirit: i.e. God's prophet, who is defined as a man in whom the Spirit of God was.
for the multitude, &c. = for great is thine iniquity, great is thine enmity.
iniquity = distortion. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .
hatred = provocation.
8.
The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
The watchman. Note the series of contrasts, what Ephraim had been, and what Ephraim had now become, which commences here; with remarks following each. See Hosea 9:10 and Hosea 9:13 ; Hosea 10:1 , Hosea 10:9 ; Hosea 11:1 ; Hosea 13:1 .
watchman. Used of a true prophet in Isaiah 21:6-11 .Jeremiah 6:17 ; Jeremiah 31:6 . Ezekiel 3:17 ; Ezekiel 33:7 .
was. Render: "Ephraim [was so], e.g. in Joshua's days.
my God: i.e. Hosea's God.
but = [but now].
the prophet: i.e. Ephraim.
is = is become.
his God. In contrast with Hosea's God.
9.
They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
the days of Gibeah. See Hosea 10:9 . This implies a common knowledge of the history of Judges 19:15 , &c.
therefore. Some codices, with three early printed editions (one Rabbinic, marg), read "now will He", &c.
He: i.e. Jehovah. App-4 . He will visit. Some codices read "that He may visit". Compare Hosea 8:13 .
10.
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
I found, &c. Another contrast. See Hosea 9:8 .
they went, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 25:3 ). The history was well known, or this reference to it would be useless. App-92 .
Baal-peor. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 25:3 .Deuteronomy 4:3; Deuteronomy 4:3 ). Elsewhere only in Psalms 106:28 . Compare Joshua 22:17 .
that shame = that shameful thing: the 'Asherah and its worship. See App-42 .
their, &c. Supply the Ellipsis, and render: "became an abomination like their paramour".
11.
As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
from the birth, &c. = no birth, none with child, no conception.
conception. This particular word herayon occurs only here, and Ruth 4:13 . A similar word (Hebrew. haron) in Genesis 3:16 .
12.
Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
Though they bring up, &c Not "inappropriate after Hosea 9:11 ", but is part of the contrast commenced there.
children = sons.
will I bereave them. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:22 .Deuteronomy 28:41 , Deuteronomy 28:62 ).
when I depart from them = when I take command from them. Hebrew. sur, as in Hosea 8:4 , and Hosea 12:3 (see notes there). Not the same word as "withdraw" in Hosea 5:6 , which is halaz.
13.
Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
as I saw Tyrus. Another contrast. See note on Hosea 9:8 . The verse does not "defy explanation".
as = according as.
Tyrus. See Isaiah 23 .Ezekiel 26 , Ezekiel 27 , Ezekiel 28 .
14.
Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15.
All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
Gilgal. Compare Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 12:11 . The place where Jehovah was rejected, and man's king set up; and where, on account of his impatience and disobedience Saul got his first message of his rejection (1 Samuel 13:4-15 ), and his second (1 Samuel 15:12-33 ). See note on Hosea 4:15 .
I hated them = have I come to hate them.
for the wickedness, &c. Compare Hosea 1:6 .
their princes are revolters. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew. sareyhem. sorerim. It may be Englished by "their rulers are unruly". Compare Isaiah 1:23 , where the same words are used.
16.
Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
17.
My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.
they shall be wanderers, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:64 , Deuteronomy 28:65 ).