Old Testament Commentary - Hosea 10
by Don R. Hender
Scriptural Text
[& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 10
Israel have plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity—Hosea calls upon them to seek the Lord.
1
I
SRAEL
is
an empty
a
vine, he bringeth forth
b
fruit unto
c
himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the
d
altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2
Their heart is
a
divided; now shall they be found
b
faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
4
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a
a
covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the
a
calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof
that
rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
6
It shall be also carried unto Assyria
a
for
a present to king
a
Jareb: Ephraim shall receive
b
shame, and Israel shall be
c
ashamed of his own
d
counsel.
6
a
It shall be also carried unto Assyria
It was Assyria who did destroy and scatter Israel, first taking them northward into Assyria and then thence further throughout the lands of the north.
7
As for
Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.
8
The high places also of
a
Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the
b
mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
9
O Israel, thou hast
a
sinned from the days of
b
Gibeah: there they stood: the
c
battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10
It is
in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
11
And Ephraim
is as
an heifer
that is
taught,
and
loveth to tread out
the corn;
but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow,
and
Jacob shall break his clods.
12
Sow to yourselves in
a
righteousness,
b
reap in mercy;
c
break up your fallow ground: for
it is
time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13
Ye have plowed
a
wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14
Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as
a
Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was
b
dashed in pieces upon
her
children.
15
So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.
