Hosea 4

Hosea 4:1

THey breake out] Others, they commit thefts And blood] every thing is full of murthers.

Hosea 4:3

Shall the land] A description of an extreme and universall desolation: as Jer. 4. 25. and 12. 4.

Hosea 4:4

Yet let no man] Notwithstanding these great and publique sinnes in which the false Prophets doe flatter and sooth up the people. Let not the true Prophets prophane my Word, by speaking it to these obstinate and hardened rebels, I will contend with them by effects, and punishments, and no more by words and reproofes: So this agreeth well with what was spoken, v. 1 Th tst ive] That undertake to withstand Gods right, whilest the high Priest declares unto them, Deuteronomy 17:12 and is the last degree of boldnesse: see Romans 2. 8. and 10. 21.

Hosea 4:5

Shalt thou fall] He directs his speech to each particular person among the people In the day] These words in the day, and in the night; doe seeme to intimate a continuance of ruine. Others translate it, to day: that is to say; within a short time The Prophet] namely; all the false Prophets Thy mother] All the whole body of the Kingdome and Nation.

Hosea 4:6

For lacke] For of themselves have no lively light of my Word; and they will fully put out that which I present unto them, and doe refuse all manner of instruction; Isaiah 5:13 Thou hast] This seemes to be specially directed to the Priests and other Ecclesiasticall persons, whose chiese duty is to teach and instruct. See Deuteronomy 33:10. Malachi 2:7.

Hosea 4:7

Increased] namely; In dignity and authority: for this is also referred to the Porters.

Hosea 4:8

They eate] They fatten themselves with the sacrifices which my people offer for their sins, and are greedy after Them; and take no care of their conversion.

Hosea 4:9

There shall be] They shall be also taken in the generall desolation, without any difference or respect borne to their office.

Hosea 4:12

Aske councell] In steed of seeking after Gods Oracle to have counsell given them in difficult cases Their stocks] namely; Their Idols made of wood Their staffe] Some thinkes he hath a relation to an antient manner of divining by staves and rods: Others doe hold; that here are meant the South-sayers and Magicians rods: as, Exodus 7:12 The spirit] namely, The inclination and affection to Idolatry, kindled in the heart of man by the evill spirit: see Isa. 44. 30.

Hosea 4:13

Your daughters] I will punish your Idolatry by abandoning your daughters, and your spouses, to an infamous and unbridled lust, which shall not be repressed by the Lawes or Magistrates punishments, nor amended by mine: see Amos 7:17.

Hosea 4:14

Are separated] From me; cutting themselves off from my covenant and communion by joyning themselves to Harlots, which were excommunicate from amongst Gods people, Prov. 2. 16. and 6. 24. See of this separation, Proverbs 18:1. Ezekiel 14:7. Hosea 9:10. Jude 1:19.

Hosea 4:15

Unto Gilgal] In this place, whereof see Jos. 5. 9. and 12. 12. Amos 4:4 Beth-aven] It is the same as Bethel; but because Bethel signifieth House of God, Genesis 28:17. And that this place had been prophaned by the Idolatrie of the Calves: 1 King. 12. 29. The Prophets do often call it Beth-aven: that is to say; The house of an Idoll, or the house of vanity: Hos. 5. 8. and 10. 5. being that neer unto Bethel, there was another high place, called Beth-aven, Joshua 7:2 The Lord] According to the manner of Idolaters, who pretended they did sweare by the true God, when they swore by those Calves: Amos 8:14. For the ten tribes did professe that they worshipped God in them; imitating Aaron, Exodus 32:5. 2 Kings 10:16. which notwithstanding was reproved by God.

Hosea 4:16

Will feed them] Seeing they have beene so rebellious, and have loved liberty so well; I will grant it them: but to their ruine, like to the liberty of a Lambe in the wildernesse, where it would be exposed to a thousand dangers and miseries. Unlesse he threaten them with the desolation of the countrey, and with the small number which should remaine in it.

Hosea 4:17

Ephraim] The ten tribes called by the name of the chiefe tribe Let him alone] Separate thy selfe from him, O Judah! Or every beleever.

Hosea 4:18

Their drinke] A proverbiall speech to shew the peoples coruption in the whole service of God: Psal. 14. 1. Isaiah 1:22 Their Rulers] The Rulers of this people doe basely covepresents, which disgraceth all the government.

Hosea 4:19

The wind] The people shall be scattered, as it were by a strong pu, of wind or storme Be ashamed] Seeing themselves fallen from the hope which they had conceived, and deceived in the trust which they had reposed in them: or they shall be disgraced: that is to say; they shall fall into extreme misery and ignominy through their Idolatries.