Hosea 8

Hosea 8:1

SEt the] as it were, to give warning of the enemies comming, Hosea 5:8 He shall come] namely, the King of Assyria The house] namely, against the children of Israel, amongst whom God had his habitation; as in his Temple or Palace.

Hosea 8:2

Shall y] out of season, for being heard: And out of the meere feeling of evil, without faith, piety, or conversion; as Job 27:9. Proverbs 1:27. Isaiah 1:15. Micah 3:4 We] Thou hast revealed thy selfe unto us by thy law and word. And we make profession of being thy people. See Matthew 7:21-22. Luke 13:26-27.

Hosea 8:3

Hath cast off] they have strayed from all piety and righteousnesse. Or they are the cause, that all my grace and blessing is gone away from them.

Hosea 8:4

They have] the people of their owne proper motion, without enquiring after my will, or staying for my command, or permission; have chosen and made Kings of their owne heads; separating themselves from the lawfull rule of Davids posterity, 1 King. 11. 31. though this happened according to Gods secret providence, Hosea 13:11.

Hosea 8:5

O Samaria] namely; O you ten Tribes! whose chiefe City is Samaria: your idolatry with your calves hath been the chiefe cause of your being scattered out of your owne Countrey. Or, your Calfe hath been carried away into a far countrey; namely, into Assyria: As the idols of Nations, which were overcome; were carried away captive in triumph by the conquerors. See Hosea 10:6.

Hosea 8:6

Was it] the Italian, that Calse came] the worship of Calves; in which the children of Israel professe they worship the true God; is false and reproved by God: being but a humane invention, as all other idolatries are Broken in peeces] the Italian, shall be reduced into sparkles] the stuffe being laid againe upon the anvill by the Workeman.

Hosea 8:7

They have] A proverbiall kind of speech: that is to say; they have studied vaine things, and shall reape nothing thereby; but dammage and ruine If so be it] if their counsell should bring forth any seeming commodity or profit, the enemies shall take it away from them.

Hosea 8:8

It swallowed up] spoyled by the Assyrians, and laid waste. May be, hath a relation to what is written, 2 King. 15. 19, 20 They be] the Nations, whose favour they seeke after, doe disdaine them, and neglect them, as an old broken vessell, it for none but uncleane uses, Jer. 22. 28. and 48. 38.

Hosea 8:9

A wilde asse] A savage people, inhumane, and intractable, that care for no body. See Job 39:8-9. Jeremiah 2:24.

Hosea 8:10

Gather them] bring them up in armes against the people of Israel, for to destroy them. See Ezekiel 16:37 A little] the last evils which they shall endure, shall be so extreame, that the burthen of the Tribute, which they paid to the King of Assyria; wherewith they have found themselves so much oppressed, 2 King. 17. 3, 4. shall be esteemed but a very light thing Of the King] of the greatest Monarch of the World, 2 King. 18. 19. Daniel 2:37.

Hosea 8:11

Because Ephraim] because my people would commit idolatry without any end or measure: I have given them over to doe so; because they might heap up their measure.

Hosea 8:12

The great things] namely, the admirable and precious Revelation and Doctrine But they were] they have contemned them: as if they had been things which no way concerned them.

Hosea 8:13

They sacrifice] in their sacrifices of Thanksgiving (whereof a certaine portion was assigned to them that offered them, to make their sacred Feasts therewith) they never had any regard to any devotion towards me; but regarded onely their owne bellies: so that, it is no longer a sacrifice; but prophane flesh. See Jeremiah 7:21 They shall return] hoping to be relieved there; they shall be made slaves againe, as they had been formerly, Jeremiah 44:12. Hosea 9:3. according to the threatening, Deuteronomy 28:68.

Hosea 8:14

His Maker] that created them, as concerning nature; and hath afterwards made them his people, through his Covenant of grace, Psal. 100. 3. Isaiah 29:23. Ephesians 2:10 Temples] to Idols: or to the true God; but against Gods commandement: who approved but of one, where he had placed the signes of his presence Upon his Cities] putting their trust in them; for their deliverance and safety, Isaiah 22:8-9.