Bible Commentaries

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Go yet = Go again. See notes on Hosea 1:2.

love. Not "take", as in Hosea 1:2, or love again.

a woman. Not "Gomer" (Hosea 1:3) again, but another; hence we must believe that Gomer had died; and that this was a second marriage with its own special signification.

her friend : i. e. Hosea himself.

yet, &c. = though [she has become] an adulteress. Referring to Israel's present condition in this Dispensation (App-12).

adulteress: i. e. an idolatress; and denotes only a woman of the northern tribes.

according, &c. This is the manifestation of Divine love.

children = sons.

look to other gods. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 31:18, Deuteronomy 31:20).

flagons of wine = cakes of grapes.

fifteen pieces of silver = fifteen shekels (App-51.) The price of the redemption of a slave.

homer. See App-61.

abide . . . many days. See the signification in verses: Hosea 4:5. Compare Jeremiah 3:1, Jeremiah 3:2.

abide. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 21:13). App-92. See the signification of the sign in verses: Hosea 4:5, and compare Jeremiah 31:1, Jeremiah 31:2. Hebrew. yashab = to dwell (sequestered). Same word as in Deuteronomy 21:13. Not the same word as in Hosea 11:6.

many days. In the case of the sign = a full month. The signification is seen now, in the present Dispensation.

man. Hebrew "ish. App-14.

be. Supply ["do"]. The above Structure is according to the order of the words in the Hebrew text, not the Authorized Version.

Israel. Not merely Judah, but the twelve tribes. Not "British" or any other "Israel".

many days. All the days of the present Dispensation; "many" implying length of time; "days" implying their limitation.

without. Note the Figure of speech Anaphora (App-6), emphasizing each point, now fulfilled before our eyes.

without a king. Having rejected Messiah (John 19:15). This cannot therefore be interpreted now of any People which has a king.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton strengthening the emphasis on each point.

prince = ruler. Hebrew. sar, as in Hosea 8:4.

sacrifice. Hebrew. zabach. App-43. Includes all sacrifices where there is shedding of blood.

an image. Hebrew. mazzebah = any upright standing image. Compare Exodus 23:24; Exodus 34:13. Isaiah 19:19.

ephod. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the priest or person who wears it. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 28:4-8). App-92. This was the girdle of the breastplate which contained the "Urim and Thummim", the wearing of which pertained solely to the high priest. Compare 1 Samuel 22:18; 1 Samuel 23:9. Ezra 2:63; and Nehemiah 7:65.

teraphim = idols of any kind. In Hosea 3:3, Jehovah says they shall not "play the harlot": and, now, for (since 426 B.C.) 2,300 years the truth of this has been seen. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:34, Genesis 31:35).

Afterward, &c. This mark of time has not yet been reached. It corresponds with the "many days" of Hosea 3:4. See the Structure above ("4-. ").

return, &c.: i. e. return [to Jehovah]. See Hosea 5:15, and Hosea 6:1.

seek. Compare Hosea 5:6. Jeremiah 60:4, Jeremiah 60:5.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

David. Compare Jeremiah 30:9. Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:24; Ezekiel 37:22, Ezekiel 37:24. Therefore David must rise again, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must; and note the fact of Israel seeking David.

shall fear = shall rejoice in, as in Isaiah 60:6. Jeremiah 33:9. Hebrew. pahad, a Homonym with another meaning (to fear, as in Deuteronomy 28:66. Job 23:15. See notes there).

goodness. Hebrew. tub, as in Hosea 14:2 ("graciously") = Gracious One: i. e. the Messiah. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 33:19). App-92. See the notes on Hosea 8:3; Hosea 14:2.

in the latter days. Rabbi Kimchi (A.D. 1160-1235) and other celebrated Jewish commentators writing on Isaiah 2:2, hold that this expression always means "in the days of the Messiah". Compare Jeremiah 30:24. Ezekiel 38:8, Ezekiel 38:16. Daniel 2:28. Micah 4:1. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:1. Numbers 24:14. Deuteronomy 4:30; Deuteronomy 31:29). App-92.