Hosea 8 — Jamieson–Fausset–Brown
8:1
1. Set the trumpet, c.--to give warning of the approach of the enemy: "To thy palate (that is, 'mouth,' Job 31:30, Margin) the trumpet"; the abruptness of expression indicates the suddenness of the attack. So Ho 5:8. as ... eagle--the Assyrian (De 28:49; Jr 48:40; Ha 1:8). against ... house of ... Lord--not the temple, but Israel viewed as the family of God (Ho 9:15; Nu 12:7; Zec 9:8; He 3:2; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 4:17).
8:2
2. My God, we know thee--the singular, "My," is used distributively, each one so addressing God. They, in their hour of need, plead their knowledge of God as the covenant-people, while in their acts they acknowledge Him not (compare Mt 7:21, 22; Tit 1:16; also Is 29:13; Jr 7:4). The Hebrew joins "Israel," not as English Version, with "shall cry," but "We, Israel, know thee"; God denies the claim thus urged on the ground of their descent from Israel.
8:3
3. Israel--God repeats the name in opposition to their use of it (Ho 8:2). the thing that is good--Jerome translates, "God" who is good and doing good (Psa 119:68). He is the chief object rejected, but with Him also all that is good. the enemy shall pursue him--in just retribution from God.
8:4
4. kings ... not by me--not with My sanction (1Ki 11:31; 12:20). Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation. I knew it not--I approved it not (Psa 1:6). of ... gold ... idols--(Ho 2:8; 13:2). that they may be cut off--that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So Jr 27:10, 15; 44:8.
8:5
5. hath cast thee off--As the ellipsis of thee is unusual, Maurer translates, "thy calf is abominable." But the antithesis to Ho 8:3 establishes English Version, "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good"; therefore, in just retribution, "thy calf hath cast thee off," that is, is made by God the cause of thy being cast off (Ho 10:15). Jeroboam, during his sojourn in Egypt, saw Apis worshipped at Memphis, and Mnevis at Heliopolis, in the form of an ox; this, and the temple cherubim, suggested the idea of the calves set up at Dan and Beth-el. how long ... ere they attain to innocency?--How long will they be incapable of bearing innocency? [Maurer].
8:6
6. from Israel was it--that is, the calf originated with them, not from Me. "It also," as well as their "kings set up" by them, "but not by Me" (Ho 8:4).
8:7
7. sown ... reap--(Pr 22:8; Ga 6:7). "Sow ... wind," that is, to make the vain show of worship, while faith and obedience are wanting [Calvin]. Rather, to offer senseless supplications to the calves for good harvests (compare Ho 2:8); the result being that God will make them "reap no stalk," that is, "standing corn." Also, the phraseology proverbially means that all their undertakings shall be profitless (Pr 11:29; Ec 5:16). the bud--or, "growth." strangers--foreigners (Ho 7:9).
8:8
8. vessel wherein is no pleasure--(Psa 41:12; Jr 22:28; 48:38).
8:9
9. gone ... to Assyria--referring to Menahem's application for Pul's aid in establishing him on the throne (compare Ho 5:13; 7:11). Menahem's name is read in the inscriptions in the southwest palace of Nimrod, as a tributary to the Assyrian king in his eighth year. The dynasty of Pul, or Phalluka, was supplanted at Nineveh by that of Tiglath-pileser, about 768 (or 760) B.C. Semiramis seems to have been Pul's wife, and to have withdrawn to Babylon in 768; and her son, Nabonassar, succeeding after a period of confusion, originated "the era of Nabonassar," 747 B.C. [G. V. Smith]. Usually foreigners coming to Israel's land were said to "go up"; here it is the reverse, to intimate Israel's sunken state, and Assyria's superiority. wild ass--a figure of Israel's headstrong perversity in following her own bent (Jr 2:24). alone by himself--characteristic of Israel in all ages: "lo, the people shall dwell alone" (Nu 23:9; compare Job 39:5-8). hired lovers--reversing the ordinary way, namely, that lovers should hire her (Eze 16:33, 34).
8:10
10. will I gather them--namely, the nations (Assyria, c.) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished (Eze 16:37). a little--rather, "in a little" [Henderson]. English Version gives good sense: They shall sorrow "a little" at the imposition of the tribute; God suspended yet the great judgment, namely, their deportation by Assyria. the burden of the king of princes--the tribute imposed on Israel (under Menahem) by the Assyrian king Pul, (2Ki 15:19-22), who had many "princes" under his sway (Is 10:8).
8:11
11. God in righteous retribution gives them up to their own way; the sin becomes its own punishment (Pr 1:31). many altars--in opposition to God's law (De 12:5, 6, 13, 14). to sin ... to sin--Their altars which were "sin" (whatever religious intentions they might plead) should be treated as such, and be the source of their punishment (1Ki 12:30; 13:34).
8:12
12. great things of ... law--(De 4:6, 8; Psa 19:8; 119:18, 72; 147:19, 20). Maurer not so well translates, "the many things of My law." my law--as opposed to their inventions. This reference of Hosea to the Pentateuch alone is against the theory that some earlier written prophecies have not come down to us. strange thing--as if a thing with which they had nothing to do.
8:13
13. sacrifices of mine offerings--that is, which they offer to Me. eat it--Their own carnal gratification is the object which they seek, not My honor. now--that is, "speedily." shall return to Egypt--(Ho 9:3, 6; 11:11). The same threat as in De 28:68. They fled thither to escape from the Assyrians (compare as to Judah, Jr 42:1-44:30), when these latter had overthrown their nation. But see on Ho 9:3.
8:14
14. forgotten ... Maker--(De 32:18). temples--to idols. Judah ... fenced cities--Judah, though less idolatrous than Israel, betrayed lack of faith in Jehovah by trusting more to its fenced cities than to Him; instead of making peace with God, Judah multiplied human defenses (Is 22:8; Jr 5:17; Mi 5:10, 11). I will send ... fire upon ... cities--Sennacherib burned all Judah's fenced cities except Jerusalem (2Ki 18:13). palaces thereof--namely, of the land. Compare as to Jerusalem, Jr 17:27.