Bible Commentaries

Ammi = My People.

Ruhamah = Pitied One.

your mother. Gomer (Hosea 1:3). The ten tribes personified by their royal capital.

her husband. Compare Jeremiah 31:32.

whoredoms . . . adulteries = idolatries. See note on Hosea 1:2.

between her breasts = her embraces.

Lest, &c., Hosea 2:3 refers to Israel's earliest history.

her: i.e. her land, as shown by the words following. Compare Ezekiel 16:23-43.

in the day. See App-18.

children = sons: i.e. the individual members of the nation collectively.

played the harlot: i.e. practiced idolatries. The silence as to details here is eloquent.

my lovers = my Baals, or lords. Compare Jeremiah 44:17, Jeremiah 44:18.

my, &c. Note the three pairs, including food, clothing, and luxuries. All are claimed as hers.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6) for emphasis.

hedge up, &c. Compare Job 8:23; Job 19:8. Lamentations 3:7, Lamentations 3:9.

thy way. Jehovah had spoken of Israel. Now He speaks to her.

make a wall = Hebrew wall a (stone) wall. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6) for emphasis = rear a stone wall.

follow after = eagerly follow after.

I will go, &c. Compare Hosea 6:15. Luke 15:18.

first husband. Compare Ezekiel 16:8.

than. Supply the Ellipsis: "than [it is] now".

did not know. Compare Isaiah 1:3.

that I = that [it was] I Who. Compare Ezekiel 16:17-19.

wine = new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27.

which they, &c. = they made offerings to Baal. Compare Hosea 8:4.

will I return. In judgment.

take away = take back. Compare Hosea 2:3.

My wine, &c. They were all His, and from Him.

recover = rescue (Genesis 31:16).

will I discover. Compare Ezekiel 16:37; Ezekiel 23:29.

her feast days. All these are in the sing, here = her feast, her new moon, her sabbath, her every appointed season.

destroy = lay waste. Compare Psalms 105:33.

whereof. In Hosea 2:5.

rewards = my hire, or fee. A technical term. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:18). App-92.

I will visit, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:34). App-92.

the days: i.e. the feast days.

Baalim. (Plural) including Baal-gad, Baal-Hermon, Baal-zephon, Baalberith, &c.

decked herself. Compare Ezekiel 23:40, Ezekiel 23:42.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

Therefore = Nevertheless. Note that the whole of this present dispensation comes between Hosea 2:13 and Hosea 2:14. See App-72.

I = I myself (emphatic).

bring her, &c. Compare Ezekiel 20:35.

comfortably = to the heart. Compare Isaiah 40:2.

from thence: i.e. [when she cometh] from thence. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 16:13, Numbers 16:14). App-92.

the valley of Achor. Ref to Joshua 7:26. App-92. The events must have been written down at the time and preserved. See App-47.

Achor = trouble. Compare Joshua 7:24-26.

door = entrance.

hope = expectation; no longer of trouble.

shall sing there. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:1). App-92.

there. Where Jehovah allureth, and bringeth, and speaketh.

as in the days, &c. Compare Jeremiah 2:2. Ezekiel 16:8, Ezekiel 16:22, Ezekiel 16:60.

when she came up. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 1:10; Exodus 12:38; Exodus 13:18, &c); and when Jehovah said "My son" (Exodus 4:22). App-92.

Ishi = My husband.

Baali = My lord.

I will take away, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 23:13). Compare Joshua 23:7. Psalms 16:4. Isaiah 2:18. Ezekiel 6:6; Ezekiel 36:25, Ezekiel 36:26; Ezekiel 37:23. Zechariah 13:2.

in that day. That yet future day of Israel's restoration.

make a covenant, &c. Compare Job 5:23. Isaiah 11:6-9. Ezekiel 34:25.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) to emphasize each item.

and I will break. Compare Psalms 46:9. Isaiah 2:4. Zechariah 9:10.

make them to lie down safely. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 25:18, Leviticus 25:19; Leviticus 26:5, Leviticus 26:6. Deuteronomy 12:10; Deuteronomy 33:12, Deuteronomy 33:28). App-92.

I will betroth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:16. Deuteronomy 20:7; Deuteronomy 22:23, Deuteronomy 22:25, Deuteronomy 22:27, Deuteronomy 22:28; Deuteronomy 28:30). App-92. Elsewhere only in 2 Samuel 3:14 ("espouse"). Notice the thrice-repeated word here, and in verses: Hosea 2:19, Hosea 2:20.

thou shalt know, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:7, &c). This is the sign of Israel's blessing (Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 54:13. Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 31:34. John 6:45). Their evils came from not knowing (Isaiah 1:3. Luke 19:42, Luke 19:44).

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.(with "eth) = Jehovah Himself. App-4.

I will hear. The restoration comes from, and begins with, Jehovah.

hear = answer, or respond to (Zechariah 8:12).

the earth. Note the Figure of speech Anadiplosis (App-6), by which the word at the end of Hosea 2:21 is repeated at the beginning of Hosea 2:22.

Jezreel = the seed of GOD [which He will sow], as stated in Hosea 2:23.

I will sow her: i. e. the new Israel.

will have mercy, &c. = have pity; i. e. will [call her] Ruhamah.

her that had not obtained mercy = Lo-Ruhamah (Not pitied).

not My People = Lo-ammi.

Thou art My People = Ammi [art] thou.

they shall say = and he, he shall say, &c: i. e. the whole nation as one man. Compare Hosea 1:11. Zechariah 13:9. Romans 9:26. 1 Peter 2:10.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.