Hosea 9
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Commentaries
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Rejoice not - Do not imitate the heathens, nor serve their idols. Do not prostitute thy soul and body in practicing their impurities. Hitherto thou hast acted as a common harlot, who goes even to the common threshing places; connects herself with the meanest, in order to get a hire even of the grain there threshed out.
Open source ↗WARNING AGAINST ISRAEL'S JOY AT PARTIAL RELIEF FROM THEIR TROUBLES: THEIR CROPS SHALL FAIL, AND THE PEOPLE LEAVE THE LORD'S LAND FOR EGYPT AND ASSYRIA, WHERE THEY CANNOT, IF SO INCLINED, SERVE GOD ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT RITUAL: FOLLY OF THEIR FALSE PROPHETS. (Hos. 9:1-17) Rejoice not . . . for joy--literally, "to exultation." Thy exultation at the league with Pul, by which peace seems secured, is out of place: since thy idolatry will bring ruin on thee. as other people--the Assyrians for instance, who, unlike thee, are in the height of prosperity. loved a reward upon every corn floor--Thou hast desired, in reward for thy homage to idols, abundance of corn on every threshing-floor (Hos 2:12).
Open source ↗Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people,.... But rather mourn and lament, since such a load of guilt lay upon them, and they had so highly provoked the Lord to anger by their sins, and punishment would quickly be inflicted on them; and though they might be now in prosperity, through Jeroboam's success against their enemies, who by his victories had enlarged their border; yet they should not rejoice at it, as other people used to do on such occasions, by illumination of houses, making fires in the streets, feasting, and the like, since this prosperity would be but short lived: or if it was on account of the league made by Menahem with the king of Assyria, this would not last long; or on account of a good harvest, they need not so much rejoice as they that rejoice in harvest, since there would quickly be a famine among them: or rather it may respect rejoicing at their idols, and in their idolatrous worship, as other people, which is forbidden; such as instituting plays to the honour of them, making feasts before them, and dancing about them; whatever others might do, who knew not the true God, had not his law before them, nor his prophets sent to them to make known his will; who had been brought up in idolatry, adhered to their gods, and never forsook them; it ill became Israel to do the like. So the words may be rendered, "rejoice not, O Israel", at an idol (q), or idols, "as other people", idolatrous ones; the word signifies "similitude" (r) or "likeness", which an idol is: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God; playing the harlot with many lovers; committing adultery with stocks and stones; worshipping idols, and so departing from God, the true God, they had professed to be their God, their God in covenant; who stood in the relation of a husband to them, bu…
Open source ↗Warning against false security. The earthly prosperity of the people and kingdom was no security against destruction. Because Israel had fallen away from its God, it should not enjoy the blessing of its field-produce, but should be carried away to Assyria, where it would be unable to keep any joyful feasts at all. Hos 9:1. "Rejoice not, O Israel, to exult like the nations: for thou hast committed whoredom against thy God: hast loved the wages of whoredom upon all corn-floors. Hos 9:2. The threshing-floor and press will not feed them, and the new wine will deceive it." The rejoicing to which Israel was not to give itself up was, according to Hos 9:2, rejoicing at a plentiful harvest. All nations rejoiced, and still rejoice, at this (cf. Isa 9:2), because they regard the blessing of harvest as a sign and pledge of the favour and grace of God, which summon them to gratitude towards the giver. Now, when the heathen nations ascribed their fights to their gods, and in their way thanked them for them, they did this in the ignorance of their heart, without being specially guilty on that account, since they lived in the world without the light of divine revelation. But when Israel rejoiced in a heathenish way at the blessing of its harvest, and attributed this blessing to the Baals (see Hos 2:7), the Lord could not leave this denial of His gracious benefits unpunished. אל־גּיל belongs to תּשׂמח, heightening the idea of joy, as in Job 3:22. כּי זנית does not give the object of the joy ("that thou hast committed whoredom:" Ewald and others), but the reason why Israel was not to rejoice over its harvests, namely, because it had become unfaithful to its God, and had fallen into idolatry. זנה מעל, to commit whoredom out beyond God (by going away from Him). The words, "thou lovest the…
Open source ↗Here, I. The people of Israel are charged with spiritual adultery: O Israel! thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, Hos 9:1. Their covenant with God was a marriage-covenant, by which they were joined to him as their God, renouncing all others. But when they set up idols and worshipped them, when they fled to creatures for succour and put a confidence in them, they went a whoring from God as their God, and honoured the pretenders and rivals with the affection, adoration, and confidence, which were due to God only. Other people were idolaters, but that sin was not, in them, going a whoring from God, as it was in Israel that had been married to him. Note, The sins of those who have made a profession of religion and relation to God are more provoking to him than the sins of others. As a proof of their going a whoring from God, it is charged upon them that they loved a reward upon every corn-floor. 1. They loved to give rewards to their idols, in the offerings and first-fruits they presented to them out of every corn-floor. They took a strange pleasure in serving their idols with that which they would have grudged to consecrate to God and employ in his service. Note, It is common for those that are niggardly in the expenses of their religion to be very prodigal in spending upon their lusts. Or, 2. They loved to receive rewards from their idols; and such they reckoned the fruits of the earth to be: These are my rewards, which my lovers have given me, Hos 2:12. Note, Those are directly disposed to spiritual idolatry that love a reward in the corn-floor better than a reward in the favour of God and eternal life. II. They are forbidden to rejoice as other people do: "Rejoice not, O Israel! for joy. Do not expect to rejoice. What peace, what joy, what hast thou to do with either,…
Open source ↗9:1 do not rejoice: This is probably a reference to the Festival of Shelters, when Israel celebrated the final harvest of the year. This festival was ordained by God (Deut 16:13-15), but the Israelites had turned it into a wild pagan festival, behaving as other nations did. • hiring yourselves out like prostitutes (literally you have loved a prostitute’s pay): The Israelites ignorantly believed that their grain and wine were payment for their worship of the Canaanite fertility god.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity גִּיל (gîyl, H1524) — a revolution (of time, i.e. an age); also joy עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… זָנָה (zânâh, H2181) — to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) אֶתְנַן (ʼethnan, H868) — a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry) גֹּרֶן (gôren, H1637) — a threshing-floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area דָּגָן (dâgân, H1715) — properly, increase, i.e. grain
Open source ↗גֹּרֶן (gôren, H1637) — a threshing-floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area יֶקֶב (yeqeb, H3342) — a trough (as dug out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the… רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… תִּירוֹשׁ (tîyrôwsh, H8492) — must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine כָּחַשׁ (kâchash, H3584) — to be untrue, in word (to lie, feign, disown) or deed (to disappoint, fail, cringe)
Open source ↗יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2931) — foul in a religious sense אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them…
Open source ↗נָסַךְ (nâçak, H5258) — to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint aking יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָרֵב (ʻârêb, H6149) — to be agreeable זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the… לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מוֹעֵד (môwʻêd, H4150) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… חַג (chag, H2282) — a festival, or a victim therefor יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) שֹׁד (shôd, H7701) — violence, ravage מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt קָבַץ (qâbats, H6908) — to grasp, i.e. collect מֹף (Môph, H4644) — Moph, the capital of Lower Egypt קָבַר (qâbar, H6912) — to inter מַחְמָד (machmâd, H4261) — delightful; hence, a delight, i.e. object of affection or desire כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money קִמּוֹשׁ (qimmôwsh, H7057) — a prickly plant יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… חוֹחַ (chôwach, H2336) — a thorn; by analogy, a ring forthe nose אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… פְּקֻדָּה (pᵉquddâh, H6486) — visitation (in many senses, chiefly official) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שִׁלּוּם (shillûwm, H7966) — a requital, i.e. (secure) retribution, (venal) a fee יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… נָבִיא (nâbîyʼ, H5030) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man אֱוִיל (ʼĕvîyl, H191) — (figuratively) silly רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… שָׁגַע (shâgaʻ, H7696) — to rave through insanity רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
Open source ↗צָפָה (tsâphâh, H6822) — properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe,… אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… נָבִיא (nâbîyʼ, H5030) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man פַּח (pach, H6341) — a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin); also a spring net (as spread out like a lamina) יָקוֹשׁ (yâqôwsh, H3352) — properly, entangling; hence, a snarer דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb מַשְׂטֵמָה (masṭêmâh, H4895) — enmity בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗עָמַק (ʻâmaq, H6009) — to be (causatively, make) deep (literally or figuratively) שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… גִּבְעָה (Gibʻâh, H1390) — Gibah; the name of three places in Palestine זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh, H2403) — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or…
Open source ↗מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עֵנָב (ʻênâb, H6025) — a grape מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בִּכּוּרָה (bikkûwrâh, H1063) — the early fig תְּאֵן (tᵉʼên, H8384) — the fig (tree or fruit) רֵאשִׁית (rêʼshîyth, H7225) — the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בַּעַל פְּעוֹר (Baʻal Pᵉʻôwr, H1187) — Baal-Peor, a Moabitish deity נָזַר (nâzar, H5144) — to hold aloof, i.e. (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink, from impurity, and even… בֹּשֶׁת (bôsheth, H1322) — shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication… שִׁקּוּץ (shiqqûwts, H8251) — disgusting, i.e. filthy; especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol
Open source ↗אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory כָּבוֹד (kâbôwd, H3519) — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness עוּף (ʻûwph, H5774) — to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning) עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בֶּטֶן (beṭen, H990) — the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything הֵרוֹן (hêrôwn, H2032) — pregnancy
Open source ↗גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁכֹל (shâkôl, H7921) — properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) אוֹי (ʼôwy, H188) — lamentation; also interjectionally Oh! סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative)
Open source ↗אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… צֹר (Tsôr, H6865) — Tsor, a place in Palestine שָׁתַל (shâthal, H8362) — to transplant נָוֶה (nâveh, H5116) — (adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home,… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁכֹל (shâkôl, H7921) — properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or… רֶחֶם (rechem, H7358) — the womb צָמַק (tsâmaq, H6784) — to dry up שַׁד (shad, H7699) — the breast of a woman or animal (as bulging)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn with its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced in its glory— for it has been taken from them into exile.
though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout— yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.
As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.
My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.
Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.
I will destroy her vines and fig trees, which she thinks are the wages paid by her lovers. So I will make them into a thicket, and the beasts of the field will devour them.
When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.
Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.