Hosea:1

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* The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea , the son of Beeri , in the days (note :)Also called Azariah , who being a leper was disposed from his kingdom .(:note ) of Uzziah , Jotham , Ahaz , [and ] Hezekiah , So that it may be gathered by the reign of these four kings that he preached about eighty years . kings of Judah , and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash , king of Israel . The Argument - After the ten tribes had fallen away from God by the wicked and subtle counsel of Jeroboam , the son of Neba , and instead of his true service commanded by his word , worshipped him according to their own imaginings and traditions of men , giving themselves to most vile idolatry and superstition , the Lord from time to time sent them Prophets to call them to repentance . But they grew even worse and worse , and still abused God 's benefits . Therefore now when their prosperity was at the highest under Jeroboam , the son of Joash , God sent Hosea and Amos to the Israelites (as he did at the same time send Isaiah and Micah to those of Judah ) to condemn them for their ingratitude . And whereas they thought themselves to be greatly in the favour of God , and to be his people , the Prophet calls them bastards and children born in adultery : and therefore shows them that God would take away their kingdom , and give them to the Assyrians to be led away captives . Thus Hosea faithfully executed his office for the space of seventy years , though they remained still in their vices and wickedness and derided the Prophets , and condemned God 's judgments . And because they would neither be discouraged with threatening only , nor should they flatter themselves by the sweetness of God 's promises , he sets before them the two principal parts of the Law , which are the promise of salvation , and the doctrine of life . For the first part he directs the faithful to the Messiah , by whom alone they would have true deliverance : and for the second , he uses threatenings and menaces to bring them from their wicked manners and vices : and this is the chief scope of all the Prophets , either by God 's promises to allure them to be godly , or else by threatenings of his judgments to scare them from vice . And even though the whole Law contains these two points , yet the Prophets moreover note distinctly both the time of God 's judgments and the manner . * The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea . And the LORD said to Hosea , Go , take unto thee a wife (note :)That is , one that has been a harlot for a long time : not that the Prophet did this thing in effect , but he saw this in a vision , or else was commanded by God to set forth under this parable or figure the idolatry of the Synagogue , and of the people her children .(:note ) of whoredoms and children of whoredoms : for the land hath committed great whoredom , [departing ] from the LORD . * So he went and took (note :)Gomer signifies a consumption or corruption , and rotten clusters of figs , declaring that they were all corrupt like rotten figs .(:note ) Gomer the daughter of Diblaim ; which conceived , and bare him a son . * And the LORD said unto him , Call his name (note :)Meaning that they would no longer be called Israelites , which name they boasted because Israel did prevail with God : but that they were as bastards , and therefore should be called Jezreelites , that is , scattered people , alluding to Jezreel , which was the chief city of the ten tribes under Ahab , where Jehu shed so much blood ; ( 1Ki_18:45 ).(:note ) Jezreel ; for yet a little [while ], and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of I will be avenged upon Jehu for the blood that he shed in Jezreel : for even though God stirred him up to execute his judgments , yet he did them for his own ambition , and not for the glory of God as the intended goal : for he built up that idolatry which he had destroyed . Jehu , and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel . * And it shall come to pass at that (note :)When the measure of their iniquity is full , and I will take vengeance and destroy all their administration and strength .(:note ) day , that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel . * And she conceived again , and bare a daughter . And [God ] said unto him , Call her name (note :)That is , not obtaining mercy : by which he signifies that God 's favour had departed from them .(:note ) Loruhamah : for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel ; but I will utterly For the Israelites never returned after they were taken captives by the Assyrians . take them away . * But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah , and will (note :)For after their captivity he restored them miraculously by the means of Cyrus ; ( Ezr_1:1 ).(:note ) save them by the LORD their God , and will not save them by bow , nor by sword , nor by battle , by horses , nor by horsemen . * Nowe when she had wained Lo-ruhamah , shee conceiued , and bare a sonne . * Then said [God ], Call his name (note :)That is , not my people .(:note ) Loammi : for ye [are ] not my people , and I will not be your [God ]. * Yet the number of the (note :)Because they thought that God could not have been true in his promise unless he had preserved them , he declares that though they were destroyed , yet the true Israelites who are the sons of the promise , would be without number , who consist both of the Jews and the Gentiles ; ( Rom_9:26 ).(:note ) children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea , which cannot be measured nor numbered ; and it shall come to pass , [that ] in the place where it was said unto them , Ye [are ] not my people , [there ] it shall be said unto them , [Ye are ] the sons of the living God . * Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be (note :)That is , after the captivity of Babylon , when the Jews were restored : but chiefly this refers to the time of Christ , who would be the head both of the Jews and Gentiles .(:note ) gathered together , and appoint themselves one head , and they shall come up out of the land : for great [shall be ] the The calamity and destruction of Israel will be so great , that to restore them will be a miracle . day of Jezreel .

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