Hos. 11. Israel’s ingratitude to God for his benefits, Hos. 11:1–4. God’s judgment upon them, Hos. 11:5–7. His mercy toward them, Hos. 11:8–11. Ephraim’s falsehood, and Judah’s fidelity, Hos. 11:12.

When Israel was a child; in the infancy of Israel, which is here dated equal with his being in Egypt. Then I loved him; manifested that tender and paternal affection which I did bear to him, increasing him in numbers, wealth, and honour.

As they; Moses and Aaron, and other prophets, and holy, zealous judges and priests, as Samuel, &c. Called; advised, persuaded, entreated, and urged by exhortations. Them; the whole house of Israel, and among these the ten tribes, or Ephraim.

I taught Ephraim also to go; as a mother or nurse doth help the child, and with tenderest care doth guide and form its steps, and by long-continued patience waits on it; such like was the tenderness of God toward Israel in his childhood.

I drew them; I found them backward and unapt to lead, I therefore in my pity laid my hand on them, and, as a father or friend, drew them gently to me. With cords of a man, i.e. with such obliging kindness as best fits and most prevails with a man, with reason.

He; Ephraim thus provided for by me, thus indulged, or else Ephraim punished. Shall not return into the land of Egypt; either needed not have courted Egypt’s friendship, or desired that assistance; I would have kept them safe enough, and sufficiently provided for them; so if you refer this to…

The sword; either intestine or foreign wars, or both. Shall abide; shall be long, not be as a sudden incursion which doth much mischief to surprised and unfortified places, but it shall be a lasting war; three years Samaria was besieged, so the sword did abide.

My people; yet God owneth them for his, he had not cast them quite off; or since they call themselves his, he is willing to encourage them by owning all in them that looks toward him.

After such unparalleled abuse of infinite mercy and patience, what could be expected, but unrelenting wrath and fiercest indignation? but here is a wonder above all the rest; bowels troubled, and struggling with anger, and contesting on behalf of most inexcusable sinners.

Here mercy rejoiceth against judgment, and God declareth his purpose to spare, he promiseth that he will not execute according to utmost severity. This promise he confirmeth by doubling it, though in somewhat different words: I will not do as men, who having beat down au enemy, and wounded him, do…

They, whom infinite mercy spareth, the choice remnant, shall walk after the Lord; shall hear and obey, worship and depend on the Lord, on the Messiah, of whom these and the words of the next verse do certainly speak.

The summary of the first part of this verse seems to be, that some should hasten, yet with solicitude, out of Egypt, whither they fled for shelter, like as a bird that hath been cast out of her nest hasteth to it; others like doves shall hasten out of Assyria unto Judea, but with fear and…

This verse might better begin the next chapter, and by most interpreters I have seen, it is the first verse of the next chapter; but since we find it here we will here consider it. Ephraim; many or the most of Ephraim.