Hos. 4 God’s judgments against the sins of the people, Hos. 4:1–5, and of the priests, Hos. 4:6–11, and against their idolatry, Hos. 4:12–14. Judah is exhorted to take warning by Israel’s calamity, Hos. 4:15–19.

Hear; attend, consider, and duly weigh: it is the hearing of the mind, as well as of the ear, is here required. The word of the Lord; he that speaks is the great God, though the messenger be a man; the message is not man’s, but it is the word, the message of the sovereign, holy; just, and mighty…

By swearing; either falsely or profanely, or cursing and wishing evil to one; instead of truth here is perjury; instead of compassion here is execration and evil-speaking.

Therefore, since their sins are so many and so great, for those very sins already mentioned in the 1st and 2nd verses, shall the land, which the ten tribes did now inhabit, mourn: it is a metaphorical expression, for properly it cannot be spoken of the senseless and inanimate creatures; but as men…

Yet; though judgments great and wasting are so sure, though the approaching calamities will lay all utterly waste. Let no man; none of private capacity, no priest or prophet, any more open their mouths to reason and debate with this people; let all know they are so obstinate and hardened it is to…

Therefore, because thy sins are so many and so great, and thou art incorrigible in them, shalt thou fall; the prophet turns his speech to the people, thou, O Israel; he speaks to them as to one person, they were all of one piece in sin, and should be so one in punishment.

My people: the divorce was not yet issued out, the ten tribes yet were in some sense Ammi. Are destroyed; not only in the prophetic style, are, because ere long they shall most certainly be destroyed, but in the course of the history it is plain in matter of fact; many of them were cut off by Pul…

As they; kings, priests, and people of that age, that is, Jeroboam the Second, great-grandson of Jehu, who raised the kingdom to its highest pitch and glory. Were increased; both multiplied for number, and grew great in riches, power, and honour. Such temper were they of, Isa. 1:2.

They, the priests who minister to the idols, eat up the sin of my people; live upon with delight, maintain themselves and theirs; either by conniving at their sins, not reproving as they deserve, lest thereby they should disoblige persons, and lessen their bounty to them; or leave them to sin…

The sum of these words is this, that God will certainly punish; for the sins both of priests and people are such that God will no further forbear either; and when he comes to punish, he will do it according to the ways and doings of both; where sins have been equal, punishment shall be equal too,…

For, or And, Heb. This is another part of their punishment, and it is better rendered as a particular part of their curse, than as a cause of that which was spoken in the former verse. They shall eat, and not have enough: in Hos. 4:8 they are said to eat up the sin of that people, i.e.

Whoredom; unlawful converse with wanton women, the forbidden pleasures of an adulterous bed. And wine and new wine; excess of drinking, and indeed all immoderate pleasures; one kind being put for all.

My people; whom I chose, brought out of Egypt, and settled in this land, wire are not yet cast off, though they deserve it, who call themselves my people. Ask counsel; inquire about future things, and what shall befall them.

They, both priests and people, sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains; where their altars were sometimes to God, sometimes to idols: these were the high places, chosen out by themselves, and where their sacrifices offered to God were esteemed little else than idolatry, Isa. 57:7.

I will not punish, or visit upon, your daughters; God will not any more lay on them such restraints, as remarkable punishments are usually to all that observe them. They are threatened thus to be thrown up to their own hearts’ and others’ lusts.

This summeth up the sins, the idolatries of the ten tribes; and is a transition to what next follows; either by way of exhortation, or admonition, or prayer and wish, for the two tribes which stuck to the house of David, as to the temple.

There is just cause why Judah should not imitate Israel, and this cause is here assigned. Israel; the ten tribes As a backsliding heifer, grown lusty, fed and wanton, will neither endure the yoke to work, nor be confined in her allowed.

The children of Ephraim were numerous and potent among the ten tribes, a principal part of them, and out of which tribe the first idolater and usurper did arise, 1 Kings 11:26; and therefore the whole body of the ten tribes, and the rulers among them, are here particularly pointed at.

Though in their idol feasts they drink wine and strong drinks, yet this is either sour and unpleasant, or corrupt and hurtful, there is no good savour in it; therefore, O Judah, decline thou the intimate familiarity, and have nothing to do with the idolatries, of Israel.

The whirlwind of wrath from God hath already seized this old adulteress, and carried some of her children away already, 2 Kings 15:19, 2 Kings 15:29. Execution of judgment is already begun, and therefore, O Judah, keep distance from Ephraim.