An exhortation

CHAP. VI.

CHAPTER VI.

to repentance.

The prophet earnestly exhorts to repentance, 1-3. God is then introduced as very tenderly and pathetically remonstrating against the backslidings of Ephraim and Judah, 4-11.

A. M. cir. 3224.

Ante U. C. 27,
Amulii Sylvii,
R. Alban.,
cir. annum 17.

B. C. cir. 780 COME, and let us return unto the LORD for a he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

3 d Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD; his going forth is prepared

a Deut. xxxii. 39;
Sam. ii. 6;
Jer. xxx. 17. c 1 Cor. xv. 4.

Job v. 18; Chap. v. 14. d Isa. liv. 13.- e2 Sam.

i

4 hO Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?
O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your
goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the
early dew it goeth away.

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the
Chap. xi. 8.

xxiii. 4-f Psa. lxxii. 6.- Job xxix. 23.
Or, mercy, or kindness.-

k Chap. xiii. 3.— Jer. i. 10; v. 14.

fell in spring. Here is strong confidence; but not
misplaced, however worthless the persons were. As
surely as the sun, who is now set, is running his course
to arise on us in the morning, and make a glorious
day after a dreary night; so surely shall the Lord
come again from his place, and the Sun of righteous-
ness shall arise on our souls with healing in his wings.
He is already on his way to save us.

NOTES ON CHAP. VI. Verse 1. Come, and let us return unto the Lord] When God had purposed to abandon them, and they found that he had returned to his place to his temple, where alone he could be successfully sought; they, feeling their weakness, and the fickleness, weakness, and unfaithfulness of their idols and allies, now resolve to "return to the Lord;" and, referring to what he said, chap. v. 14: "I will tear and go away;" they say, he "hath torn, but he will heal us;" their allies had torn, but they gave them no healing: While, therefore, they acknowledge the justice of God in their punishment, they depend on his well-goodness (for goodness it was while it endured), was known mercy and compassion for restoration to life and health.

Verse 2. After two days will he revive] Such is his power that in two or three days he can restore us, He can realize all our hopes, and give us the strongest token for good.

Verse 4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?] This is the answer of the Lord to the above pious resolutions; sincere while they lasted, but frequently forgotten, because the people were fickle. Their

like the morning cloud that fadeth away before the
rising sun, or like the early dew which is speedily
evaporated by heat. Ephraim and Judah had too
much goodness in them to admit of their total rejec-
tion, and too much evil to admit of their being placed
among the children. Speaking after the manner of
men, the justice and mercy of God seem puzzled how
to act toward them. When justice was about to de-

In the third day he will raise us up] In so short a time can he give us complete deliverance. These words are supposed to refer to the death and resur-stroy them for their iniquity, it was prevented by their rection of our Lord; and it is thought that the apostle refers to them, 1 Cor. xv. 4: "Christ rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures ;" and this is the only place in the Scriptures, i. e., of the Old Testament, where his resurrection on the third day seems to be hinted at. The original, p' yekimenu, has been translated, he will raise him up.' Then they who trusted in him could believe that they should be quickened together with him.

Verse 3. Then shall we know] We shall have the fullest evidence that we have not believed in vain.

If we follow on to know the Lord] If we continue to be as much in earnest as we now are.

His going forth] The manifestation of his mercy to our souls is as certain as the rising of the sun at the appointed time.

repentance and contrition: when mercy was about to
pour upon them as penitents its choicest blessings, it
was prevented by their fickleness and relapse! These
things induce the just and merciful God to exclaim,
"O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah,
what shall I do unto thee?" The only thing that could
be done in such a case was that which God did.

Verse 5. Therefore have I hewed them by the pro-
phets] I have sent my prophets to testify against
their fickleness. They have smitten them with the
most solemn and awful threatenings; they have, as
it were, slain them by the words of my mouth. But
to what purpose?

Thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth]

,umispateycha or petse ומשפטיך אור יצא Instead of

"and thy judgments a light that goeth forth," the versions in general have read "INƆ ‘ODVD) umishpati keor, "and my judgment is as the light." The And he shall come unto us as the rain] As surely as final caph in the common reading has by mistake the early and the latter rain come. The first, to pre-been taken from 8 aur, and joined to our mishpare the earth for the seed; this fell in autumn: the pati; and thus turned it from the singular to the second, to prepare the full ear for the harvest; this plural number, with the postfix cha. The proper

r

9 And as troops wait for a man, so

W

of Ephraim and Judah.

of robbers A. M. cir. 3224.

the

company of priests murder in the way by consent for they commit lewdness.

B. C. cir. 780. Ante U. C. 27. Amulii Sylvii,

R. Alban. cir, annum 17

10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house

7 But they like men have transgressed of Israel: there is a the whoredom of Ephraim, the covenant: there have they dealt treache-Israel is defiled. rously against me.

b

11 Also, O Judah, he hath set a harvest

8 Gilead is a city of them that work ini- for thee, when I returned the captivity of quity, and is polluted with blood.

V

my people.

Chap. v. 7. Chap. xii. 11.- -Or, cunning for blood. Jer. xi. 9; Ezek. xxii. 25; Chap. v. 1, 2.- -x Heb. with one shoulder, or to Shechem. Or, enormity.- Jer. v. 31. a Chap. iv. 12, 13, 17.- Jer.li. 33; Joel iii. 13; Rev. xiv. 15. e Isa. cxxvi. 1.

m Jer. xxiii. 29; Heb. iv. 12.———— t Or, that thy judgments might be, &e.- - 1 Sam. xv. 22; Eccles. v. 1; Mic. vi. 8; Matt. ix. 13; xii. 7.-P Psalm 1. 8, 9; Proverbs xxi. 3; Isaiah i. 11. Jer. xxii. 16; John xvii. 3. Or, like Adam; Job-xxxi. 33. s Chap. viii. 1.

reading is, most probably, "And my judgment is as the light going forth." It shall be both evident and swift; alluding both to the velocity and splendour of light.

Verse 6. I desired mercy, and not sacrifice] I taught them righteousness by my prophets; for I desired mercy. I was more willing to save than to destroy; and would rather see them full of penitent and holy resolutions, than behold them offering the best and most numerous victims upon my altar. See Matt. ix. 13. Verse 7. But they like men (8) keadam, “"like Adam") have transgressed the covenant] They have sinned against light and knowledge as he did. This is sense, the other is scarcely so. There was a striking similarity in the two cases, Adam, in Paradise, transgressed the commandment, and I cast him` out : Israel, in possession of the promised land, transgressed my covenant, and I cast them out, and sent them into captivity.

Verse 8. Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity] In this place Jacob and Laban made their covenant, and set up a heap of stones, which was called Galeed, the heap of testimony; and most probably idolatry was set up here. Perhaps the very heap became the object of superstitious adoration.

Verse 9. As troops of robbers] What a sad picture is this of the state of the priesthood! The country of Gilead was infamous for its robberies and murders.

The idolatrous priests there formed themselves into companies, and kept possession of the roads and passes; and if they found any person going to Jerusalem to worship the true God, they put him to death. The reason is given

For they commit lewdness.] They are gross idol

aters.

Verse 10. I have seen a horrible thing] That is, the idolatry that prevailed in Israel to such a degree that the whole land was defiled.

Verse 11. O Judah, he hath set a harvest for thee] Thou also hast transgressed; thy harvest will come; thou shalt be reaped down and sent into captivity. The sickle is already thrust in. That which thou hast sowed shalt thou reap. They who sow unto the flesh shall reap corruption.

When I returned the captivity of my people.] Bp. Newcome translates, "Among those who lead away the captivity of my people." There is thy harvest; they who have led Israel into captivity shall lead thee also into the same, The Assyrians and Babylonians were the same kind of people; equally idolatrous, equally oppressive, equally cruel. From the common reading some suppose this to be a promise of return from captivity. It is true that Judah was gathered together again and brought back to their own land; but the majority of the Israelites did not return, and are not now to be found.

CHAPTER VII.

Here God complains that though he had employed every means for reforming Israel, they still persisted in their iniquity, without fearing the consequences, 1, 2; that those who ought to check their crimes were pleased with them, 3; and that they all burned with adultery, as an oven when fully heated, and ready to receive the kneaded dough, 4. The fifth verse alludes to some recent enormities; the sixth charges them with dividing their time between inactivity and iniquity; the seventh alludes to their civil broils and conspiracies; (see 2 Kings xv. 10, 14, 25;) the eighth to their joining themselves with idolatrous nations; and the ninth describes the sad consequence. The tenth verse reproves their pride and open contempt of God's worship; the eleventh reproves their foolish conduct in applying for aid to their enemies; (see 2 Kings xv. 19, and xvii. 4;) the twelfth and thirteenth threaten them with punishments; the fourteenth charges them with hypocrisy in their acts of humiliation; the fifteenth with ingratitude; and the image of the deceitful bow, in the sixteenth verse, is highly expressive of their frequent apostasies; and their hard speeches against God shall be visited upon them by their becoming a reproach in the land of their enemies.

CHAP. VII.

A. M. cir. 3224. WHEN I would have healed 5 In the day of our king the A. M. cir. 3224.

Israel, then the iniquity of princes have made him sick Ephraim was discovered, and them with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

cir. annum 17. a wickedness of Samaria: for

4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

Ephraim resembles

A. M. cir. 3224

B. C. cir. 780.

Ante U. C. 27.
Amulii Sylvii.
R. Alban.,

cir. annum 17.

and there upon him, yet he transgressed against me: though
knoweth not.

u

V

b I have redeemed them, yet they

cir. annum 17.

10. And the pride of Israel have spoken lies against me. testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. 11 w

14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves

Ephraim also is like a silly dove with- for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. out heart: they call to Egypt, they go to As-15 Though I have bound and strengthened syria. their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, 2 as their congregation hath heard.

13-Wo unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have

a

The same words

O my coevals! remnants of yourselves, Shall our pale wither'd hands be still stretch'd out? Trembling at once with eagerness and age; With avarice and ambition grasping-fast Grasping at air! For what hath earth beside? We want but little; nor THAT LITTLE long. Verse 10. The pride of Israel] as at chap. v. 5, where see the note.Verse 11. Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart] A bird that has little-understanding; that is easily snared and taken; that is careless about its own young, and seems to live without any kind of thought. It has been made, by those who, like itself, are without heart, the symbol of conjugal affection. Nothing worse could have been chosen, for the dove and its mate are continually quarrelling.

They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.] They strive to make these their allies and friends; but in this they showed that they were without heart, had not a sound understanding; for these were rival nations, and Israel could not attach itself to the one without incurring the jealousy and displeasure of the other. Thus, like the silly dove, they were constantly falling into snares; sometimes of the Egyptians, at others of the Assyrians. By the former they were betrayed; by the latter, ruined.

Verse 12. When they shall go] To those nations for help

I will spread my net upon them] I will cause them to be taken by those in whom they trusted.

I will bring them down] They shall no sooner set off to seek this foreign help, than my net shall bring them down to the earth. The allusion to the dove, and to the mode of taking the fowls of heaven, is still carried on.

e

16 They return, but not to the Most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

a Heb. spoil.
b Mic. vi. 4.
36; Jer. iii. 10; Zech. vii. 5.
xi. 7.- Psalm lxxvii. 57. -
ix. 3, 6.

Job xxxv. 9, 10; Psa. lxxviii -d Or, chastened. Le Chap Psalm lxxin. 9.- Chapter

ing of my law, and the denunciation of my wrath against idolaters.

Bishop Newcome translates: "I will chastise them when they hearken to their assembly." That is, when they take the counsel of their elders to go down to Egypt for help, and trust in the arm of the Assyrians for succour.

Verse 13. Wo unto them!] They shall have wo, because they have fled from ne. They shall have destruction, because they have transgressed against me.

Though I have redeemed thern] Out of Egypt; and given them the fullest proof of my love and power.

Yet they have spoken lies against me.] They have represented me as rigorous and cruel; and my service as painful and unprofitable.

Verse 14. They have not cried unto me with their heart] They say they have sought me, but could not find me; that they have cried unto me, but I did not answer. I know they have cried, yea, howled; could I hear them when all was forced and hypocritical, not one sigh coming from their heart?

but

They assemble themselves for corn and wine] In dearth and famine they call and howl: but they assemble themselves, not to seek ME, but to invoke their false gods for corn and wine.

Verse 15. Though I have bound and strengthened their arms] Whether I dealt with them in judgment or mercy, it was all one; in all circumstances they rebelled against me.

Verse 16. They return, but not to the Most High] They go to their idols.

They are like a deceitful bow] Which, when it is reflexed, in order to be strung, suddenly springs back into its quiescent curve; for the eastern bows stand in their quiescent state in a curve, something like and in order to be strung must be bended back in the opposite direction. This bending of the bow requires both strength and skill; and if not properly done, it As their congregation hath heard.] As, in their will fly back, and regain its former position; and in solemn assemblies they before have heard; in the read-this recoil endanger the archer-may even break an

This chapter begins with threatening some hostile invasion in short and broken sentences, full of rapidity, and expressive of sudden danger and alarm: “The trumpet to thy mouth; he cometh as an eagle," 1. And why? For their hypocrisy, 2; iniquity, 3; treason (see 2 Kings xv. 13, 17) and idolatry, 4; particularly the worshipping of the calves of Dan and Beth-el, 5, 6. The folly and unprofitableness of pursuing evil courses is then set forth in brief but very emphatic terms. The labour of the wicked is vain, like sowing of the wind; and the fruit of it destructive as the whirlwind. Like corn blighted in the bud, their toil shall have no recompense; or if it should have a little, their enemies shall devour it, 7. selves, too, shall suffer the same fate, and shall be treated by the nations of Assyria and Egypt as the vile sherds of a broken vessel, 8, 9. Their incorrigible idolatry is again declared to be the cause of their approaching captivity under the king of Assyria. And as they delighted in idolatrous altars, there they shall have these in abundance, 10-14. The last words contain a prediction of the destruction of the fenced cities of Judah, because the people trusted in these for deliverance, and not in the Lord their God.

2⚫ Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we mine anger is kindled against them how know thee.