Hosea 10
Israel is an empty vine; rejection of their King  1
The glory has departed from the calf images  5
Sin and iniquity, captivity  9
The divine appeal 12
Text
Comments
.1 ¶ Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
 2  Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
 3  For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
.4  They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
  1 - Empty vine The vine is God's people who bear fruit for His glory. Here the fruit is turned to false worship. Compare is0501ff, ho1408.
  3 - No king Kings were seen as protectors. Also ho1309ff.
.5  The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
.6  It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
 7  As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.
.8  The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
  5 - Beth-aven Means "house of sin" or "house of an idol." It is near Beth-el which means "house of God." The golden calves were set up at Beth-el 2ki1029. See map.
  7 - Cut off ... foam Easy to remove.
  8 - Mountains, cover us What a cry of desperation! The wicked will feel this way having no desire for the righteousness that brings peace and happiness re0615.
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