Albert Barnes Commentary Hosea 10:1

"Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars." — Hosea 10:1 (ASV)

Israel is an empty vine - Or, in the same sense, “a luxuriant vine;” literally, “one which pours out,” pours itself out into leaves, abundant in shoots (as most old versions explain it), luxuriant in leaves, emptying itself in them, and empty of fruit; like the fig-tree, which our Lord cursed.

For the more a fruit tree puts out its strength in leaves and branches, the less and the worst fruit it bears: “The juices which it ought to transform into wine, it disperses in the ambitious idle show of leaves and branches.”

The sap in the vine is an emblem of His Holy Spirit, through whom alone we can bear fruit. “His grace which was in me,” says Paul, “was not in vain.” It is in vain to us when we waste the stirrings of God’s Spirit in feelings, aspirations, longings, transports, “which bloom their hour and fade”. Like the leaves, these feelings aid in maturing fruit; when there are leaves only, the tree is barren and near to cursing, whose end is to be burned (Hebrews 6:8).

It brings forth fruit for itself - Literally, “sets fruit to, or on itself.” Luxuriant in leaves, its fruit becomes worthless, and is from itself to itself. It is uncultivated (for Israel refused cultivation), pouring itself out as it willed, in what it willed. It had a rich show of leaves, a show also of fruit, but not for the Lord of the vineyard, since they came to no size or ripeness. Yet to the superficial glance, it was rich, prosperous, healthy, abundant in all things, as was the outward state of Israel under Jehoash and Jeroboam II.

According to the multitude of its fruit - Or more strictly, “as its fruit was multiplied, it multiplied altars; as its land was made good, they adorned their images.” The more outward prosperity God bestowed upon them, the more they abused His gifts, referring them to their idols. The more God lavished His mercies on them, the more profuse they were in adoring their idols. The superabundance of God’s goodness became the occasion of the superabundance of their wickedness. They rivaled, competed with, and outdid the goodness of God, so that He could bestow no good upon them which they did not turn to evil.

People think this strange. Strange it is, as is all perversion of God’s goodness; yet so it is now. People’s sins are either the abuse of what God gives or rebellion because He withholds.

In the sins of prosperity—wealth, health, strength, powers of mind, wit—people sin in a way in which they could not sin, unless God continually supplied them with those gifts which they turn to sin. The more God gives, the more opportunity and ability they have to sin, and the more they sin. They are evil, not only in spite of God’s goodness, but because He is good.