Albert Barnes Commentary Hosea 2:18

"And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely." — Hosea 2:18 (ASV)

And in that day - “Truly and properly is the time of the Incarnation of the Only-Begotten called ‘the Day,’ in which darkness was dispelled in the world, the mist dispersed, bright rays were shed into the minds of believers, and the Sun of Righteousness shone upon us, pouring in the light of the true knowledge of God to those who could open wide the eye of the mind.”

And I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field ... - God promises to do away with the whole of the former curse. Previously, He had said that their vineyards would be laid waste “by the beasts of the field;” now, He would make an entire and lasting peace with them. He, whose creatures they are, would renew for them in Christ the peace of Paradise, which was broken through Adam’s rebellion against God, and would command no one to hurt them.

The blessings of God do not only correspond; they go beyond the punishment. The protection is complete. Every kind of evil animal—beast, bird, and reptile—is named. So Peter saw all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. All were to be slain to their former selves and pass into the Church. Together, these words express that God would withhold the power of all enemies, whether visible or invisible, worldly or spiritual.

Each also may denote some separate form or character of the enemy. Thus, “wild beasts” picture savageness or bloodthirstiness, the ceasing of which Isaiah prophesies under the same symbols of beasts of prey, such as the leopard, lion, wolf, and bear, or of venomous reptiles, such as the asp or the basilisk. The “fowls of heaven” denote stealthy enemies who, unperceived and unawares, take the word of God out of the heart. “Creeping things” denote those that entice to degrading, debasing sins, love of money, or pleasure, or appetite, whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things (Philippians 3:19). All shall be subdued to Christ or by Him, as He says, I give you power over serpents and scorpions, and all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19); and, You shall go upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and the adder you shall trample underfoot (Psalms 91:13).

I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth - God foretells much more the greatness of what He would do for humanity than the little that humanity receives. The Gospel brings peace within; and, since wars and fightings come from evil passions and lusts (James 4:1), it also brings “peace” externally as far as it prevails: peace for the “borders of” the Church (Psalms 147:14); peace in the world insofar as it is won to Christ by the Church; and peace to the soul of the believer insofar as he loves God and obeys the Gospel.

And will make them to lie down safely - that is, in confidence. God gives not only outward peace but also fearlessness. Fearless, the Christian lies down during life, at peace with God, his neighbor, and his own conscience; fearless, because perfect love casteth out fear (1 John 4:18); and fearless in death also, because resting in Jesus, in everlasting, unfailing, unfading peace.