Charles Ellicott Commentary Hosea 13
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Hosea 13
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Hosea 13
"When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died." — Hosea 13:1 (ASV)
There is a difference of opinion regarding the construction and rendering of this verse. We adopt the interpretation, When Ephraim uttered terror, he rebelled in Israel; then he committed sin through Baal, and died. This points to the revolt of the Ten Tribes, and the resulting abandonment of the pure traditions of Jehovah worship for those of Baal. This idea and that of the previous verse (Hosea 12:14) may have been brought into prominence by the recent adverse antagonism aroused by the Syro-Ephraimitish war against Judah.
"And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves." — Hosea 13:2 (ASV)
Ewald, following the hint of the Septuagint (who had a slightly different text), renders “according to their pattern of idols.” (Compare to the language of satire in Psalm 115:0; Isaiah 44:10–17.)
Men that sacrifice. More accurately, sacrificers from among men. Others would render “sacrificers of men.” But the former is quite consistent with Hebrew usage, while the latter compels us to adopt the unwarrantable supposition that human sacrifices formed part of the calf-worship. The calf images were kissed like those of the Madonna in Roman Catholic churches at the present day. The Greek προσκυνέω, “to worship,” meant originally to adore by kissing (Curtius, Greek Etymology, p. 158).
"Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney." — Hosea 13:3 (ASV)
Early dew ...—Better, dew that early passes away, like chaff that flies in a whirlwind from the threshing-floor, and like smoke from the window (i.e., the lattice beneath the roof through which it vanished).
"Yet I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour." — Hosea 13:4 (ASV)
The Septuagint has an addition which was not found by Jerome in any Hebrew copy of his day, and was pronounced by him to be spurious: I am the Lord thy God, that establisheth the heavens and createth the earth, whose hands have fashioned all the host of heaven; but I did not show them to thee that thou shouldest go after them, and I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know, etc.
"According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me." — Hosea 13:6 (ASV)
According to their pasture. Rather, As they pastured. (Compare the language of Deuteronomy 8:7-18; Deuteronomy 31:20; Deuteronomy 32:15.) The gifts of Divine love concealing the giver.
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