John Calvin Commentary Hosea 11:4

"I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them." — Hosea 11:4 (ASV)

The Prophet states, first, that this people had not been severely dealt with, as slaves, oxen, or donkeys are usually treated. He had said before, that the people of Israel were like a heifer, which shakes off the yoke and in its unruliness loves only the threshing of grain.

But though the perverseness of the people was so great, God shows here that He had not used extreme rigor: I have drawn him, He says, with human cords and lovely bands. By "human cords," He means humane government. "I have not," He says, "treated you as slaves, but dealt with you as with children; and I have not regarded you as cattle, I have not driven you into a stall; but I have only drawn you with lovely bands."

In essence, the government which God had laid on the people was a sure and unique sign of His fatherly favor. Therefore, the people could not complain of too much rigor, as if God had considered their disposition and had used a hard wedge for a hard knot (as the common proverb says). For if God had dealt with the people in this way, they could have objected, saying that they had not been kindly drawn by Him, and that it was no wonder they did not obey, since they had been so roughly treated.

"But there is no ground for them," the Lord says, "to allege that I have used severity, for I could not have dealt more kindly with them. I have drawn them with human cords; I have governed them just as a father governs his own children; I have been bountiful towards them."

I indeed wished to do them good and, as it was right, required obedience from them. At the same time, I have laid on them a yoke, not servile, nor such as is usually laid on brute animals; but I was content with paternal discipline." Since such kindness had no influence over them, is it not right to conclude that their wickedness is irreclaimable and extreme?

He then adds, I have been to them like those who raise up the yoke upon the cheeks. "I have not burdened you," He says, "with too heavy burdens, as oxen and other beasts are usually burdened; but I have raised up the yoke upon the cheeks. I have chosen instead to bear the yoke Myself and to ease these ungodly and wicked men of their burden."

And God does not claim this in vain, for we know that when He uses His power and vindicates His authority, He does this not to burden the people, as earthly kings usually do; instead, He bears the burden which He lays on men. It is no wonder then that He says now, that He had lifted the yoke upon the cheeks of His people, like one who wishes not to burden his ox, but bears up the yoke himself with his own hands, so that the ox should not faint from weariness.

He afterwards adds, And I have made them to eat in quietness, or, "I have brought food to them." Some think the verb אוכיל, aukil, is in the future tense, and that אוכיל, aukil, is put for אאכיל, aakil; that is, I will cause them to eat; and that the future is to be resolved into the past. It is certain that the word אט, ath, sometimes means tranquil. Then it will be, "I have caused them quietly to eat." But another interpretation is more commonly received; as the word אט, ath, is derived from נטה, nathe (to raise), it is as if the Prophet had said that food had been brought to them.

God then does here in various ways highlight the ingratitude and wickedness of the people, because they had not acknowledged His paternal kindness, when He had Himself so kindly displayed His favor before their eyes. I have, He says, extended meat to them; that is, "I have not thrown it on the ground, nor placed it too high for them; they have not toiled in getting it; but I have, as it were, brought it with My own hand and set it before them, that they might eat without any trouble."

In short, God declares that He had tried in every way to find out whether there was any meekness or docility in the people of Israel, and that He had bestowed all His blessings to no avail. For this people were blind to favors so kind—favors that clearly proved that God had in every way shown Himself to be a Father.