John Calvin Commentary Hosea 11:6

"And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour [them], because of their own counsels." — Hosea 11:6 (ASV)

It was difficult to persuade proud people that the overthrow Hosea had foretold was near. This was especially because they saw they were equipped with many defences. Therefore, it is now added that their fortified cities would not prevent the enemy from breaking through, devastating the whole country, and leading the people away captive. We now understand how this verse is connected with the previous one. The Prophet had threatened exile. But since the Israelites thought themselves safe in their nests, he adds that there was no reason for them to trust in their fortresses, because the Lord could destroy all their cities by the sword.

He therefore says, The sword shall fall on their cities. The verb חול (chul) means to abide, and to encamp, and sometimes to fall or rush upon; this second sense is more suitable to this place. Some, however, translate it as: The sword shall abide on the cities until it consumes them.

But as to the meaning, there is not much difference. I will, however, briefly state what I consider the right view. The sword then shall fall, or rush, upon his cities; and further, it shall consume his bars. The Hebrews often call bars or bolts בדים (badim), and still oftener, branches or members—the branches of a tree, or the members of a human body.

Hence, some take the word metaphorically, as meaning towns and villages, for they are, so to speak, the branches or members of cities. Others, however, explain it as signifying sons, who grow from their parents as branches from a tree; but this seems too far-fetched. I do not disapprove of the opinion that the Prophet here refers to towns and villages, which are, so to speak, the appendages of cities, like branches spreading out here and there from a tree. The meaning, then, is not incorrect: that the sword will consume and devour towns and villages when it falls on the cities.

But what I have already said about bolts seems more suitable to the Prophet's design. We must at the same time consider the word בדים (bedim) as representing a part for the whole. Bolts were only a part of the fortifications, but the gates, being closed and fastened, make the cities strong. So this passage, by understanding a part to represent the whole, can be explained to mean that the sword, when it fell on cities, would consume and destroy whatever strength and defence they possessed.

He at the same time mentions the cause: Because, he says, of their own counsels. No doubt, he added this expression because the Israelites thought themselves wise. For ungodly men arrogate much prudence to themselves, and they do this so that they may, so to speak, look down on God from their height and laugh at every instruction. Since, then, those who despise God consider themselves very wise and fortified by their good counsels, the Prophet shows that the cause of the Israelites' ruin would be that they were swollen with this diabolical prudence and would not condescend to obey the word of the Lord.