1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Commentary

Verse 1

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel.
When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?
EGW SDA Bible Commentary
. See EGW on Jeremiah 23:1.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Set the trumpet - The Lord here commands the prophet to publish, as by sound of trumpet, that which God will bring upon apostate Israel. He - The king of Assyria. As an eagle - Swift, hungry, surmounting all difficulties. House of the Lord - The family of Israel, the Israelites church.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
Interpreters nearly all agree in this, that the Prophet threatens not the kingdom of Israel, but the kingdom of Judah, at the beginning of this chapter, because he names the house of God, which they take to be the temple. I indeed allow, that the Prophet has spoken already, in two places, of the kingdom of Judah, but as it were in passing. He has, it is true, introduced some reproofs and threatening, but so that the distinction was quite clear; and we see that he now goes to the kingdom of Judah, but in the second verse, he names Israel, and yet continues his discourse. To thy mouth,he says,the trumpet, etc.; and afterwards he adds,To meshall they cry, My God; we know thee, Israel. Here, certainly, the discourse is addressed to the ten tribes. I am therefore by no means induced to explain the beginning of the chapter by applying it to the kingdom of Judah: and I certainly do wonder that interpreters have mistaken in a matter so trifling; for the house of God means not only the temple, but also the whole people. As Israel retained this boast, that they were a people holy to God, and that they were his family, he says, “Put or set the trumpet to thy mouth, and proclaim the war, which is now nigh at hand; for the enemy hastens, who is to attack the house of God, that is, this holy people, who cover themselves with the name of God, and who, trusting in their election and adoption, think that they shall be free from all evils; warshall come as an eagleagainst this house of God.”Had the Prophet added any thing which could be referred peculiarly to the kingdom of Judah, I should willingly accede to their opinion, who think that the house of God is the sanctuary. But let the whole context be read, and any one may easily perceive, that the Prophet speaks of Israel no less in the first verse than in the second and third. For, as it has been said, he lays down no difference, but pursues throughout his teaching or discourse in the same strain. He says first, A trumpet to thy mouth,or, “Set to thy mouth the trumpet.” It is an exhibition, (hypotyposis;) for we know that God, in order to affect more powerfully the people, clothes his Prophets with various characters. The Prophet then is introduced here as a herald who proclaims war, or a messenger, or by whatever name you may be pleased to call him. Here then the Prophet is commanded, not to speak with his mouth, but to show by the trumpet that war was nigh, as though God himself by his trumpet declared war against Israel, which was to be carried on soon after by earthly enemies. The enemies were soon after to come, and the herald was to come in the usual manner to declare war. The Greeks call themκηρρυκες,proclaimers, we say, “Les heraux“. As these earthly kings have their proclaimers, orκηρυκες, or heralds, or messengers, who proclaim war; so the Lord sends his Prophet with the usual charge to declare war: “Go then, and let the Israelites know, not now by thy mouth, but even by thy throat, by the sound of the trumpet, that I am an enemy to them, and that I am present with a strong army to destroy them.” It is indeed certain that the Prophet did not use a trumpet; but the Lord by this representations as I have already said increased the reality of what was taught that the Israelites might perceive, that it was not in sport or in play that the Prophet threatened them, but that it was done seriously, as though they now saw the heralds who was to proclaim war; for this was not usually done except when the army is already prepared for battle.He then says, As an eagle against the house of JehovahWe have already said what the Prophet means by the house of Jehovah, even that people who thought that they would be exempt from every evil, because they had been adopted by the Lord. Hence the Israelites called themselves God’s household; and though under this cover, they impiously and profanely abandoned themselves to every kind of turpitude, yet they thought that they were on the best of terms with God himself. “There shall come,” he says, “a common ruin to you all; this boasting shall not prevent me from taking vengeance at last on your sins.” But he addsAs an eagle,that the Israelites might not think that there was to be a long delay; for the impious procrastinate, when they see any danger at hand. Hence, that the Israelites might not continue torpid in their vices, the Prophet says, that the destruction of which he spoke would be like the eagle; for in a moment the eagle goes over an immense distance, and we wonder when we see it over our heads, though a little before it did not appear. So also the Prophet says, that destruction, though not yet seen, was however nigh at hand, that being smitten with terror, though now late, yet as the Lord was thus urging them, they might return to him.
McArther Bible Commentary
trumpet. To sound the alarm, for the divine conqueror approaches. like an eagle. Lit. a "vulture," Assyria was ready to descend quickly upon Israel to devour her (cf. Deu 28:49). transgressed My covenant. See note on Hos 6:7.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:49 Jeremiah 4:5 Jeremiah 4:13 Jeremiah 34:18 Jeremiah 48:40 Jeremiah 49:22 Ezekiel 17:3 Ezekiel 33:3 Hosea 4:6 Hosea 5:8 Hosea 6:7 Habakkuk 1:8

Verse 2

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel.
When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Shall cry - But not sincerely.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
By the Prophet saying, To me shall they cry,some understand that the Israelites are blamed for not fleeing to God; and they thus explain the Prophet’s words, “They ought to have cried to me.” It seems to others to be an exhortation, “Let the Israelites now cry to me.” But I take the words simply as they are, that is that God here again touches the dissimulation of the Israelites,They will cry to me, We know thee;and to this the ready answer isIsrael has cast away good far from himself; the enemy shall pursue himI thus join together the two verses; for in the former the Lord relates what they would do, and what the Israelites had already begun to do; and in the latter verse he shows that their labour would be in vain, because they ever cherished wickedness in their hearts, and falsely pretended the name of God, as it has been previously observed, even in their prayers.Israel, thenwill cry to me, My God, we know thee.Thus hypocrites confidently profess the name of God, and with a lofty air affirm that they are God’s people; but God laughs to scorn all this boasting, as it is vain, and worthy of derision. They will then cry to me; and then he imitates their cries,My God, we know theeWhen hypocrites, as if they were the friends of God, cover themselves with his shadow, and profess to act under his guardianship, and also boast at the same time of their knowledge of true doctrine, and boast of faith and of the worship of God; be it so, he says, that these cries are uttered by their mouths, yet facts speak differently, and reprove and expose their hypocrisy. We now then see how these two verses are connected together, and what is the Prophet’s object.
McArther Bible Commentary
we know You! Israel's syncretistic, false worship wherein she practiced idolatry while in vain crying out to God.
Bible Cross References
Titus 1:16 Psalm 78:34 Hosea 7:14 Hosea 8:3

Verse 3

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel.
When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?
John Calvin Bible Commentary
The verb זנח,zanech,means “to remove far off,” and “to throw to a distance;” and sometimes, as some think, “to detest.” There is here, I doubt not, an implied contrast between the rejection of good and the pursuing of which the Prophet speaks afterwards,Israel has driven good far from himself;some expoundטוב,thub, of God himself, as if it was of the masculine gender: but the Prophet, I have no doubt, simply accuses the Israelites of having receded from all justice and uprightness; yea, of having driven far off every thing right and just.Israel, then,has repelled good; the enemy,he says,will pursue himThere is a contrast between repelling and pursuing, as though the prophet said, that the Israelites had by their defection obtained this, that the enemy would now seize them. There is then no better defense for us against all harms than attention to piety and justice; but when integrity is banished from us, then we are exposed to all evils, for we are deprived of the aid of God. We then see how beautifully the Prophet compares these two things — the rejection of good by Israel — and their pursuit by their enemies. He then adds —
Bible Cross References
Hosea 8:2 Hosea 8:4

Verse 4

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel.
When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
They - Israel. Kings - Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hosea. Not by me - Not by my direction. Knew it not - Did not approve of it.
McArther Bible Commentary
kings … idols. The best human effort without God's true involvement is destined to fail.
Bible Cross References
1 Kings 12:28 2 Kings 15:13 2 Kings 15:17 Jeremiah 16:20 Daniel 3:1 Hosea 2:8 Hosea 8:3 Hosea 13:1 Hosea 13:2 Hosea 13:10 Hosea 13:11

Verse 5

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
For their idolatry.
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Thy calf - The chief idol set up in Samaria. Cast thee off - Hath provoked God to cast thee off. Against them - Idols, and idol worshippers. How long - How long will it be, ere they repent and reform?
McArther Bible Commentary
Your calf is rejected. Calf worship was the national religion of the Northern Kingdom (cf. 1Ki 12:25-33). This kind of worship had been rejected by God ever since it first appeared (cf. Exo 32:1-35).
Bible Cross References
Psalm 19:13 Jeremiah 13:27 Jeremiah 48:13 Hosea 10:5 Hosea 13:2 Amos 8:14

Verse 6

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
For their idolatry.
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
From Israel - By their invention. It - Both the idol and the worshippers of it.
Bible Cross References
Jeremiah 48:13 Hosea 10:5 Hosea 13:2 Hosea 14:3

Verse 7

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
For their idolatry.
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Sown the wind - A proverbial speech to denote lost labour. Whirlwind - A tempest, which destroyeth all that is in its way; an emblem of the wrath of God. No stalk - All your dependance on idols, and foreign assistance, will be as seed that bear neither stalk nor bud. No meal - Or suppose it produced stalk and bud, yet the bud shall be blasted, and never yield meal.
McArther Bible Commentary
sow the wind … whirlwind. This indicates the escalating futility and uselessness of all their false religion.
Bible Cross References
Galatians 6:8 Proverbs 22:8 Isaiah 17:11 Isaiah 55:2 Isaiah 66:15 Lamentations 5:2 Hosea 2:9 Hosea 7:9 Hosea 9:16 Nahum 1:3 Haggai 1:6

Verse 8

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
For their idolatry.
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
Bible Cross References
2 Kings 17:6 Jeremiah 22:28 Jeremiah 25:34 Jeremiah 51:34 Lamentations 5:2

Verse 9

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
For their idolatry.
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Gone up - Israel is like a wild ass. A wild ass - Stubborn, wild, untamed. Alone - Solitary, where is no path or tract; so they were in their captivity.
John Calvin Bible Commentary
‘But thou wastest thine own property, and settest not thyself to hire, but on the contrary thou hirest wantons,’ (Ezekiel 16:31-33.)So the Prophet speaks here, though more briefly, Ephraim,he says,has hired lovers
McArther Bible Commentary
they have gone up to Assyria. As the context notes, this is not a reference to the captivity, but to the alliance she made with Assyria (cf. Hos 7:11-12). "Like a wild donkey," Israel has stubbornly pursued foreign assistance rather than depending on the Lord.
Bible Cross References
Job 39:6 Jeremiah 2:24 Ezekiel 16:33 Ezekiel 16:34 Ezekiel 23:5 Hosea 5:13 Hosea 7:11

Verse 10

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
For their idolatry.
They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What they sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield no fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful; nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger, especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. They take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be brought to sorrow everlastingly.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Gather them - I will assemble them together, that they may be taken and destroyed together. A little - For a while before their final captivity. The burden - The tribute laid on them by the king.
Bible Cross References
Isaiah 10:8 Jeremiah 42:2 Ezekiel 16:33 Ezekiel 16:37 Ezekiel 22:20 Ezekiel 23:5

Verse 11

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Further threatenings for the same sins.
It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Altars - Those which they shall find in Assyria. To sin - Shall be the occasion of his greater guilt and punishment.
McArther Bible Commentary
Israel has been duly warned; she is without excuse (cf. Hos 6:7; Hos 8:1).
Bible Cross References
Hosea 10:1 Hosea 12:11

Verse 12

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Further threatenings for the same sins.
It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Written - By Moses first, by other prophets afterwards. But they were counted - Israel looks on them, as nothing to them.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 4:6 Deuteronomy 4:8 Hosea 4:6

Verse 13

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Further threatenings for the same sins.
It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
They shall return - Many shall fly from the Assyrian into Egypt.
McArther Bible Commentary
shall return to Egypt. Recalling the place of Israel's former bondage, Hosea reminds them that Assyria will be their future "Egypt" (cf. Hos 9:3; Hos 11:5; Deu 28:68). A few Judean refugees actually did go to Egypt (cf. 2Ki 25:26). Isaiah used "Sodom" in a similar, representative fashion (Isa 1:9-10).
Bible Cross References
Luke 12:2 1 Corinthians 4:5 Jeremiah 6:20 Jeremiah 7:21 Jeremiah 14:10 Ezekiel 29:16 Hosea 4:9 Hosea 5:6 Hosea 7:2 Hosea 7:11 Hosea 9:3 Hosea 9:4 Hosea 9:6 Hosea 9:7 Hosea 9:9 Amos 8:7

Verse 14

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Further threatenings for the same sins.
It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and will be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temples he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, will be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God, which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Temples - Idol temples. Devour the palaces - This was fulfilled when all the cities of Judah and Israel were laid in ashes by the king of Assyria.
McArther Bible Commentary
Judah … fortified cities. Though less idolatrous than Israel, Judah (see note on Hos 5:5) showed lack of faith in God by trusting more in fortifications. Instead of drawing near to God, Judah multiplied human defenses (cf. Isa 22:8; Jer 5:17). All of these efforts to trust more in human means than to depend wholly on God are doomed to failure.
Bible Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:18 Psalm 95:6 Isaiah 9:9 Isaiah 9:10 Jeremiah 2:32 Jeremiah 5:17 Jeremiah 17:27 Ezekiel 23:35 Hosea 2:13 Hosea 4:6 Hosea 13:6 Amos 2:5