The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV
Page 417
10:11 a trained heifer that loves to thresh grain. This was a far easier work than plowing, since cattle were not bound together under a yoke, but tread on the grain singly and were free to eat some of it, as the law required that they be unmuzzled (Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor. 9:9).
10:14 Shalman plundered Beth Arbel. Shalman was probably Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria (727–722 B.C.), who played a role in Israel’s demise (cf. 2 Kin. 17:3–6). Although the location of Beth Arbel is uncertain, the memory of the heinous crimes committed there was vividly etched into their minds.
10:15 king. Hoshea, ca. 732–722 B.C.
Hosea 11
11:1 In tender words reminiscent of the Exodus from Egypt (cf. Ex. 4:22, 23), the Lord reassured Israel of His intense love for her. His compassion for her was aroused (cf. Is. 12:1; 40:1, 2; 49:13; Jer. 31:10–14; Zech. 1:12–17). See Matt. 2:15 for Matthew’s analogical use of this verse in relationship to Jesus Christ.
11:3, 4 The Lord’s endearing word pictures are reflected in Ezekiel’s touching descriptions of Israel’s early years (cf. Ezek. 16).
11:5 shall not return to…Egypt. See note on 8:13.
11:5–7 In spite of His tender care, Israel was ungrateful, demanding punishment (cf. Rom. 1:21).
11:7 backsliding. See note on Prov. 14:14.
11:8 Admah…Zeboiim. Because of the Lord’s great love for Ephraim, it was painful to punish her as He did these two cities, which were destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Gen. 10:19; 19:23–25; Deut. 29:23).
11:9 I will not again destroy Ephraim. The destruction referred to that inflicted by Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser, who deprived Israel of Gilead, Galilee, and Naphtali (2 Kin. 15:29). Ultimately, it referred to the promise that after the long dispersion God would, in mercy, restore His people in the kingdom, never to be destroyed again.
11:10 will roar like a lion. Though the Lord would, as a lion, roar against Israel in judgment (cf. Amos 1:2), He would also roar for the purpose of calling, protecting, and blessing (cf. Joel 3:16). from the west. Returns from Assyrian and Babylonian captivities were from the E. This undoubtedly has reference to His return at the Second Advent to set up the millennial kingdom (cf. Is. 11:11, 12) when He calls Israel from their worldwide dispersion and reverses the judgment of 9:17.
Hosea 12
12:1 Israel’s attempted alliances with heathen neighbors were of no worth. This prophecy was delivered at about the time of Israel’s seeking the aid of the Egyptian king.
12:2 Jacob. Frequently used interchangeably with “Israel” (cf. 10:11; Gen. 32:28).
12:3–6 He exhorted them to follow their father Jacob’s persevering prayerfulness, which brought God’s favor on him. As God is unchanging, He would show the same favor to Jacob’s posterity as He did to Jacob, if, like him, they sought God.
12:7 Canaanite. Because the Canaanites were known as traders, the word came to be used synonymously with “merchant” (cf. Ezek. 16:29; 17:4; Zeph. 1:11). Though she denied it (v. 8), Israel had become materialistic, filled with greed, and fond of dishonest gain.
12:9 At the annual Feast of Tabernacles, also called “booths” (cf. Num. 29:12–38), Israel dwelt in tents to commemorate her 40 years of wilderness wanderings. In captivity, she would be forced to live in them permanently.
12:10 I have also spoken. Here is an aggravation of their guilt, that it was not through ignorance that they sinned, but in defiance of God’s revealed Word.
12:11 heaps in the furrows. As gathered and piled stones would dot a farmer’s field, so Israel multiplied her stone altars across the land. “Gilgal” means “a heap of stones,” so this is a play on words.
12:12–14 The reference to Jacob’s wanderings to Syria and Israel’s sojourn in Egypt should cause Ephraim to confess her pride, recognize her humble origins, and acknowledge that only by God’s gracious power were they made a nation.
Hosea 13
13:1 trembling. When Ephraim, the most powerful tribe, spoke early in Israel’s history, it was with authority and produced fear. he died. Because of his sins and in spite of being feared, Ephraim died, spiritually and now nationally.
13:2 kiss the calves! An act of devotion to their idols (cf. 1 Kin. 19:18).
13:4–6 Having entered into a marriage covenant with the LORD, Israel was to remain faithful to Him alone (cf. Ex. 20:2, 3); yet she forgot Him.
13:7, 8 The lion, leopard, and bear are all native to Israel. Her Protector would now become to her as a wild beast, tearing and devouring (cf. Lev. 26:21, 22; Deut. 32:24; Ezek. 14:21).
13:12 bound up…stored up. Israel’s sins are all well-documented and safely preserved for the day of reckoning (cf. 7:2; Deut. 32:34, 35; Job 14:17).
13:13 where children are born. This refers to the birth canal. Employing this figure of giving birth, the LORD likens Ephraim to an unwise child, unwilling to move through to birth. By long deferring a “new birth” with repentance, the nation was like a child remaining in the canal dangerously long and risking death (cf. 2 Kin. 19:3; Is. 37:3; 66:9).
13:14 Placing the strong affirmation of deliverance so abruptly after a denunciation intensified the wonder of His unrequited love (cf. 11:8, 9; Lev. 26:44). This can apply to God’s restoration of Israel from Assyria, and in future times from all the lands of the dispersion, preserving them and bringing them back to their land for the kingdom of Messiah (Ezek. 37). It also speaks of the time of personal resurrection as in Dan. 12:2, 3. Repentant Israelites will be restored to the land and even raised from death to glory. Paul uses this text in 1 Cor. 15:55 (quoting the LXX) to celebrate the future resurrection of the church. The Messiah’s great victory over death and the grave is the firstfruits of the full harvest to come, when all believers will likewise experience the power of His resurrection.
13:15 east wind. Refers to Assyria.
13:16 The shocking atrocities mentioned were in keeping with brutalities characteristic of the Assyrians (cf. 2 Kin. 17:5; Is. 13:6; Amos 1:13; Nah. 3:10).
Hosea 14
14:1, 2 Israel was invited to return, bringing words of repentance accompanied with obedience, repaying God’s gracious acceptance of them with “sacrifices of our lips.”
14:3 fatherless. God repeatedly demanded mercy for the orphan (cf. Ex. 22:22; Deut. 10:18); consequently, Israel could expect to receive His compassion (cf. Luke 15:17–20).
14:4–8 The ultimate fulfillment of these blessings must be millennial, since Israel has not repented and will not do so in the manner of vv. 2, 3 until the end of the Great Tribulation (cf. Zech. 12:10—13:1). The Lord’s love is beautifully presented in metaphors taken from the lily, the cedars of Lebanon, and the olive tree.
14:4 backsliding. See note on Prov. 14:14.
14:7 Their scent…like the wine of Lebanon. Their “scent” (lit. “remembrance”) denotes worldwide fame and admiration.
14:8 The LORD, not idols, will care for Israel. He, not Israel, is the tree providing shelter and prosperity, the “green cypress tree” from whom her fruitfulness would come.
14:9 Representative of the theme of the book, Hosea’s epilogue concludes the prophecy by presenting the reader with two ways of living (cf. Deut. 30:19, 20; Ps. 1). He appeals to all readers to be wise, to choose the Lord’s way, for His ways are right (cf. Ps. 107:43; Eccl. 12:13, 14).
Hosea 1
1:1 a 2 Chr. 26; Is. 1:1; Amos 1:1
1:1 b 2 Kin. 15:5, 7, 32–38; 2 Chr. 27; Mic. 1:1
1:1 c 2 Kin. 16:1–20; 2 Chr. 28
1:1 d 2 Kin. 18—20; 2 Chr. 29:1—32:33; Mic. 1:1
1:1 e 2 Kin. 13:13; 14:23–29; Amos 1:1
1:2 f Hos. 3:1
1:2 g Deut. 31:16; Judg. 2:17; Ps. 73:27; Jer. 2:13; Ezek. 16:1–59; 23:1–49
1:2 1 Spiritual adultery
1:4 h 2 Kin. 10:11
1:4 i 2 Kin. 15:8–10; 17:6, 23; 18:11
1:5 j 2 Kin. 15:29
1:6 k 2 Kin. 17:6
1:6 2 Lit. No-Mercy
1:6 3 Or That I may forgive them at all
1:7 l
2 Kin. 19:29–35; Is. 30:18; 37:36, 37
1:7 m Ps. 44:3–7; (Zech. 4:6)
1:9 4 Lit. Not-My-People
1:10 n Gen. 22:17; 32:12; Jer. 33:22
1:10 o 1 Pet. 2:10
1:10 p Rom. 9:26
1:10 q Is. 63:16; 64:8; (John 1:12)
1:10 5 Heb. lo-ammi, v. 9
1:11 r Is. 11:11–13; Jer. 3:18; 50:4; (Ezek. 34:23; 37:15–28)
Hosea 2
2:1 1 Heb. Ammi, Hos. 1:9, 10
2:1 2 Heb. Ruhamah, Hos. 1:6
2:2 a Is. 50:1
2:2 b Ezek. 16:25
2:2 3 Or Contend with
2:2 4 Or contend
2:3 c Jer. 13:22, 26; Ezek. 16:37–39
2:3 d Ezek. 16:4–7, 22
2:3 e Jer. 14:3; Amos 8:11–13
2:4 f John 8:41
2:5 g Ezek. 23:5; Hos. 2:8, 12
2:6 h Job 19:8; Lam. 3:7, 9
2:6 5 Lit. wall up her wall
2:7 i Luke 15:17, 18
2:7 j Is. 54:5–8; Jer. 2:2; 3:1; Ezek. 16:8; 23:4
2:7 6 Or pursue
2:8 k Is. 1:3; Ezek. 16:19
2:10 l Ezek. 16:37
2:11 m Jer. 7:34; 16:9; Hos. 3:4; Amos 5:21; 8:10
2:14 7 Lit. to her heart
2:15 n Josh. 7:26
2:15 o Jer. 2:1–3; Ezek. 16:8–14
2:15 p Ex. 15:1
2:16 8 Heb. Ishi
2:16 9 Heb. Baali
2:17 q Ex. 23:13; Josh. 23:7; Ps. 16:4
2:18 r Job 5:23; Is. 11:6–9; Ezek. 34:25
2:18 s Is. 2:4; Ezek. 39:1–10
2:18 t Lev. 26:5; Is. 32:18; Jer. 23:6; Ezek. 34:25
2:20 u (Jer. 31:33, 34); Hos. 6:6; 13:4; (John 17:3)
2:21 v Is. 55:10; Zech. 8:12; (Mal. 3:10, 11)
2:22 10 Lit. God Will Sow
2:23 w Jer. 31:27; Amos 9:15
2:23 x Hos. 1:6
2:23 y Hos. 1:10; Zech. 13:9; Rom. 9:25, 26; (Eph. 2:11–22); 1 Pet. 2:10
2:23 11 Heb. lo-ruhamah
2:23 12 Heb. lo-ammi
2:23 13 Heb. ammi
Hosea 3
3:1 a Jer. 3:20
3:1 1 Lit. friend or husband
3:3 b Deut. 21:13
3:4 c Hos. 10:3
3:4 d Ex. 28:4–12; 1 Sam. 23:9–12
3:4 e Gen. 31:19, 34; Judg. 17:5; 18:14, 17; (1 Sam. 15:23)
3:5 f Jer. 50:4
3:5 g Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:24
3:5 h (Is. 2:2, 3); Jer. 31:9
Hosea 4
4:1 a Is. 1:18; Hos. 12:2; Mic. 6:2
4:1 b Jer. 4:22
4:1 1 A legal complaint
4:2 2 Lit. touching
4:3 c Is. 24:4; 33:9; Jer. 4:28; 12:4; Amos 5:16; 8:8
4:3 d Zeph. 1:3
4:4 e Deut. 17:12
4:5 f Jer. 15:8; Hos. 2:2, 5
4:6 g Is. 5:13
4:6 h Ezek. 22:26
4:7 i 1 Sam. 2:30; Mal. 2:9
4:7 3 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; scribal tradition, Syr., Tg. They will change
4:7 4 So with MT, LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; scribal tradition My glory
4:8 5 Desires
4:9 j Is. 24:2; Jer. 5:30, 31; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4
4:9 6 repay
4:10 k Lev. 26:26; Is. 65:13; Mic. 6:14; Hag. 1:6
4:11 l Prov. 20:1; Is. 5:12; 28:7
4:12 m Jer. 2:27
4:12 n Is. 44:19, 20
4:12 7 Diviner’s rod
4:13 o Is. 1:29; 57:5, 7; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 6:13; 20:28
4:13 p Amos 7:17; (Rom. 1:28–32)
4:14 q Deut. 23:18
4:15 r Hos. 9:15; 12:11
4:15 s 1 Kin. 12:29; Josh. 7:2; Hos. 10:8
4:15 t Jer. 5:2; 44:26; Amos 8:14
4:15 8 Lit. House of Idolatry or Wickedness
4:16 u Jer. 3:6; 7:24; 8:5; Zech. 7:11
4:16 9 Lit. a large place
4:17 v Matt. 15:14
4:18 w Mic. 3:11
4:18 10 Or has turned aside
4:18 11 Lit. shields
4:18 12 Heb. difficult; a Jewish tradition shamefully love, ‘Give!’
4:19 x Jer. 51:1
4:19 y Is. 1:29
Hosea 5
5:1 a Hos. 6:9
5:1 1 Or to you
5:2 b Is. 29:15; Hos. 4:2; 6:9
5:3 c Amos 3:2; 5:12
5:3 d Hos. 4:17
5:4 e Hos. 4:12
5:4 2 Or Their deeds will not allow them to turn
5:5 f Hos. 7:10
5:6 g Prov. 1:28; Is. 1:15; Jer. 11:11; Ezek. 8:18; Mic. 3:4; John 7:34
5:7 h Is. 48:8; Jer. 3:20; Hos. 6:7
5:7 3 Lit. strange
5:8 i Hos. 8:1; Joel 2:1
5:8 j Is. 10:30
5:8 k Josh. 7:2
5:10 l Deut. 19:14; 27:17
5:11 m Deut. 28:33
5:11 n Mic. 6:16
5:12 o Prov. 12:4
5:13 p Jer. 30:12–15
5:13 q 2 Kin. 15:19; Hos. 7:11; 10:6
5:14 r Ps. 7:2; Lam. 3:10; Hos. 13:7, 8
5:14 s Ps. 50:22
5:15 4 Lit. become guilty or bear punishment
Hosea 6
6:1 a Is. 1:18; Acts 10:43
6:1 b Deut. 32:39; Hos. 5:14
6:1 c Jer. 30:17; Hos. 14:4
6:1 1 Bandage
6:2 d Luke 24:46; Acts 10:40; (1 Cor. 15:4)
6:3 e Is. 54:13
6:3 f 2 Sam. 23:4
6:3 g Ps. 72:6; Joel 2:23
6:3 h Job 29:23
6:5 i (Jer. 23:29)
6:5 2 Or the judgments on you
6:6 j Matt. 9:13; 12:7
6:6 k Is. 1:12, 13; (Mic. 6:6–8)
6:6 l (John 17:3)
6:6 3 Or faithfulness or loyalty
6:7 4 Or Adam
6:8 m Hos. 12:11
6:8 5 Lit. foot-tracked
6:9 n Hos. 5:1
6:9 o Jer. 7:9, 10; Hos. 4:2
6:9 p Ezek. 22:9; 23:27; Hos. 2:10
6:10 6 Spiritual adultery
Hosea 7
7:1 a Ezek. 23:4–8; Hos. 5:1
7:1 1 plunders
7:2 b Ps. 25:7; Jer. 14:10; 17:1; Hos. 8:13; 9:9; Amos 8:7
7:2 2 Lit. do not say to
7:3 c Hos. 1:1
7:3 d Mic. 7:3; (Rom. 1:32)
7:4 e Jer. 9:2; 23:10
7:5 f Is. 28:1, 7
7:5 3 Lit. with the heat of
7:6 4 So with MT, Vg.; Syr., Tg. Their anger; LXX Ephraim
7:7 g Is. 64:7
7:8 h Ps. 106:35
7:9 i Is. 1:7; 42:25; Hos. 8:7
7:10 j Hos. 5:5
7:10 k Is. 9:13
7:11 l Hos. 11:11
7:11 m Is. 30:3
7:11 n Hos. 5:13; 8:9
7:11 5 Lit. heart
7:12 o Ezek. 12:13
7:12 p Lev. 26:14; Deut. 28:15; 2 Kin. 17:13
7:13 q Ex. 18:8; Mic. 6:4
7:14 r Job 35:9, 10; Ps. 78:36; Jer. 3:10; Zech. 7:5
7:14 s Judg. 9:27; Amos 2:8
7:14 6 So with MT, Tg.; Vg. thought upon; LXX slashed themselves for (cf. 1 Kin. 18:28)
7:14 7 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX omits They rebel against Me; Vg. They departed from Me
7:16 t Ps. 78:57
7:16 u Ps. 73:9; Dan. 7:25; Mal. 3:13, 14
7:16 v Deut. 28:68; Ezek. 23:32; Hos. 8:13; 9:3
7:16 8 Or upward
Hosea 8
8:1 a Deut. 28:49; Jer. 4:13
8:1 1 ram’s horn, Heb. shophar
8:2 b Ps. 78:34; Hos. 5:15; 7:14
8:2 c Titus 1:16
8:4 d 1 Kin. 12:20; 2 Kin. 15:23, 25; Hos. 13:10, 11
8:5 e Ps. 19:13; Jer. 13:27
8:5 2 Golden calf image
8:5 3 Or has rejected you
8:6 f Is. 40:19
8:7 g Prov. 22:8
8:7 h Hos. 7:9
8:8 i 2 Kin. 17:6; Jer. 51:34
8:8 j Jer. 22:28; 25:34
8:9 k Hos. 7:11; 12:1; Jer. 2:24
8:9 l Ezek. 16:33, 34
8:10 m Ezek. 16:37; 22:20
; 8:10 n Is. 10:8; Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37
8:10 4 Or begin to diminish
8:10 5 Or oracle or proclamation
8:12 o (Deut. 4:6–8); Ps. 119:18; 147:19, 20
8:13 p Zech. 7:6
8:13 q Jer. 14:10; Hos. 6:6; 9:4; 1 Cor. 4:5
8:13 r Hos. 9:9; Amos 8:7; Luke 12:2
8:14 s Deut. 32:18; (Hos. 2:13; 4:6; 13:6)
8:14 t Is. 29:23
8:14 u Num. 32:17; 2 Kin. 18:13
8:14 v Jer. 17:27
8:14 6 Or palaces
8:14 7 Or citadels
Hosea 9
9:1 a Is. 22:12, 13; Hos. 10:5
9:1 b Jer. 44:17
9:3 c (Lev. 25:23); Jer. 2:7
9:3 d Hos. 7:16; 8:13
9:3 e Ezek. 4:13
9:4 f Jer. 6:20
9:4 g Hos. 8:13; Amos 5:22
9:6 h Is. 5:6; 7:23; Hos. 10:8
9:7 i Is. 10:3; Jer. 10:15; Mic. 7:4; Luke 21:22
9:7 j Lam. 2:14; (Ezek. 13:3, 10)
9:7 k Mic. 2:11
9:8 l Jer. 6:17; 31:6; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7
9:8 1 One who catches birds in a trap or snare
9:9 m Hos. 10:9
9:9 n Judg. 19:22
9:10 o Jer. 2:2
9:10 p Is. 28:4; Mic. 7:1
9:10 q Num. 25:3; Ps. 106:28
9:10 r Ps. 81:12
9:10 2 Or dedicated
9:12 s Deut. 31:17; Hos. 7:13
9:13 t Ezek. 26—28
9:14 u Luke 23:29
9:15 v Hos. 4:15; 12:11
9:15 w Is. 1:23; Hos. 5:2
9:16 x Hos. 5:11
9:17 y 2 Kin. 17:20; (Zech. 10:6)
9:17 z Lev. 26:33
Hosea 10
10:1 a Nah. 2:2
10:1 b Jer. 2:28; Hos. 8:11; 12:11
10:2 c 1 Kin. 18:21; Zeph. 1:5; (Matt. 6:24)
10:2 1 Divided in loyalty
10:4 d Deut. 31:16, 17; 2 Kin. 17:3, 4; Amos 5:7
10:5 e 1 Kin. 12:28, 29; Hos. 8:5, 6; 13:2
10:5 f Hos. 9:11
10:5 2 Lit. calves, images
10:5 3 idolatrous priests
10:6 g Hos. 5:13
10:8 h Hos. 4:15
10:8 i Deut. 9:21; 1 Kin. 13:34
10:8 j Is. 2:19; Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:16
10:8 4 Lit. Idolatry or Wickedness
10:9 k Hos. 9:9
10:9 l Judg. 20
10:9 5 So with many Heb. mss., LXX, Vg.; MT unruliness
10:9 6 Or overcome
10:10 m Jer. 16:16
10:10 7 Or in their two habitations
10:11 n (Jer. 50:11; Hos. 4:16; Mic. 4:13)
10:11 8 Lit. to ride