Hosea
Verse 2. Depth, or pits of fire, where victims were sometimes thrown. Iphigen. Grot.—By substituting th for t, we might read, “they have dug pits to take them.” Calmet. 9:9. Joshua 23:13. Calmet.—Idolatry leads to the abyss. Bible.
EXPLANATIONS
Hosea 5
Historical chapter commentary
Hosea
Verse 4. Known. Fornication had darkened their intellect. Calmet.
Hosea
Verse 5. Answer. Septuagint “be humbled.” It appears openly, so as to deserve condemnation. Bible.
Hosea
Verse 6. Them. He will receive their victims no longer. Isaiah 1:11. Calmet.—In vain do they expect to escape by this appearance of sanctity, while they continue in sin. Bible.
Hosea
Verse 7. Strangers. That is, aliens from God: and therefore they are threatened with speedy destruction. Challoner.—Their offspring is rebellious, and deserves no longer to be called my people. Calmet. 1:9.—Month. Every month the Assyrians shall come upon them; (Chal. Saint Jerome) or, in the space of one month, they shall perish. Calmet.—Septuagint “the mildew shall eat them and their portions.” Bible.
Hosea
Verse 8. Back. Bethel lay northwest of Benjamin. The two tribes would hear the distress of Israel, that they might beware and avoid the like misconduct. Calmet.—The captivity is here described. Worthington.
Hosea
Verse 9. That. Lit. “faith,” ( Bible.) that my word shall come to pass.
Hosea
Verse 10. Bound. This was a capital crime, under Numa, and forbidden. Deuteronomy 19:14. Calmet.—Juda hoped to seize what was abandoned. Saint Jerome—They deferred doing penance, and removed the boundaries set by their fathers, (Theod. Calmet.) the virtuous patriarchs, whom they would not imitate.
Hosea
Verse 11. Oppression. Lit. “calumny.” Bible. Isaiah 52:4.—The Assyrians had no just reason for attacking Israel, though their crimes called for punishment ( Calmet.) from God. Bible.
Hosea
Verse 13. Avenging. Hebrew and Septuagint Jareb, (Saint Jerome) which some explain of the king of Egypt; others understand the Assyrian; (Calmet. 10:6) while most suppose that Ephraim applied to Phul, and Juda sent to a protecting king, Theglathphalassar. 4 Kennicott. 16:7 and 17:4. Calmet.
Hosea
Verse 14. Lioness. Hebrew and Septuagint “panther.” Bible.—The Assyrians, instead of assisting, proved the ruin of both kingdoms.
Hosea
Verse 15. Place; to heaven. I will abandon my temple. Calmet.—Face: “they will seek the absent.” Saint Jerome