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Hos_10:10 [It is] in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
Ver. 10. It is in my desire that I should chastise them] That is, I am unchangeably resolved, and fully bent upon it, to carry them captive and enslave them to their enemies, Nah_1:9, wherein they shall find that they have to do with God, and not with man; and that it is I that bind them, though I make use of the Assyrians to that purpose. Luther renders it, Valde cupide eos castigabo, exceeding desirously will I chastise them. O the venomous nature of sin, that maketh the merciful God to desire and to delight in men’s miseries; to take comfort in their punishments, Eze_5:13; Eze_5:15, to laugh at their destruction, Prov. i. And although he bear long with men’s evil manners, åôñïðïöïñçóåí , Act_13:18, yet he beareth them as a burden whereof he desireth to be eased, Isa_1:24, as a servitude whereof he desireth to be freed, Isa_43:24, as a pain not inferior to that of a travailing woman; and albeit he bite in his pains, as it were, for a time, yet hear him what he saith, Isa_42:14, "I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself; now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once."
And the people shall be gathered against them] God can bring in his armies at his pleasure; for all creatures are at his beck and check. If he do but look out at the windows of heaven, and cry, "Who is on my side? who?" all creatures in heaven and earth will presently present their service; he never need want a weapon to chastise his rebels. If he but stamp with his foot (as that proud Roman, Gnaenus Pompey, said) he can have men enough. How ready are the Assyrians here to be the rod in his hand!
When they shall bind themselves in their two furrows] i.e. I will bring their enemies upon them, and they shall yoke them like oxen that are yoked to plough; yea, they shall bring them into such servitude that they shall make them do double work, plough in their two furrows, be they never so weary of doing one. The enemies shall not be moved to pity the poor Israelites, when tired with hard labour; but shall make them plough like beasts, giving them no rest till they have even wearied and worn them out. This is Polanus’s interpretation; who farther admonisheth us, as often as we behold or think upon the yoking of oxen for the plough, that we likewise think of the miserable condition of such poor Christians as are slaves to Turks, and Tartars, and other enemies, who bind them indeed in their two furrows. It is not so long since here among us divers of God’s dear servants were driven from Ciceter and other places (taken by the enemy) naked and barefoot, (as the Egyptians were by the Assyrians, Isa_20:4), through thick and thin, to Oxford jail, &c., where, by the cruelty of their keepers, many of them lost their precious lives, to the incredible grief of their dear relations. Neither can I here pass by Tilly’s cruelty at Magdeburg, in Germany; where, after 20,000 persons at least put to the sword, and the town burned down, his soldiers committed all manner of ravages, all the country over; ladies, gentlewomen, and others, like beasts, they yoked and coupled together, leading them into the woods to ravish them; and such as resisted they stripped naked, whipped them, cropped their ears, and so sent them home again (Mr Clark in the Life of the King of Sweden). The Irish cruelties unnameable might here be instanced. O quam durum, O quam tristem serviunt illi servitutem! Oh how harsh to serve sorrow to slaves. See Mr Clark’s relation. The words may be read, "They shall bind them together."