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Hos_10:11 And Ephraim [is as] an heifer [that is] taught, [and] loveth to tread out [the corn]; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, [and] Jacob shall break his clods.
Ver. 11. And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught] sc. With the ox goad, which hath its name from teaching (Malmad), Jdg_3:31, because therewith oxen are taught to plough, saith R. David. Ephraim was a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, Jer_31:18, but God brought her to it and taught her, though at first a backsliding heifer, Hos_4:16, {See Trapp on "Hos_4:16"} taught her, as Gideon taught the men of Succoth, with briers and thorns of the wilderness, so that they paid dear for their learning, Jdg_8:16. But Ephraim, though taught it, loveth not ploughing work, because hard and hungry. She loveth rather
to tread out the corn] where she may dance and frisk in the soft straw without either yoke or muzzle, Deu_25:4. As we thresh, so it was their manner to tread out their hard grain with the feet of beasts, or by them to draw wagons over it and so get it out of the husk. Now this was fair and free work, and Ephraim delighted in it; the rather, because she might feed all the while at pleasure; whereas those heifers that ploughed wrought hard all day, and in all weathers, without any refreshment. It is an ill sign, when men must pick and choose their work; this they will do for God, but not that. A dispensatory conscience is a naughty conscience; neither doth he God’s will, but his own, that doth no more, or no other, than himself will. Such holy day servants, such retainers, God careth not for. Every one can swim in a warm bath; and every bird will sing in a summer’s day. Judas will bear the cross, so he may bear the bag. And those carnal Capernaites follow Christ while he feeds them; as children will say their prayers so they may have their breakfast. But Abraham will forsake all to follow God, though he knew not whither; yea, though God seemed to go cross ways; as when he promised him a land flowing with milk and honey, and yet as soon as he came there he found famine. Gen_12:1; Gen_12:10; so when he promised him seed as the stars, yet kept him without child for twenty years after; and after that he must kill him too, Gen_22:2. So Job will trust in a killing God; Jonah calls upon him out of the deep; David keeps his statutes, when God had in some degree forsaken him, Psa_119:8, and "behaved himself wisely in a perfect way," though God was not yet come unto him, Psa_101:2. This is the trial of a Christian, to do difficult duties upon little or no encouragement; to wrestle, as Jacob did, in the night, and alone, and when God was leaving him, and upon one leg. This is workman-like. The staff rings were to continue upon the ark; the Kohathite’s shoulders felt wherefore; and so long God "helped them to carry it," 1Ch_15:26; but when they once fell to carting it for their own ease, as the Philistines had done, 1Sa_6:7-8, God made a dismal breach upon them, 2Sa_6:6-8, and David was very sensible of it, when he came up the second time to fetch the ark, 1Ch_15:12; 1Ch_15:18.
But I passed over upon her fair neck] God will make her both bear and draw, though she were grown delicate and tender, with long prosperity; her good and fair and fat neck, not galled or brawned with the yoke, which now she made dainty of; yet he would bring her to it; though he were by her untractableness forced to sit upon her neck, and make her more towardly to the yoke, as the manner of ploughmen was in that case.
I will make Ephraim to ride] Or, as the Vulgate hath it, I will ride him and rule him, though he kick and lay about him never so much; though he champ upon the bridle and stamp with his feet, &c. I will master him, and make him more serviceable, or, at least, less insolent. See this fulfilled, Jer_31:18-19, where Ephraim is brought in, seeing his need of mercy in the sense of misery.
Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods] Judah doth the worst of the work, and suffers more hardship in the ways of my worship, and is held under by Israel, as appeareth in 2Ki_10:16-21. Jacob, that is, the ten tribes, did only break the clods, or harrow, which is the lighter work; and should therefore have been done with more delight; but they love to take their ease, and only follow after their pleasure and profit; and though taught to plough, yet like it not, because laborious; no, though they have Judah for an example of better.