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Hos_8:9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Ver. 9. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself] This was that that most moved the Lord to denounce and determine hard and heavy things against Israel, they had suspicious thoughts of God, as if he either could not or would not do for them, and help them out, as the Assyrian (though an enemy) would. This prank of theirs God uttereth here with as great indignation and dislike as old Jacob did his son Reuben’s incest, when he said, "He went up to my couch." The Lord is as jealous of his glory as any man can be of his wife; neither will he give it to another, Isa_42:8; he admits not of any co-rival in heaven or earth, as Potiphar’s wife was his own peculiar. Now God is no way more glorified by us than when we put our trust in his love and faithfulness, and expect from him safety here, and salvation hereafter. For in so doing, we set him up for our king, Jdg_9:15, and put the royal crown upon his head, Son_3:11. As in doing otherwise we turn his glory into shame, "loving vanity, seeking after leasing," Psa_4:2. Hence that angry expostulation, Jer_2:36, "Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way?" How dost thou think to mend thyself by running to the creature, as if there were no God in Israel? "thou also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria: yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head" (after the manner of mourners, 2Sa_13:19), "for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them."
A wild ass alone by himself] Foolish and fierce above measure, untameable and untractable; loving to be alone, and so becomes a prey to the lion, as saith Siracides, chap. 13. ver. 21. Pliny speaketh much of the wild ass and his properties; and interpreters on this text bring many reasons why Israel is compared to him. Israel is as stupid and as mad as the wild ass, saith Lyra. He is all for himself, saith Junius; he casteth off God’s yoke, saith Tremellius; he is a contemptible creature, saith Kimchi; he walks where he lists, as masterless, saith the Chaldee; he seeketh water in the wilderness, but hardly findeth it, so doth Israel help of the cruel enemies, and hath it not, saith Oecolampadius; he taketh a great deal of pains for his belly, saith Mercer; he cannot be tamed and made serviceable, saith Gesner; he is left alone by God to be carried captive by the Assyrian, saith Ribera. The Scripture describeth the nature of this creature in many places, Gen_16:12 Job_6:5; Job_11:12; Job_24:5; Job_39:5; Job_39:8 Psa_104:11 Isa_32:14 Jer_2:24; Jer_14:6 Dan_5:21.
Ephraim hath hired lovers] This is the second similitude, taken from a most libidinous harlot. See the like baseness in Judah, Eze_16:33. They were so mad upon their idols and creature confidences, that they were at no small charge for them; they lavished money out of the bag, Isa_6:6, and laid on, as if they should never see an end of their wealth. They sent great gifts and sums of money to the Assyrians and Egyptians, and leaned upon them as their champions; they hired loves, as the Hebrew here hath it. But love, as it cannot well be counterfeited (a man may paint fire, but he cannot paint heat), so it cannot at all be hired or purchased. Those that go about it shall find loathing for love, and be scorned of those mercenaries which are seldom either satisfied, or sure.