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HOSEA CHAPTER 7
Israel reproved for manifold sins, Hos_7:1-10. God’s wrath against them for their hypocrisy, Hos_7:11-16.
When: whether this chapter be a new sermon, or a continuation of that begun Ho 6, we need not inquire, nor are there any particulars by which we can guess at the time when this healing work was attempted; but, so soon as it was endeavoured; indefinitely it is spoken, and so to be interpreted.
I would have healed Israel: God doth assume the person of a physician or chirurgeon, who compassionately endeavours to cure a people sick and wounded: such was the house of Israel, the whole body of the people.
The iniquity; the hidden, old, and putrefying sores, here called iniquity, the impieties and injustice.
Of Ephraim; of Israel, called Ephraim, or of Ephraim, the chief tribe of this revolting kingdom; some would have it mean the rulers, or principal men.
Was discovered; broke out; as many times in cures of old sores it happens some deeper and more rooted distemper, unthought of by the chirurgeon, appears. The wickedness, the great and many sins
of Samaria, the royal city of the kingdom, where citizens, priests, prophets, and courtiers as much outsinned others as they exceeded them in wealth and ease.
They commit falsehood; lying and cozening each other is acted as if it were a business they were bound to attend.
The thief cometh in; secret thefts, or robbing others by subtle and undiscerned methods.
The troop of robbers spoileth without; and open violence by hands joined to hands to spoil abroad. In a word, the strength and danger of their disease appears and increaseth more and more under endeavours to heal them.