Hosea 8

Hosea 8:1-14 . PROPHECY OF THE IRRUPTION OF THE ASSYRIANS, IN PUNISHMENT FOR ISRAEL'S APOSTASY, IDOLATRY, AND SETTING UP OF KINGS WITHOUT GOD'S SANCTION.

In Hosea 8:14 , Judah is said to multiply fenced cities; and in Hosea 8:7-9 , Israel, to its great hurt, is said to have gone up to Assyria for help. This answers best to the reign of Menahem. For it was then that Uzziah of Judah, his contemporary, built fenced cities ( 2 Chronicles 26:6 2 Chronicles 26:9 2 Chronicles 26:10 ). Then also Israel turned to Assyria and had to pay for their sinful folly a thousand talents of silver ( 2 Kings 15:19 ) [MAURER].

1. Set the trumpet, &c.--to give warning of the approach of the enemy: "To thy palate (that is, 'mouth,' Job 31:30 , Margin) the trumpet"; the abruptness of expression indicates the suddenness of the attack. So Hosea 5:8 .
as . . . eagle--the Assyrian ( Deuteronomy 28:49 , Jeremiah 48:40 , Habakkuk 1:8 ).
against . . . house of . . . Lord--not the temple, but Israel viewed as the family of God ( Hosea 9:15 , Numbers 12:7 , Zechariah 9:8 , Hebrews 3:2 , 1 Timothy 3:15 , 1 Peter 4:17 ).

2. My God, we know thee--the singular, "My," is used distributively, each one so addressing God. They, in their hour of need, plead their knowledge of God as the covenant-people, while in their acts they acknowledge Him not (compare Matthew 7:21 Matthew 7:22 , Titus 1:16 ; also Isaiah 29:13 , Jeremiah 7:4 ). The Hebrew joins "Israel," not as English Version, with "shall cry," but "We, Israel, know thee"; God denies the claim thus urged on the ground of their descent from Israel.

3. Israel--God repeats the name in opposition to their use of it ( Hosea 8:2 ).
the thing that is good--JEROME translates, "God" who is good and doing good ( Psalms 119:68 ). He is the chief object rejected, but with Him also all that is good.
the enemy shall pursue him--in just retribution from God.

4. kings . . . not by me--not with My sanction ( 1 Kings 11:31 , 12:20 ). Israel set up Jeroboam and his successors, whereas God had appointed the house of David as the rightful kings of the whole nation.
I knew it not--I approved it not ( Psalms 1:6 ).
of . . . gold . . . idols--( Hosea 2:8 , 13:2 ).
that they may be cut off--that is, though warned of the consequences of idolatry, as it were with open eyes they rushed on their own destruction. So Jeremiah 27:10 Jeremiah 27:15 , 44:8 .