Oseas 9

1 No te alegres, oh Israel, gozando como los pueblos, pues has fornicado apartándote de tu Dios; amaste salario de ramera por todas las eras de trigo

2 La era y el lagar no los mantendrán; y el mosto les mentirá

3 No quedarán en la tierra del SEÑOR, sino que volverá Efraín a Egipto, y a Asiria, donde comerán vianda inmunda

4 No derramarán vino al SEÑOR, ni él tomará contentamiento en sus sacrificios; como pan de enlutados les serán a ellos; todos los que coman de él, serán inmundos. Porque su pan por su alma no entrará en la Casa del SEÑOR

5 ¿Qué haréis en el día de la solemnidad, y en el día de la fiesta del SEÑOR

6 Porque, he aquí se fueron ellos a causa de la destrucción; Egipto los recogerá, Menfis los enterrará; espino poseerá por heredad lo deseable de su plata, ortiga crecerá en sus moradas

7 Vinieron los días de la visitación, vinieron los días de la paga; lo conocerá Israel: loco es el profeta, loco es el varón espiritual, a causa de la multitud de tu iniquidad, y gran odio

8 El atalaya de Efraín para con mi Dios es a saber el profeta, es lazo de cazador en todos sus caminos, odio en la Casa de su Dios

9 Llegaron a lo profundo, se corrompieron, como en los días de Gabaa; ahora se acordará de su iniquidad; visitará su pecado

10 Como uvas en el desierto hallé a Israel; como los primeros frutos de la higuera en su principio vi a vuestros padres. Ellos entraron a Baal-peor, y se apartaron para vergüenza, y se hicieron abominables como aquello que amaron

11 Efraín, como ave volará su gloria desde el nacimiento, aun desde el vientre y desde la concepción

12 Y si llegaren a grandes sus hijos, yo los quitaré de entre los hombres, porque ¡ay de ellos también, cuando de ellos me apartare

13 Efraín, según veo, es semejante a Tiro, asentada en lugar delicioso; mas Efraín sacará sus hijos al matador

14 Dales, oh SEÑOR, lo que les has de dar; dales matriz que aborte, y enjutos pechos

15 Toda la maldad de ellos fue en Gilgal; allí, pues, les tomé aversión: por la malicia de sus obras los echaré de mi Casa; nunca más los amaré; todos sus príncipes son desleales

16 Efraín fue herido, su cepa se secó, no hará más fruto; aunque engendren, yo mataré lo deseable de su vientre

17 Mi Dios los desechará, porque ellos no le oyeron; y andarán errantes entre los gentiles

Oseas 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The distress to come upon Israel. (1-6) The approach of the day of trouble. (7-10) Judgments on Israel. (11-17)

Verses 1-6 Israel gave rewards to their idols, in the offerings presented to them. It is common for those who are niggardly in religion, to be prodigal upon their lusts. Those are reckoned as idolaters, who love a reward in the corn-floor better than a reward in the favour of God and in eternal life. They are full of the joy of harvest, and have no disposition to mourn for sin. When we make the world, and the things of it, our idol and our portion, it is just with God to show us our folly, and correct us. None may expect to dwell in the Lord's land, who will not be subject to the Lord's laws, or be influenced by his love. When we enjoy the means of grace, we ought to consider what we shall do, if they should be taken from us. While the pleasures of communion with God are out of the reach of change, the pleasant places purchased with silver, or in which men deposit silver, are liable to be laid in ruins. No famine is so dreadful as that of the soul.

Verses 7-10 Time had been when the spiritual watchmen of Israel were with the Lord, but now they were like the snare of a fowler to entangle persons to their ruin. The people were become as corrupt as those of Gibeah, ( Judges 19 ) ; and their crimes should be visited in like manner. At first God had found Israel pleasing to Him, as grapes to the traveller in the wilderness. He saw them with pleasure as the first ripe figs. This shows the delight God took in them; yet they followed after idolatry.

11-17. God departs from a people, or from a person, when he withdraws his goodness and mercy from them; and when the Lord is departed, what can the creature do? Even though, for the present, good things seem to remain, yet the blessing is gone if God is gone. Even the children should perish with the parents. The Divine wrath dries up the root, and withers the fruit of all comforts; and the scattered Jews daily warn us to beware, lest we neglect or abuse the gospel. Yet every smiting is not a drying up of the root. It may be that God intends only to smite so that the sap may be turned to the root, that there may be more of root graces, more humility, patience, faith, and self-denial. It is very just that God should bring judgments on those who slight his offered mercy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 9

This chapter is an address to Israel or the ten tribes, and contains either a new sermon, or is a very considerable part of the former upon the same subject, the sins and punishment of that people. It begins with an instruction to them, not to rejoice in their prosperity, as others did; since it would soon be at an end, because of their idolatry, which was everywhere committed, and for which they expected a reward of temporal good things, Ho 9:1; but, on the contrary, they are threatened with famine, with want both of corn and wine, Ho 9:2; and with an ejection out of their land into foreign countries; where they should be obliged to eat things unclean by their law, Ho 9:3; and where their sacrifices and solemnities should be no more attended to, Ho 9:4,5; yea, where their carcasses should fall and be buried, while their own country and houses lay waste and desolate, Ho 9:6; for, whatsoever their foolish and mad prophets said to the contrary, who pretended to be with God, and know his will, and were a snare to them that gave heed unto them, and brought hatred on them, the time of their punishment would certainly come, Ho 9:7,8; and their iniquities would be remembered and visited; seeing their corruptions were deep, like those that appeared in Gibeah, in the days of old, Ho 9:9; they acting the same ungrateful part their fathers had done, of whom they were a degenerate offspring, Ho 9:10; wherefore for these, and other offences mentioned, they are threatened with being bereaved of their children, and drove out of their land, to wander among the nations, Ho 9:11-17.