Hosea 2:12

12 I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, "These are my pay, which my lovers have given me." I will make them a forest, and the wild animals shall devour them.

Hosea 2:12 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 2:12

And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees
Which are mentioned for the rest, being the most fruitful and beneficial: this was done when Judea was invaded, overrun and wasted, by the Roman army; and when many were cut down, as Josephus observes, to build forts, and cast up mounts against Jerusalem; so that, he, says F12, the appearance of the earth was miserable, for what before was adorned with trees and gardens, looked now like a wilderness: whereof she hath said, these are my rewards that my lovers have given
me;
alluding to the hire of harlots, given them by their gallants; these she ascribed, as she did before her bread, water, wool, flax; and oil, ( Hosea 2:5 ) , not to God, the author and giver of them, but to the people her lovers, as the Targum; or to her idols, or to her beloved tenets, and doing according to them; and which is here mentioned as a reason of the divine resentment, and why he destroyed these fruitful trees: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat
them;
make the vines and fig trees like forest trees, barren and unfruitful; the fruitful land of Judea should be turned into a forest, or become like a desert or wilderness, and all the fruits of it should be eaten up by wild beasts; by their enemies, compared to the beasts of the field, particularly the Romans, the fourth beast; see ( Isaiah 56:9 ) ( Daniel 7:7 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F12 De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 1. sect. 1.

Hosea 2:12 In-Context

10 Now I will uncover her shame in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand.
11 I will put an end to all her mirth, her festivals, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her appointed festivals.
12 I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, "These are my pay, which my lovers have given me." I will make them a forest, and the wild animals shall devour them.
13 I will punish her for the festival days of the Baals, when she offered incense to them and decked herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the Lord.
14 Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.