Osée 2

1 Dites à vos frères: Ammi (mon peuple)! et à vos sœurs: Ruchama (dont on a pitié)!

2 Plaidez contre votre mère, plaidez! Car elle n'est pas ma femme, et je ne suis point son mari. Qu'elle ôte ses prostitutions de son visage et ses adultères de son sein;

3 De peur que je ne la dépouille à nu, et que je ne la mette comme au jour de sa naissance, et que je ne la rende semblable à un désert, à une terre aride, et ne la fasse mourir de soif;

4 Et que je n'aie point pitié de ses enfants, parce que ce sont des enfants de prostitution.

5 Car leur mère s'est prostituée, celle qui les a conçus s'est déshonorée; car elle a dit: "J'irai après mes amants, qui me donnent mon pain et mon eau, ma laine et mon lin, mon huile et mon breuvage. "

6 C'est pourquoi, voici, je vais fermer ton chemin avec des épines. J'y élèverai un mur, tellement qu'elle ne trouvera plus ses sentiers.

7 Elle poursuivra ses amants, et elle ne les atteindra pas; elle les cherchera, mais elle ne les trouvera point. Puis elle dira: "J'irai, et je retournerai à mon premier mari; car alors j'étais mieux que je ne suis maintenant. "

8 Or elle n'a pas reconnu que c'était moi qui lui donnais le froment, et le moût, et l'huile, et qui lui multipliais l'argent et l'or, dont ils faisaient un Baal.

9 C'est pourquoi je reprendrai mon froment en son temps, et mon moût en sa saison, et j'enlèverai ma laine et mon lin qui couvraient sa nudité.

10 Et je découvrirai maintenant sa turpitude aux yeux de ses amants, et nul ne la délivrera de ma main.

11 Je ferai cesser toute sa joie, ses fêtes, ses nouvelles lunes, ses sabbats et toutes ses solennités.

12 Je dévasterai ses vignes et ses figuiers, dont elle a dit: "Ce sont là mes salaires, que mes amants m'ont donnés. " Je les réduirai en forêt, et les bêtes des champs les dévoreront.

13 Et je la punirai pour les jours où elle offrait des parfums aux Baals, en se parant de ses bagues et de ses joyaux, et s'en allait après ses amants, et m'oubliait, dit l'Éternel.

14 C'est pourquoi, voici, je l'attirerai, et je la ferai aller au désert, et je parlerai à son cœur.

15 Et de là je lui donnerai ses vignes, et la vallée d'Acor, comme une entrée d'espérance; et elle y chantera comme au temps de sa jeunesse, comme au jour où elle remonta du pays d'Égypte.

16 Et il arrivera en ce jour-là, dit l'Éternel, que tu m'appelleras: "Mon mari; " et tu ne m'appelleras plus: "Mon Baal (maître). "

17 Et j'ôterai de sa bouche les noms des Baals; et on ne fera plus mention de leur nom.

18 En ce jour-là, je traiterai pour eux une alliance avec les bêtes des champs, avec les oiseaux des cieux et les reptiles de la terre; je briserai, j'ôterai du pays l'arc, l'épée et la guerre, et je les ferai reposer en sûreté.

19 Et je t'épouserai pour toujours; je t'épouserai par une alliance de justice et de droit, de bonté et de compassion.

20 Je t'épouserai en fidélité, et tu connaîtras l'Éternel.

21 En ce temps-là je répondrai, dit l'Éternel,

22 Je répondrai aux cieux, et ils répondront à la terre, et la terre répondra au froment, au moût et à l'huile, et ils répondront à Jizréel (que Dieu sème).

23 Et je la sèmerai pour moi dans la terre, et je ferai miséricorde à Lo-Ruchama; et je dirai à Lo-Ammi: Tu es mon peuple! et il me dira: "Mon Dieu! "

Osée 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The idolatry of the people. (1-5) God's judgments against them. (6-13) His promises of reconciliation. (14-23)

Verses 1-5 This chapter continues the figurative address to Israel, in reference to Hosea's wife and children. Let us own and love as brethren, all whom the Lord seems to put among his children, and encourage them in that they have received mercy. But every Christian, by his example and conduct, must protest against evil and abuses, even among those to whom he belongs and owes respect. Impenitent sinners will soon be stripped of the advantages they misuse, and which they consume upon their lusts.

Verses 6-13 God threatens what he would do with this treacherous, idolatrous people. They did not turn, therefore all this came upon them; and it is written for admonition to us. If lesser difficulties be got over, God will raise greater. The most resolute in sinful pursuits, are commonly most crossed in them. The way of God and duty is often hedged about with thorns, but we have reason to think it is a sinful way that is hedged up with thorns. Crosses and obstacles in an evil course are great blessings, and are to be so accounted; they are God's hedges, to keep us from transgressing, to make the way of sin difficult, and to keep us from it. We have reason to bless God for restraining grace, and for restraining providences; and even for sore pain, sickness, or calamity, if it keeps us from sin. The disappointments we meet with in seeking for satisfaction from the creature, should, if nothing else will do it, drive us to the Creator. When men forget, or consider not that their comforts come from God, he will often in mercy take them away, to bring them to think upon their folly and danger. Sin and mirth can never hold long together; but if men will not take away sin from their mirth, God will take away mirth from their sin. And if men destroy God's word and ordinances, it is just with him to destroy their vines and fig-trees. This shall be the ruin of their mirth. Taking away the solemn seasons and the sabbaths will not do it, they will readily part with them, and think it no loss; but He will take away their sensual pleasures. Days of sinful mirth must be visited with days of mourning.

Verses 14-23 After these judgments the Lord would deal with Israel more gently. By the promise of rest in Christ we are invited to take his yoke upon us; and the work of conversion may be forwarded by comforts as well as by convictions. But usually the Lord drives us to despair of earthly joy, and help from ourselves, that, being shut from every other door, we may knock at Mercy's gate. From that time Israel would be more truly attached to the Lord; no longer calling him Baali, or "My lord and master," alluding to authority, rather than love, but Ishi, an address of affection. This may foretell the restoration from the Babylonish captivity; and also be applied to the conversion of the Jews to Christ, in the days of the apostles, and the future general conversion of that nation; and believers are enabled to expect infinitely more tenderness and kindness from their holy God, than a beloved wife can expect from the kindest husband. When the people were weaned from idols, and loved the Lord, no creature should do them any harm. This may be understood of the blessings and privileges of the spiritual Israel, of every true believer, and their partaking of Christ's righteousness; also, of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. Here is an argument for us to walk so that God may not be dishonoured by us: Thou art my people. If a man's family walk disorderly, it is a dishonour to the master. If God call us children, we may say, Thou art our God. Unbelieving soul, lay aside discouraging thoughts; do not thus answer God's loving-kindness. Doth God say, Thou art my people? Say, Lord, thou art our God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 2

This chapter is an explanation of the former, proceeding upon the same argument in more express words. The godly Israelites are here called upon to lay before the body of the people their idolatry, ingratitude, obstinacy, and ignorance of the God of their mercies; and to exhort them to repentance, lest they should be stripped of all their good things, and be brought into great distress and difficulties; all their joy and comfort cease, and be exposed to shame and contempt, Ho 2:1-13, yet, notwithstanding, many gracious promises are made unto them, of their having the alluring and comfortable word of the Gospel; of a door of hope; of salvation being opened to them; of faith in the Lord, and affection to him as their husband; of the removal of all idolatry from them; of safety from all enemies; of their open espousal to Christ; of his hearing of their prayers, and giving them plenty of all good things; and of their multiplication, conversion, and covenant relation to God, Ho 2:14-23.