Oseas 10

1 ES Israel una frondosa viña, haciendo fruto para sí: conforme á la multiplicación de su fruto multiplicó altares, conforme á la bondad de su tierra aumentaron sus estatuas.

2 Dividióse su corazón. Ahora serán hallados culpables: él quebrantará sus altares, asolará sus estatuas.

3 Porque dirán ahora: No tenemos rey, porque no temimos á Jehová: ¿y qué haría el rey por nosotros?

4 Han hablado palabras jurando en vano al hacer alianza: por tanto, el juicio florecerá como ajenjo en los surcos del campo.

5 Por las becerras de Beth-aven serán atemorizados los moradores de Samaria: porque su pueblo lamentará á causa del becerro, y sus sacerdotes que en él se regocijaban por su gloria, la cual será disipada.

6 Y aun será él llevado á Asiria en presente al rey Jareb: Ephraim será avergonzado, é Israel será confuso de su consejo.

7 De Samaria fué cortado su rey como la espuma sobre la superficie de las aguas.

8 Y los altares de Avén serán destruídos, el pecado de Israel; crecerá sobre sus altares espino y cardo. Y dirán á los montes: Cubridnos; y á los collados: Caed sobre nosotros.

9 Desde los días de Gabaa has pecado, oh Israel: allí estuvieron: no los tomó la batalla en Gabaa contra los inicuos.

10 Y los castigaré como deseo: y pueblos se juntarán sobre ellos cuando serán atados en sus dos surcos.

11 Ephraim es becerra domada, amadora del trillar; mas yo pasaré sobre su lozana cerviz: yo haré llevar yugo á Ephraim; arará Judá, quebrará sus terrones Jacob.

12 Sembrad para vosotros en justicia, segad para vosotros en misericordia; arad para vosotros barbecho: porque es el tiempo de buscar á Jehová, hasta que venga y os enseñe justicia.

13 Habéis arado impiedad, segasteis iniquidad: comeréis fruto de mentira: porque confiaste en tu camino, en la multitud de tus fuertes.

14 Por tanto, en tus pueblos se levantará alboroto, y todas tus fortalezas serán destruídas, como destruyó Salmán á Beth-arbel el día de la batalla: la madre fué arrojada sobre los hijos.

15 Así hará á vosotros Beth-el por la maldad de vuestra maldad: en la mañana será del todo cortado el rey de Israel.

Oseas 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The idolatry of Israel. (1-8) They are exhorted to repentance. (9-15)

Verses 1-8 A vine is only valuable for its fruit; but Israel now brought no fruit to perfection. Their hearts were divided. God is the Sovereign of the heart; he will have all, or none. Were the stream of the heart wholly after God, it would run strongly, and bear down all before it. Their pretences to covenant with God were false. Even the proceeding of justice was as poisonous hemlock. Alas, how empty a vine is the visible church even at this day! But all earthly prosperity is but a collection of bubbles, soon destroyed like foam upon the water. Sinners will in vain seek shelter from that Judge, whom they now despise as a Saviour.

Verses 9-15 Because God does not desire the death and ruin of sinners, therefore in mercy he desires their chastisement. The children of iniquity still remained in Israel. The enemies would be gathered against them. It is just with God to make those know what hardships mean, who indulge themselves in ease and pleasure. Let them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt affections and lusts, and be a broken and contrite spirit. Let them abound in works of piety towards God, and of justice and charity towards one another: herein let them sow to the Spirit. Seeking the Lord is to be every day's work, but there are special occasions when to seek him. Christ shall come as the Lord our righteousness, and grant us of it abundantly. If we sow in righteousness, we shall reap according to mercy; a reward not of debt, but of grace. Even the gains of sin yield the sinner no satisfaction. As our comforts, so our confidences in the service of sin will certainly fail us. Come and seek the Lord, and thy hope in him shall not deceive thee. See what cruel work war makes. Whatever mischief is done, it is sin that does it. What miseries men's sins bring on them, even in this world!

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 10

This chapter is of the same argument with the former, and others before that; setting forth the sins of the ten tribes, and threatening them with the judgments of God for them; and exhorting them to repentance, and works of righteousness. They are charged with unfruitfulness and ingratitude; increasing in idolatry, as they increased in temporal good things, Ho 10:1; with a divided heart, and with irreverence of God, and their king; and with false swearing, covenant breaking, and injustice, Ho 10:2-4; and are threatened with a removal of their king, and with the destruction of their idols, and places of idolatry, which should cause fear in the common people, and mourning among the priests, Ho 10:1,5-8. It is observed, that their sin had been of long continuance, though the Lord had been kind and good unto them, in chastising them in love, giving them good laws, sending his prophets to exhort them to repentance and reformation, but all in vain, Ho 10:9-13; wherefore they are threatened with the spoiling of their fortresses, the destruction of the people, and the cutting off of their king, Ho 10:14,15.