SEV Biblia, Chapter 10:1
¶ Israel parra vacía, ¿ha de hacer fruto para sí? Conforme a la multiplicación de su fruto multiplicó altares, conforme a la bondad de su tierra mejoraron sus estatuas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 10:1
Verse 1. Israel is an empty vine] Or, a vine that casteth its grapes. He bringeth forth fruit] Or, he laid up fruit for himself. He abused the blessings of God to the purposes of idolatry. He was prosperous; but his prosperity corrupted his heart.
According to the multitude of his fruit] He became idolatrous in proportion to his prosperity; and in proportion to their wealth was the costliness of their images, and the expensiveness of their idol worship.
True is the homely saying of old Quarles:- "So God's best gifts, usurp'd by wicked ones, To poison turn, by their con- ta-gi-ons." Another poet, of a higher order, but worse school, says:- Effodiuntur opes, irritamenta malorum. - OVID.
Of which the words of St. Paul are nearly a literal rendering:- Æriza gar panqwn twn kakwn estin h qilarguria.
"For the love of money is the root of all these evils" 1 Timothy vi. 10. Pity that this beautiful metal, on which God has bestowed such a large portion of mineral perfection, and then hid in the earth, should, on its being digged up by man, become the incentive to so many vices, and draw away his heart from the Creator of all things, and the fountain of ineffable perfection and goodness.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Israel [is] an empty vine , etc.] The people of Israel are often compared to a vine, and such an one from whence fruit might be expected, being planted in a good soil, and well taken care of; (see Psalm 80:8 Isaiah 5:1-3 Jeremiah 2:21); but proved an “empty vine”, empty of fruit; not of temporal good things, for a multitude of such fruit it is afterwards said to have; but of spiritual fruit, of the fruit of grace, and of good works, being destitute of the Spirit of God, and his grace; and, having no spiritual moisture, was incapable of bringing forth good fruit: or, “an emptying vine” f185 ; that casts its fruit before it is ripe; these people, what fruit they had, they made an ill use of it; even of their temporal good things; they emptied themselves of their wealth and riches, by sending presents, or paying tribute, to foreign princes for their alliance, friendship, and help; or by consuming it on their idols, and in their idolatrous worship.
The Targum renders it, “a spoiled vine f186 ;” spoiled by their enemies, who robbed them of their wealth and riches, and trampled them under foot. The Septuagint version, and those that follow that, understand it in a sense quite the reverse, rendering it, “a flourishing vine”; putting forth branches, leaves, and fruit; and which the learned Pocock confirms from the use of the word in the Arabic language: but then it follows, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself ; all the good works done by them were not to the praise and glory of God, as fruits of righteousness are, which come by Jesus Christ; but were done to be seen of men, and to gain their applause and esteem, and so were for themselves; and all their temporal good things they abounded with were not made use of in the service of God, and for the promoting of his glory, and of true religion among them; but either consumed on their own lusts, or in the service of idols: or, “the fruit is like unto himself” f187 ; as was the vine, so was its fruit: the vine was empty, and devoid of goodness, and so the fruit it produced. The Targum is, “the fruit of their works was the cause of their being carried captive:” according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars : as the Israelites increased in riches and wealth, their land bringing forth in great abundance, they erected the greater number of altars to their idols, and multiplied their sacrifices to them; this was the ill use they made of what fruit they did produce: according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images ; of richer metal, and more ornamented, and more of them, according to the plenty of good things, corn, and wine, and oil, their land produced; thus abusing the providential goodness of God to such vile purposes!
Matthew Henry Commentary
The distress to come upon Israel. (Hos. 9:1-6) The approach of the da of trouble. (Hos. 9:7-10) Judgments on Israel. (Hos. 9:11-17)
Hos. 9:1-6 Israel gave rewards to their idols, in the offering presented to them. It is common for those who are niggardly in religion, to be prodigal upon their lusts. Those are reckoned a 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.
Hos. 9:7-10 Time had been when the spiritual watchmen of Israel wer with the Lord, but now they were like the snare of a fowler to entangl persons to their ruin. The people were become as corrupt as those of Gibeah, Judg. 19; and their crimes should be visited in like manner. A first God had found Israel pleasing to Him, as grapes to the travelle in the wilderness. He saw them with pleasure as the first ripe figs This shows the delight God took in them; yet they followed afte idolatry.
Hos. 9:11-17. 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, goo things seem to remain, yet the blessing is gone if God is gone. Eve the children should perish with the parents. The Divine wrath dries u the root, and withers the fruit of all comforts; and the scattered Jew daily warn us to beware, lest we neglect or abuse the gospel. Yet ever smiting is not a drying up of the root. It may be that God intends onl 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 __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
גפן 1612 בוקק 1238 ישׂראל 3478 פרי 6529 ישׁוה 7737 לו כרב 7230 לפריו 6529 הרבה 7235 למזבחות 4196 כטוב 2896 לארצו 776 היטיבו 3190 מצבות׃ 4676
