And they shall hear Jezreel.] The destitute people who are in want of the necessaries of life.

This most elegant gradation in the exertion of the influences of nature, for the supply of the wants of man, may be considered thus:- 1. There is a concord, harmony, and mutual influence, which God has established in the parts of created nature, in reference to the support and preservation of the human race.

2. God alone is the author of all this; and unless he give his command, communicate his energetic influence to the different parts of nature, these effects will not, cannot be produced.

3. Jezreel, the people who have been dispersed for their iniquities, and now about to be sown or planted in their own land, will require the most fostering care. See on ver. 23.

4. They are heard in desiring oil, wine, and corn. These are necessary to the support and comfort of life; and to those the desire of animal life naturally aspires.

5. These products are looked for from the EARTH. On it, and by it, grass grows for the cattle, and corn for the service of man.

6, The seeds or germs, whence proceed corn, wine, and oil, live and grow in the earth; but cannot come to perfection, unless the earth be impregnated with the dews and rains from the clouds. They are therefore represented as imploring the heavens to collect their clouds, to pour down their fructifying moisture upon it.

7. The clouds, or materials of which they are composed, not being able to arrange themselves, nor aggregate themselves so as to meet those demands, prevent drought, and maintain an effective vegetation, are represented as calling upon the heavens to form, arrange, and supply them with the requisite quantity of moisture.

8. God, who is the author of all being and all bounty, dependent on nothing, comes forward and says, I will hear the heavens, the clouds which are gathered in the atmosphere; he will arrange the particles, saturate those that are light, till they become sufficiently impregnated with the necessary fluid; and then direct them In his providence where to deposit their contents. And, 9. When brought to the proper place, he will shake them with his winds, or strike them with his thunder, so as to cause them to fall down in drops to fertilize the earth with their showers.

Thus then:- 1. God works upon the heavens.

2. In them the clouds are collected.

3. The clouds drop their moisture upon the earth.

4. The earth exerts its vegetative influence upon the germs which it contains.

5. They expand, increase, and become matured, under the genial influences of the heavens, sun, air, water, from the clouds, &c.

6. Man receives and applies those bounties of Providence, and variously prepares them for the support and comfort of life.

Take all this in still fewer words:- As Jezreel or the Israelites are here considered as perishing for want of food, all inanimate nature is represented as invoking God in their behalf.

1. The heavens have prayed that they be stored with clouds, that they may drop down fatness upon the earth.

2. The Lord answers the heavens, and clouds are formed.

3. The earth invokes the clouds, that they may drop down their fatness into its bosom.

4. The bottles of heaven are, consequently, unstopped for this purpose.

5. Then the corn, wine, and olive, implore the earth to put forth its vegetative energy.

6. The earth answers; and corn, wine, and oil are produced.

7. Jezreel cries for the necessaries of life, and the abundance of the above supplies all his wants.

All these are dependent on each other, as the links are which constitute a chain; and God has the government of the whole; and he manages all for the benefit of man. How wondrous is this providence! How gracious is this GOD! Here is a series of prosopopoeias together. Corn, wine, oil, the earth, the clouds and their contents, the heavens, sun, moon, &c., are all represented as intelligent beings, speaking to and influencing each other. GOD is at one end of the chain, and MAN at the other; and by means of the intermediate links the latter is kept in a state of continued dependence upon the former for life, breath, and all things.

John Gill's Bible Commentary

Kimchi says this belongs to the time of salvation; and Aben Ezra to time to come.

Matthew Henry Commentary

Hos. 2:1-5 This chapter continues the figurative address to Israel, in reference to Hosea's wife and children. Let us own and love a brethren, all whom the Lord seems to put among his children, an encourage them in that they have received mercy. But every Christian by his example and conduct, must protest against evil and abuses, eve among those to whom he belongs and owes respect. Impenitent sinner will soon be stripped of the advantages they misuse, and which the consume upon their lusts.

Hos. 2:6-13 God threatens what he would do with this treacherous idolatrous people. They did not turn, therefore all this came upo 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 ofte hedged about with thorns, but we have reason to think it is a sinfu way that is hedged up with thorns. Crosses and obstacles in an evi course are great blessings, and are to be so accounted; they are God' 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 sor 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 in men will not take away sin from their mirth, God will take away mirt 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 sabbath 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 mirt must be visited with days of mourning.

Hos. 2:14-23 After these judgments the Lord would deal with Israel mor 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 comfort 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 othe door, we may knock at Mercy's gate. From that time Israel would be mor truly attached to the Lord; no longer calling him Baali, or "My lor and master," alluding to authority, rather than love, but Ishi, a address of affection. This may foretell the restoration from the Babylonish captivity; and also be applied to the conversion of the Jew to Christ, in the days of the apostles, and the future genera conversion of that nation; and believers are enabled to expec infinitely more tenderness and kindness from their holy God, than beloved wife can expect from the kindest husband. When the people wer weaned from idols, and loved the Lord, no creature should do them an 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 dishonoure by us: Thou art my people. If a man's family walk disorderly, it is dishonour to the master. If God call us children, we may say, Thou ar our God. Unbelieving soul, lay aside discouraging thoughts; do not thu answer God's loving-kindness. Doth God say, Thou art my people? Say Lord, thou art our God __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew