SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:13
Sobre las cabezas de los montes sacrificaron, e incensaron sobre los collados, debajo de las encinas, álamos, y olmos que tuviesen buena sombra; por tanto, vuestras hijas fornicarán, y adulterarán vuestras nueras.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 4:13
Verse 13. Under oaks] wla allon, from lla alal, he was strong. Hence, the oak, in Latin, is called robur; which word means also, strength, the oak being the strongest of all the trees of the forest. The shadow thereof is good] Their "daughters committed whoredom, and their spouses committed adultery." 1. Their deities were worshipped by prostitution. 2. They drank much in their idol worship, ver. 11, and thus their passions became inflamed. 3. The thick groves were favourable to the whoredoms and adulteries mentioned here. In imitation of these, some nations have their public gardens.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains , etc.] The highest part of them, nearest to the heavens, where they built their altars to idols, and offered sacrifice unto them, as we often read in Scripture they did: and burn incense upon the hills ; to their idols, which was one kind of sacrifice put for all others: under oaks, and poplars, and elms ; and indeed under every green tree that grew upon them, where there were groves of them raised up for this purpose; (see Jeremiah 2:20 3:6): because the shadow, thereof is good ; the shadow of these trees, of each of them, was large, and preserved them from the sultry heat of the sun, as well as hid them from the sight of men; they could perform their idolatrous rites, as well as gratify their impure lusts, with more privacy and secrecy; and perhaps they thought the gods delighted in such shady places, and that these were frequented by spirits, and the departed souls of men; in such places the Heathens, whom the Jews imitated, built their temples, and offered their sacrifices f79 . The “oak” is a very spreading tree; its branches are large, and its shadow very great: hence the religious Heathens in ancient times used to live under them, and worship them as gods, and dedicate temples to them, because they furnished them with acorns for food, and a shelter from the rain, and other inclemencies of the heavens f80 ; particularly the oak was consecrated to Jupiter, as appears from what Virgil says f81 . The oak at Dodona is famous for its antiquity, where were a fountain and groves, and a temple dedicated to the same Heathen deity; and from whence oracles were given forth f82 . The Druids here in Britain chose to have their groves of oaks; nor did they perform any of their sacred rites without the leaves of them: hence Pliny says they had their name.
The “poplar” mentioned is the white poplar, as the word used signifies, and which affords a very hospitable shadow, as the poet calls it; and this was a tree also with the Heathens sacred to their gods, particularly to Hercules f85 ; because it is said he brought it first into Greece from the river Acheron, where it grew; and the wood of no other tree would the Eleans use, in preparing the sacrifices for Jupiter Olympius f86 . The “elm” is also a very shady tree; hence Virgil calls it “ulmus opaca, ingens”: and under this tree sacrifices used to be offered to idols, as is evident from ( Ezekiel 6:13), where the same word is used as here, though it is there rendered an “oak”; but that it is different from the oak appears from these two words being read together, so that they cannot be names of one and the same tree, ( Isaiah 6:13), where it is rendered the “teil tree”, as distinct from the oak. Now these trees being very shady ones, and under which the Gentiles used to perform their religious rites, the Jews imitated them therein, which is here complained of. Therefore your daughters shall commit whoredoms, and your spouses shall commit adultery ; or their “sons’ wives” f88 ; either spiritually, that is, commit idolatry by the example of their parents and husbands; or corporeally, being left at home while their parents and husbands were worshipping their idols upon the mountains, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi: and so this is to be considered as a punishment of the idolatry of their parents and husbands; that as they commit spiritual adultery against God, or idolatry, their daughters and wives shall be given up to such vile affections, or by force shall be made to commit corporeal adultery against them; or rather the sense is, led by the example of their parents and husbands, whom they see not only sacrifice to idols in the above places, but commit uncleanness with harlots there, they will throw off all shame, and commit whoredom with men: for so the words may be rendered, “hence your daughters”, etc.; so Abarbinel.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The prophet enters into a new contract, representing the graciou manner in which God will again restore Israel under a new covenant.
Hos. 3:1-3 The dislike of men to true religion is because they love objects and forms, which allow them to indulge, instead of mortifyin their lusts. How wonderful that a holy God should have good-will to those whose carnal mind is enmity against Him! Here is represente God's gracious dealings with the fallen race of mankind, that had gon from him. This is the covenant of grace he is willing to enter int with them, they must be to him a people, and he will be to them a God They must accept the punishment of their sin, and must not return to folly. And it is a certain sign that our afflictions are means of goo to us, when we are kept from being overcome by the temptations of a afflicted state.
Hos. 3:4-5 Here is the application of the parable to Israel. They mus long sit like a widow, stripped of all joys and honours; but shall a length be received again. Those that would seek the Lord so as to fin him, must apply to Christ, and become his willing people. Not only ar we to fear the Lord and his greatness, but the Lord and his goodness not only his majesty, but his mercy. Even Jewish writers apply thi passage to the promised Messiah; doubtless it foretold their futur conversion to Christ, for which they are kept a separate people. Thoug the first fear of God arise from a view of his holy majesty an righteous vengeance, yet the experience of mercy and grace throug Jesus Christ, will lead the heart to reverence so kind and glorious Friend and Father, and to fear offending him __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
על 5921 ראשׁי 7218 ההרים 2022 יזבחו 2076 ועל 5921 הגבעות 1389 יקטרו 6999 תחת 8478 אלון 437 ולבנה 3839 ואלה 424 כי 3588 טוב 2896 צלה 6738 על 5921 כן 3651 תזנינה 2181 בנותיכם 1323 וכלותיכם 3618 תנאפנה׃ 5003
