SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:16
Porque como becerra cerrera se apartó Israel, ¿los apacentará ahora el SEÑOR como a carneros en anchura?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 4:16
Verse 16. Israel slideth back] They are untractable, like an unbroken heifer or steer, that pulls back, rather than draw in the yoke. Will feed them as a lamb in a large place.] A species of irony. Ye shall go to Assyria, and be scattered among the nations; ye may sport yourselves in the extensive empire, wither ye shall be carried captives.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer , etc.] A heifer or young cow Israel is compared unto; the rather, because of the object of their idolatrous worship, the calves at Daniel and Bethel: the Septuagint calls them “heifers”: which they are hereby put in mind of, and upbraided with; as also to express their brutish stupidity in worshipping such idols, in which they obstinately persisted: and so were like a “refractory” and “untamed” heifer, as some render it, which will not be kept within bounds, either within doors or without, but breaks through, and passes over, all fences and enclosures; as they did, who transgressed the laws of God, and would not be restrained by them: or like a heifer unaccustomed to the yoke, which will not submit to it, but wriggles its neck from under it: so the Israelites would not be subject to the yoke of the law of God, were sons of Belial, children without a yoke; or like one, though yoked, yet would not draw the plough, but slid back in the furrows, even though goaded; so they, though stimulated by the prophets, whose words were as goads and pricks to push them on, yet would not hearken to them, but pulled away the shoulder, and slid back from the ways and worship of God; hence called backsliding Israel, ( Jeremiah 3:6), and this is either a reason why Judah should not follow their example, because backsliders, or why they should be punished, as follows: now , or “therefore” f93 , the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place : not that they were like lambs for the good properties of them, innocence, harmlessness, meekness, and patience; nor fed as the Lord feeds his lambs, and gathers them in his arms; but either as a heifer in sheep pasture, in short commons, for that creature cannot live where sheep and lambs can; or rather as a lamb that is alone, separate from the flock, not under the care of any shepherd; but exposed to every beast of prey upon a large common, on a wild desert and uncultivated place; afraid of every thing it hears and sees; bleating after its dam, of whose sustenance and nourishment it is destitute; and so is expressive of the state and condition of Israel in captivity, in the large Assyrian empire; and dispersed among the nations, where they were weak and helpless, destitute of all good things, and exposed to all dangers, and to every enemy. Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand the words in a good sense, that the Lord would have fed them as lambs in a large place, in an affluent manner, but that they rebelled and backslided: and to this sense the Targum seems to incline, which paraphrases the whole verse thus, “for as an ox which is fattened and kicks, so Israel rebels because of the multitude of good things; now the Lord will lead them as a choice lamb in a valley,” or plain: and so Noldius, “though Israel is refractory”, etc. notwithstanding the Lord will feed them , etc.; and indeed the phrase is used in a good sense in ( Isaiah 30:23), but there herds and flocks are spoken of, and not a single lamb, as here; though Kimchi thinks the singular is put for the plural, lamb for lambs.
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
כי 3588 כפרה 6510 סררה 5637 סרר 5637 ישׂראל 3478 עתה 6258 ירעם 7462 יהוה 3068 ככבשׂ 3532 במרחב׃ 4800
