SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:4
Ellos reinaron, mas no por mí; hicieron señorío, mas yo no lo supe; de su plata y de su oro hicieron ídolos para sí, para ser talados.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 8:4
Verse 4. They have set up kings, but not by me] Properly speaking, not one of the kings of Israel, from the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David, was the anointed or the Lord. I knew it not] It had not my approbation. In this sense the word know is frequently understood.
That they may be cut off.] That is, They shall be cut off in consequence of their idolatry.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. They have set up kings, but not by me , etc.] Not by his authority, order, and command; not by asking advice of him, or his leave, but of themselves, and of their own, accord: this refers to the case of Jeroboam their first king, after their separation from the house of David, and from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; for though his becoming king of Israel was according to the secret will of God, and by his overruling providence; yet it was done without his express orders, and without asking counsel of him, or his consent, and of their own heads; and many of his successors were conspirators, and set up themselves with the consent of the people, to the dethroning of others, and upon the slaughter of them, as Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea: the people of Israel had no right to choose a king for themselves; the right was alone in the Lord; it was he that chose, appointed, and constituted their kings, ( Deuteronomy 17:15); thus Saul, David, and Solomon, were chose and appointed by him, ( 1 Samuel 10:24 2 Samuel 5:2 1 Chronicles 28:5); it was not the person of Jeroboam chosen God disliked; but their taking it upon them to choose and set him up without his leave; they have made princes, and knew [it] not ; that is, they set up subordinate governors, judges, civil magistrates, elders of the people, over them, without his approbation, and such as were very disagreeable to him; otherwise he knew what was done by them, as being the omniscient God, but he did not approve of what they did. Some observe, that ç , in the word used, is put for s , and should be rendered, “they have removed”, so Jarchi and Japhet; that is, they have set up kings, and they have removed them; they have took it upon them to make and pose kings at pleasure, without seeking the Lord about it, when this is his prerogative, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, ( Daniel 2:21); which sense makes a strong and beautiful antithesis; of their silver and their gold have they made their idols ; some of their idols were made of silver, others of gold; particularly the calves at Daniel and Bethel, which are called the golden calves, because made of gold; as was the calf in the wilderness, ( 1 Kings 12:28); (see Isaiah 46:6 Hosea 2:8); that they may be cut off : which denotes not the end, intentions, and design of making these idols of silver and gold, but the event thereof; namely, either the destruction of the idols themselves, which, for the sake of the silver and gold they were made of; were cut in pieces by a foreign enemy; or the gold and silver were cut off from the people, their riches and wealth were wasted by such means; or rather the people were cut off, everyone of them, because of their worship of them, or this would be the case.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The manifold sins of Israel. (Hos. 7:1-7) Their senselessness an hypocrisy. (Hos. 7:8-16)
Hos. 7:1-7 A practical disbelief of God's government was at the botto of all israel's wickedness; as if God could not see it or did not hee it. Their sins appear on every side of them. Their hearts were inflame by evil desires, like a heated oven. In the midst of their troubles a a nation, the people never thought of seeking help from God. The actua wickedness of men's lives bears a very small proportion to what is in their hearts. But when lust is inwardly cherished, it will break fort into outward sin. Those who tempt others to drunkenness never can be their real friends, and often design their ruin. Thus men execute the Divine vengeance on each other. Those are not only heated with sin, but hardened in sin, who continue to live without prayer, even when in trouble and distress.
Hos. 7:8-16 Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Thoug they may howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, they seldo cry to God with their hearts. Even their prayers for earthly mercie only seek fuel for their lusts. Their turning from one sect, sentiment form, or vice, to another, still leaves them far short of Christ an holiness. Such are we by nature. And such shall we prove if left to ourselves. Create in us a clean heart, Of God, and renew a right spiri within us __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
הם 1992 המליכו 4427 ולא 3808 ממני 4480 השׂירו 8323 ולא 3808 ידעתי 3045 כספם 3701 וזהבם 2091 עשׂו 6213 להם עצבים 6091 למען 4616 יכרת׃ 3772
