Sometimes it is called Immanuel’s land, where the Messiah Immanuel, God with us, was to be born, and dwell, and where he did. Kimchi wrongly interprets this of Jerusalem only; and others of Judea; but it designs the whole land of promise, which God save by promise to the fathers of this people, and put them in the possession of, the tenure of which they held by their obedience; but they not living according to will, and in obedience to his laws, who was Lord of the land, sole Proprietor and Governor of it, he turned them out of it, and would not suffer them to continue any longer in it; and which was a great punishment indeed, to be driven out of such a land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and where they had been favoured with privileges and blessings of every kind; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt ; or the ten tribes; that is, some of them, who should flee thither for refuge and sustenance; when the Assyrian should invade their land, and besiege Samaria, they should go thither again, where their ancestors had formerly been in a state of bondage: this is prophesied of them, ( Deuteronomy 28:68); and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria ; that is, Ephraim or the ten tribes, the far greater part of there, should be taken captive, and carried into Assyria, and there eat food which by their law was unclean, as things sacrificed to idols, swine’s flesh, and many others; or food that was not fit for men to eat, which nature abhorred; such bread as Ezekiel was bid to make and eat, ( Ezekiel 4:9,12,13). This may be understood even of them that went to Egypt for help against the Assyrians, or for shelter from them, or for food to eat in the time of famine; who should be brought back again, and carried into Assyria, and there live a miserable and an uncomfortable life; who had been used to enjoy corn and wine, and plenty of all good things, to which these unclean things may be opposed.

Matthew Henry Commentary

Hos. 8:1-4 When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protectio from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serv thee, and cleave to thee only?

Hos. 8:5-10 They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, by worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What the sow has no stalk, no blade, or, if it have, the bud shall yield n fruit, there was nothing in them. The works of darkness are unfruitful nay, the end of those things is death. The hopes of sinners wil deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In times of danger especially in the day of judgment, all carnal devices will fail. The take a course by themselves, and like a wild ass by himself, they wil be the easier and surer prey for the lion. Man is in nothing more lik the wild ass's colt, than in seeking for that succour and tha satisfaction in the creature, which are to be had in God only. Thoug men may sorrow a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they wil be brought to sorrow everlastingly.

Hos. 8:11-14 It is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and wil be charged as sin on all who do it, how plausible soever their excuse may seem to be. The Lord had caused his law to be written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey it. Man seems by the temple he builds to be mindful of his Maker, yet really he has forgotten him because he has cast off all his fear; but none ever hardened his hear against God and prospered. So long as men despise the truths an precepts of God's word, and the ordinances of his worship, all the observances and offerings, however costly, of their own devising, wil be unto them for sin; for those services only are acceptable to God which are done according to his word, and through Jesus Christ __________________________________________________________________

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