THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, M.A., D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VEN. ARCHDEACON F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S. London: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE. 1888. THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, M.A., D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. HOSEA. Introduction BY REV. W. J. DEANE, M.A., RECTOR OF ASHEN. Exposition and Homiletics BY REV. PROF. J. J. GIVEN, PH.D., D.D., LATE PROFESSOR OF HEBREW AND HERMENEUTICS, MAGEE COLLEGE, LONDONDERRY. KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE. 1888. THE BOOK OF HOSEA. INTRODUCTION. § I. SUBJECT OF THE BOOK. In the Book of Hosea we have a summary of what the prophet taught and felt during his official career of some thirty years. His lot was cast in mournful times. If he did not live to see the actual destruction of the kingdom of Israel, he beheld it in prophetic vision a very short time before the terrible consummation; and the causes that led to the overthrow were plain and open to his clear insight. Under Jeroboam II. Israel had been prosperous and successful, as she had never been since the days of David and Solomon. She had recovered much of the territory which those monarchs had held, and restored the ancient boundaries which had marked out the promised inheritance. As it is recorded in 2 Kings xiv. 25, 28, “He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain . . . and warred, and recovered Damascus." But the curse of idolatry still remained, accompanied with other sins which defection from the Lord and the worship of strange gods always brought in their train. Impiety, luxury, profligacy, everywhere abounded; and when Jeroboam died, and the strong hand which had checked the open turbulence and lawlessness of the people was removed, a scene of anarchy and confusion ensued, which gave sure token of coming vengeance. His son Zechariah was assassinated, after a reign of six months, by Shallum, who usurped the crown, and, after wearing it for one month, was himself murdered by one of his generals, Menahem. This cruel and wicked tyrant occupied the throne thus gained by bloodshed for ten years. His reign is chiefly remarkable for the appearance of the Assyrians in the Holy Land under Pul, who assumed the name of TiglathPileser. To escape the attack of these stern invaders, Menahem became tributary to the Assyrians, and was confirmed in his kingdom at the price of a thousand talents of silver, which he exacted from the wealthiest of his subjects. His son Pekahiah, after a troubled reign of two years, was murdered by one of his officers named Pekah, who seized the throne, and |