John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion , Because of their idolatry, ingratitude, luxury, and especially their forgetfulness of God, which is last mentioned, and with which the words are connected. By this and the following metaphors are set forth the severity of God’s judgments upon them for their sins, and their utter destruction by them. Some observe the word here used signifies an old lion, which, though slower in the pursuit of its prey, is more cruel when it has got it; (see Hosea 5:14); as a leopard by the way will I observe [them] ; which is a quick sighted, vigilant, crafty, and insidious creature, which lurks in trees, and watches for men and beasts that pass by the way, and seizes on them. The lion makes his onset more openly, this more secretly; and both express the various ways God would take in his providence to chastise these people for their sins, and that he would watch over them to do them hurt, as he had to do them good, and take the proper opportunity of doing it, and execute his purpose with great wrath and fury, to their utter ruin; (see Jeremiah 5:6 44:27). The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, “as a leopard by the way of Assyria” f274 , or “the Assyrians”; and so some interpreters take the sense to be, that God would watch them in their way to Assyria for help, and blast their designs, disappoint them of their expected assistance, and surprise them with his judgments; (see Hosea 5:13 7:11 8:9 Jeremiah 2:18,19); and there was a mountain in Syria, called the mountain of the leopards, where they used to haunt, and from whence they came out to take their prey, to which there is a reference in ( Song of Solomon 4:8); which was two miles from Tripoli (a city of Syria) northward, three from the city Arces southward, and one from Mount Lebanon f275 ; and such is the vigilance and agility of leopards, that they will sometimes, as Pliny says, mount thick trees, and hide themselves in the branches, and leap at once, and unawares, upon those that pass by, whether men or beasts, as before observed; wherefore, with great propriety, is this simile used. The Targum is, “my word shall be”, etc.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Judah and Israel reminded of the Divine favours. (Hos. 12:1-6) The provocations of Israel. (Hos. 12:7-14)
Hos. 12:1-6 Ephraim feeds himself with vain hopes of help from man when he is at enmity with God. The Jews vainly thought to secure the Egyptians by a present of the produce of their country. Judah is contended with also. God sees the sin of his own people, and wil reckon with them for it. They are put in mind of what Jacob did, an what God did for him. When his faith upon the Divine promise prevaile above his fears, then by his strength he had power with God. He is Jehovah, the same that was, and is, and is to come. What was revelation of God to one, is his memorial to many, to all generations Then let those who have gone from God, be turned to him. Turn thou to the Lord, by repentance and faith, as thy God. Let those that ar converted to him, walk with him in all holy conversation and godliness Let us wrestle with Him for promised blessings, determined not to giv over till we prevail; and let us seek Him in his ordinances.
Hos. 12:7-14 Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, an falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shal have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a might prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and folly the worse, if we put any slight upon that word. We had better follow the hardest labour in poverty, than grow rich by sin. We may form judgment of our own conduct, by comparing it with that of ancien believers in the like circumstances. Whoever despises the message of God, will perish. May we all hear his word with humble, obedient faith _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ואהי1961 להם כמו3644 שׁחל7826 כנמר5246 על5921 דרך1870 אשׁור׃7789
