SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:8
¶ Tocad el shofar en Gabaa, trompeta en Ramá; sonad tambor en Bet-avén; tras ti, oh Benjamín.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 5:8
Verse 8. Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah] Gibeah and Ramah were cities of Judah, in the tribe of Benjamin. After thee, O Benjamin] An abrupt call of warning. "Benjamin, fly for thy life! The enemy is just behind thee!" This is a prediction of the invasion of the Assyrians, and the captivity of the ten tribes.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, [and] the trumpet in Ramah , etc.] As an alarm of war, to give notice that the enemy is at hand, just ready to invade the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and bring destruction upon them; according to the Targum, the words are directed to the prophets, “O ye prophets, lift up your voice like a trumpet;” to declare to the people of Judah their sins and transgressions, and the punishment that would be inflicted on them for them; or it may be, this is a call of the people to fasting, mounting, and lamentation, as in ( Joel 2:1,15). Gibeah is the same which is called “Gibeah of Saul”, ( 1 Samuel 11:4); it being the birth place of that prince; and which Josephus calls Gabathsaoule, and interprets it the hill of Saul, and says it was distant from Jerusalem about four miles; though elsewhere he represents it as but two and a half miles; perhaps in the latter place there is a corruption in the number; for, according to Jerom, it was near Ramah, which was seven miles from Jerusalem; he says it is called also “Gibeah of Benjamin”, ( Samuel 13:2); because it was in that tribe, as was also Ramah; which, according to Eusebius f106 , was six miles from Jerusalem; these were near to each other; (see Judges 19:13); so that the calamity threatened is what respects the two tribes: cry aloud [at] Bethaven ; the same with Bethel, or a place near unto it, in the tribe of Benjamin, or on the borders of Ephraim; (see Hosea 4:15).
According to the above writer f107 , it lay about twelve miles from Jerusalem; in the way to Sichem; and being upon the borders both of Benjamin and Ephraim, it sometimes belonged to Israel, and sometimes to Judah; (see 2 Chronicles 13:19); and seeing, as Jerom observes, that Benjamin was at the back of it (for where the tribe of Benjamin ended, not far in the tribe of Ephraim, according to him, was this city built), it therefore very beautifully follows, after thee, O Benjamin ; that is, either the enemy is after thee, O Benjamin, is just at hand, ready to fall upon thee, and destroy thee, as Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech; or rather, after the trumpet is blown in Gibeah and Ramah, cities which belonged to Benjamin, let it he blown, either in Bethaven, on the borders of Benjamin and Ephraim; or let it be blown in the tribe of Judah, so that all the twelve tribes may have notice, and prepare for what is coming upon them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
God's judgments against the sins of the people. (Hos. 4:1-5) and of the priests. (Hos. 4:6-11) Idolatry is reproved, and Judah is admonished (Hos. 4:12-19)
Hos. 4:1-5 Hosea reproves for immorality, as well as idolatry. Ther was no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God in the land: it was full of murders, II Kin. 21:16. Therefore calamities were near, which woul desolate the country. Our sins, as separate persons, as a family, as neighbourhood, as a nation, cause the Lord to have a controversy with us; let us submit and humble ourselves before Him, that he may not go on to destroy.
Hos. 4:6-11 Both priests and people rejected knowledge; God will justl reject them. They forgot the law of God, neither desired no endeavoured to retain it in mind, and to transmit the remembrance to their posterity; therefore God will justly forget them and their children. If we dishonour God with that which is our honour, it will sooner or later, be turned into shame to us. Instead of warning the people against sin, from the consideration of the sacrifices, whic showed what an offence sin was to God, since it needed an atonement the priests encouraged the people to sin, since atonement might be mad at so small an expense. It is very wicked to be pleased with the sin of others, because they may turn to our advantage. What is unlawfull gained, cannot be comfortably used. The people and the priests hardene one another in sin; therefore justly shall they share in the punishment. Sharers in sin must expect to share in ruin. Any lus harboured in the heart, in time will eat out all its strength an vigour. That is the reason why many professors grow so heavy, so dull so dead in the way of religion. They have a liking for some secre lust, which takes away their hearts.
Hos. 4:12-19 The people consulted images, and not the Divine word. Thi would lead to disorder and sin. Thus men prepare scourges for themselves, and vice is spread through a people. Let not Judah com near the idolatrous worship of Israel. For Israel was devoted to idols and must now be let alone. When sinners cast off the easy yoke of Christ, they go on in sin till the Lord saith, Let them alone. The they receive no more warnings, feel no more convictions: Satan take full possession of them, and they ripen for destruction. It is a sad and sore judgment for any man to be let alone in sin. Those who are no disturbed in their sin, will be destroyed for their sin. May we be kep from this awful state; for the wrath of God, like a strong tempest will soon hurry impenitent sinners into ruin __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
תקעו 8628 שׁופר 7782 בגבעה 1390 חצצרה 2689 ברמה 7414 הריעו 7321 בית און 1007 אחריך 310 בנימין׃ 1144
