John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as [other] people , etc.] But rather mourn and lament, since such a load of guilt lay upon them, and they had so highly provoked the Lord to anger by their sins, and punishment would quickly be inflicted on them; and though they might be now in prosperity, through Jeroboam’s success against their enemies, who by his victories had enlarged their border; yet they should not rejoice at it, as other people used to do on such occasions, by illumination of houses, making fires in the streets, feasting, and the like, since this prosperity would be but short lived: or if it was on account of the league made by Menahem with the king of Assyria, this would not last long; or on account of a good harvest, they need not so much rejoice as they that rejoice in harvest, since there would quickly be a famine among them: or rather it may respect rejoicing at their idols, and in their idolatrous worship, as other people, which is forbidden; such as instituting plays to the honour of them, making feasts before them, and dancing about them; whatever others might do, who knew not the true God, had not his law before them, nor his prophets sent to them to make known his will; who had been brought up in idolatry, adhered to their gods, and never forsook them; it ill became Israel to do the like. So the words may be rendered, “rejoice not, O Israel”, at an idol f163 , or idols, “as [other] people”, idolatrous ones; the word signifies “similitude” or “likeness”, which an idol is: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God ; playing the harlot with many lovers; committing adultery with stocks and stones; worshipping idols, and so departing from God, the true God, they had professed to be their God, their God in covenant; who stood in the relation of a husband to them, but they proved treacherous to him, and were guilty of spiritual adultery, which is idolatry; and therefore had no cause to rejoice as other nations that never left their gods, but to take shame to themselves, and mourn over their sad departure; (see Hosea 1:3); thou hast loved a reward upon every corn floor ; alluding to the hire of a harlot, prostituting herself for it on a corn floor, or any where else, and that for a measure of corn, or for bread: it may point either at their giving the times of their corn floors to their idols, instead of giving them to the Lord; or to their ascribing their plenty of corn, and all good things to their worship of them, which they called their rewards, or hires their lovers gave them, ( Hosea 2:5,12); or to their erecting of altars on their corn floors; as David erected one to the true God on the threshing floor of Araunah, ( 2 Samuel 24:24,25); and which they might do, either by way of thanksgiving for a good harvest, which they imputed to them; or in order to obtain one, but in vain, as follows. The Targum is, “for you have erred from the worship of your God; you have loved to serve idols on all, corn floors.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel. (Hos. 8:1-4) For their idolatry. (Hos. 8:5-10) Further threatenings for the same sins (Hos. 8:11-14)
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 _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew אל408 תשׂמח8055 ישׂראל3478 אל413 גיל1524 כעמים5971 כי3588 זנית2181 מעל5921 אלהיך430 אהבת157 אתנן868 על5921 כל3605 גרנות1637 דגן׃1715
