Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished
And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. Hos. 2:7
And she shall follow...
רָדַף
rāḏap̱: A verb meaning to pursue, to chase, to persecute. It means to chase after, to pursue someone in a hostile manner, as when Abraham pursued Lot's captors (Gen. 14:14-15); or Pharaoh pursued Israel (Exo. 14:4, 14:8-9, 14:23; 15:9). It refers to a pursuit of a less hostile nature, e.g., Laban's pursuit of Jacob (Gen. 31:23). It refers to the Lord's pursuit of persons or nations to punish and judge them (Jer. 29:18; Lam. 3:43). It refers to hunting, chasing after animals (1Sam. 26:20). It takes on the sense of persecuting persons, harassing them (Deu. 30:7); sometimes with words alone (Job 19:22). Figuratively, it describes chasing rewards (Isa. 1:23); or strong drink (Isa. 5:11). To pursue one's enemies to darkness means to utterly wipe them out (Nam. 1:8). In its passive sense, it means to be chased (Isa. 17:13). In its passive stem in Ecc. 3:15, it refers to what has vanished, passed away.
With earnest travel, and with wearisome toil, she shall attempt every way to get to them, but to no purpose: afflictions and sorrows surround Israel; these Israel can by no means break out of to these lovers, and they, like false lovers, hasten as fast and as far from this adulteress as they can.
Her lovers are idols and idolaters, her false friends, and false gods.
אֵת
’ēṯ: This particle points out the definite direct object in a biblical Hebrew sentence. It is usually not translatable. It is normally employed in Hebrew prose but may often be missing in Hebrew poetry. It occurs as ’eṯ, ’eṯ-, or ’ēṯ-. It may take pronominal suffixes, ’ôtı̄y, me; ’ôtkā, you, etc. (1Sam. 8:7). Used before mı̄y, ’eṯ mı̄y, it indicates whom. In fact, it is able to point out any kind of accusative in a sentence (cf. 1Kgs. 15:23). It is used thousands of times in the Old Testament.
her lovers...
אָהַב
’āhaḇ: A verb meaning to love. The semantic range of the verb includes loving or liking objects and things such as bribes (Isa. 1:23); wisdom (Pro. 4:6); wine (Pro. 21:17); peace, truth (Zec. 8:19); or tasty food (Gen. 27:4, 27:9, 27:14). The word also conveys love for other people (Gen. 29:32; Ruth 4:15; 1Kgs. 11:1); love for God (Exo. 20:6; Psm. 116:1); and also God's love of people (Deu. 4:37; 1Kgs. 10:9; Hos. 3:1).
but she shall not...
לֹא
lō’, לוֹא
lô’, לֹה
lōh: An adverb meaning no, not. The term is primarily utilized as an ordinary negation, as in Genesis 3:4: "You will not surely die" (NIV cf. Jdg. 14:4; Psm. 16:10). Often it is used to express an unconditional prohibition, thus having the force of an imperative: "You shall not (= do not ever) steal"(Exo. 20:15 NIV; cf. Jdg. 13:5). Frequently, it functions as an absolute in answer to a question (Job 23:6; Zec. 4:5). The word is also employed in questions to denote that an affirmative answer is expected (2Kgs. 5:26; Jon. 4:11). When it is prefixed to a noun or adjective, it negates that word, making it have an opposite or contrary meaning (e.g., god becomes non-god; strong becomes weak; cf. Deu. 32:21; Pro. 30:25). When prefixed by the preposition be, meaning in or by, the combined term carries the temporal meaning of beyond or before (Lev. 15:25); the meaning without is also not uncommon for this combination (Job 8:11). A prefixed preposition le, meaning to or for, gives the term the meaning of without (2Chr. 15:3) or as though not (Job 39:16). Occasionally, the word suggests the meaning not only, on account of the context (Deu. 5:3).
They which hasten after such strange gods and helps, as this shameless harlot, shall meet with sorrow, but never overtake their desired help.
overtake...
נָשַׂג
nāśag̱: A verb meaning to overtake, to reach, to get. It often means to overtake, to catch up to someone (Gen. 31:25; 44:4, 44:6; Exo.14:9; 15:9; Num. 6:21). It is used figuratively of age, of years attaining a certain level (Gen. 47:9); or of joy and rejoicing arriving, becoming a reality (Isa. 35:10). It means to afford, to have at one's hand, the ability, to have sufficient (Lev. 5:11; 14:21); or to obtain, come into possession of property (Lev. 25:47).
them; she shall seek...
ָּקַשׁ
bāqaš: A verb meaning to seek, to require; to try to obtain. It is used to describe subjects seeking or requiring various things for various reasons: a stolen object (Gen. 31:39); persons (Gen. 37:15-16); someone's life (Exo. 4:19; 24); evil against someone (1Sam. 25:26) or good (Neh. 2:10; Psm. 122:9).
It denotes seeking someone's presence, especially the Lord's (1Kgs. 10:24; Hos. 5:15) or His word (Amos 8:12). Prayer was a means of seeking the Lord's will (Dan. 9:3). In the passive use of the verb, something is sought for (Jer. 50:20; Ezk. 26:21) or is examined (Est. 2:23).
As is the manner of immodest strumpets; it speaks also her obstinate resolution in her way: so Israel forsook a God that would have sought him to do him good, and by no disappointments would be (for a long time), taken off from this frantic wildness, of seeking to idols that could do him no good.
them, but shall not... see but she shall not above.
find...
מָצָא
māṣā’: A verb meaning to find, attain. The verb is employed in both the active and passive senses (to be found). In addition, it is also used in a causative sense, to cause to find. Finally, the word is employed in several idioms that carry special meanings. The word is used to indicate finding or seeking just about anything: water (Gen. 26:32; Exo. 15:22); a place, goal, or location (Gen. 8:9); a knowledge of the Lord (Pro. 2:5); the word of the Lord (Amos 8:12); or words of wisdom (Pro. 4:22). The word indicates coming on something (Gen. 44:8); of finding something (Job 11:7; Ecc. 3:11). Additional idiomatic phrases include finding heart, meaning to be able to do something (2Sam. 7:27); finding the vigor (life) of one's hand, renewing one's strength (Isa. 57:10); to not be found, not to exist or be dead (Job 20:8). The meanings discussed are used in passive constructions as well. Persons being sought are found (Gen. 18:29-30; Jos. 10:17); and crime or evil can be found out (Exo. 22:4, 3; 1Sam. 25:28); as can evildoers (Exo. 22:2,1, Exo. 22:7, 6). The verb means to happen to be, literally to be found, in several passages (Deu. 17:2; 18:10; Jer. 5:26). Finally, in the passive usage of the verb, it means not sufficient for someone, as in Jos. 17:16 where the hill country was not found to be sufficient for the people of Joseph. In the stem indicating cause, the verb can mean to bring on someone their just desserts, i.e., to cause proper justice to find them (Job 34:11; cf. Job 37:13). In 2Sam. 3:8, the verb indicates the deliverance of someone into the power of another person, i.e., to make someone be found in the hand of another, in this case in the hand of David.
The final issue of all is at last, she is wearied in her folly, tired with fruitless labor, and sits down hopeless of ever finding help from idols and idolaters.
them: then shall she say,...
אָמַר
’āmar: A verb meaning to say. It is translated in various ways depending on the context. It is almost always followed by a quotation. In addition to vocal speech, the word refers to thought as internal speech (2Sam. 13:32; Est. 6:6). Further, it also refers to what is being communicated by a person's actions along with his words (Exo. 2:14; 2Chr. 28:13).
I will go...
הָלַךּ
hālaḵ: A verb meaning to go, to come, to walk. This common word carries with it the basic idea of movement: the flowing of a river (Gen. 2:14); the descending of floods (Gen. 8:3); the crawling of beasts (Lev. 11:27); the slithering of snakes (Lev. 11:42); the blowing of the wind (Ecc. 1:6); the tossing of the sea (Jon. 1:13). Since it is usually a person who is moving, it is frequently translated "walk" (Gen. 48:15; 2Sam. 15:30). Like a similar verb dāraḵ, meaning to tread, this word is also used metaphorically to speak of the pathways (i.e., behavior) of one's life. A son could walk in (i.e., follow after) the ways of his father (2Chr. 17:3) or not (1Sam. 8:3). Israel was commanded to walk in the ways of the Lord (Deu. 28:9), but they often walked after other gods (2Kgs. 13:11).
Restless, she will try one way more; if she only had tried this sooner, this would have been successful. She will return, come back, and seek to her Husband.
and return...
שׁוּב
šûḇ: A verb meaning to turn, to return, to go back, to do again, to change, to withdraw, to bring back, to reestablish, to be returned, to bring back, to take, to restore, to recompense, to answer, to hinder. The verb is used over one thousand times and has various shades of meaning in its four stems. In the simple stem, it is used to describe divine and human reactions, attitudes, and feelings. The verb describes the possibility that Israel might change (turn) their minds and return to Egypt (Exo. 13:17). Josiah the king turned back to the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength (2Kgs. 23:25; Jer. 34:15). Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn from the anger He held toward Judah (2Kgs. 23:26; Jer. 4:28). Job pleaded with his miserable comforters to relent (i.e., turn away) from him (Job 6:29). God's people will return (repent) and seek Him in the last days (Deu. 30:2; Isa. 59:20; Hos. 3:5) instead of turning away from Him as they are now; to return to Egypt (Isa. 6:10; Hos. 11:5). God's call was persistently for His people to return to Him (1Kgs. 8:33; Jer. 4:1). Any nation can repent and turn to God for forgiveness (Jer. 18:8).
The word is used metaphorically to describe things returning: God's Word will not be revoked (returned) once it has been uttered (Isa. 45:23; 55:11); Jacob stayed with Laban until Esau's anger cooled off (turned back) (Gen. 27:44-45); blood guilt could return on one's own head (1Kgs. 2:33; Psm. 7:16, 17). This word also describes the sword of Saul that did not return without success from the battlefield (2Sam. 1:22).
The verb also indicates to returning to or to change into. For example, human beings return to the dust of the earth (Gen. 3:19; Ecc. 12:7); but a person cannot naturally return to life (2Sam. 12:23); unless God's Spirit brings it about (1Kgs. 13:6). A land of great natural fertility can be reduced (turned into) to a farmer's cropland (Isa. 29:17).
In its simplest sense, the word means to return, to restore, to go back. Abraham's descendants in their fourth generation would return to Canaan (Gen. 15:16); God returned to visit His people (Gen. 8:9; 18:10). It is also used to describe turning chariots about when needed (1Kgs. 22:33; Mic. 2:8).
This verb is used with other verbs of motion, all in their infinitive or participial forms, to describe a back and forth motion; the ravens Noah sent out went back and forth (Gen. 8:7). Used with another verb in general, šûḇis either not translated or means to do again whatever action is indicated by the other verb, such as when Isaac dug again the wells his father had previously dug (Gen. 26:18). A similar meaning is to take back or recapture when this verb is used with the Hebrew verb lāqaḥ, meaning to take or to receive (2Kgs. 13:25; Mic. 7:19). Finally, if this verb is used with a following infinitive of another verb, it means to do over and over or more and more; Israel angered the Lord more and more than they had already angered Him by performing pagan rituals (Ezk. 8:17).
to...
אֵל
’ēl, אֶל
’el: A preposition meaning to, into, concerning. It has the basic meaning of toward. It is used in all kinds of situations indicating direction (Gen. 2:19; 16:11; 18:7; Lev. 1:16). It is used metaphorically to refer to speaking to someone (Gen. 8:15) or sexual intercourse (Gen. 16:2; Num. 25:1). It indicates direction when things face each other (Num. 12:8). Its use in the idiom hinneni ’ēl indicates motion toward (Gen. 4:8). Other meanings according to context are: as far as (Jer. 51:9); into (Jon. 1:5); to sit at (Gen. 24:11; 1Kgs. 13:20). Used figuratively, it can mean with regard to something (2Sam. 1:24). When used with other prepositions, it indicates direction or location according to the preposition it is being combined with (Jos. 15:13; 17:4; 1Kgs. 8:6; 2Kgs. 9:18).
It is used in place of or interchangeably for the preposition ‛al and takes on the meaning of upon, on (Jos. 5:14; Jdg. 6:37).
my first...
רִאשׁוֹן
ri’šôn, רִאשׂן
ri’šōn: An adjective meaning first, former, foremost, earlier, head, chief. This term occurs 182 times and denotes that which comes first among given items, whether in place, rank, or order (Gen. 25:25, 32:17, 18; 2Kgs. 1:14) or (more frequently) in time. Moses had the Tabernacle set up in the first month, just as the Lord commanded (Exo. 40:2, 40:17; cf. Num. 9:5; Ezra 7:9; Ezk. 45:18, 45:21). Zechariah warned the exiles who returned to the Promised Land from the Babylonian captivity not to be like their ancestors who refused to listen to the former prophets (Zec. 1:4, 7:7, 7:12). The Lord declares Himself to be the first and the last, the Eternal One (Isa. 44:6, 48:12). In later Hebrew, the word came to signify the highest in rank or authority (i.e., chief, head). The archangel Michael is portrayed as holding the rank of chief prince (Dan. 10:13; cf. 1Chr, 18:17; Est, 1:14). This word is derived from the noun rō’š.
husband;...
אִישׁ
’iyš: A masculine noun meaning a man or an individual. It is also used to mean male or husband. This word does not indicate humankind but the male gender in particular. Its feminine counterpart is a woman or wife. In Hos. 2:16,18, this word describes God's special relationship to Israel. He will be their protective husband, not their master. Curiously, the word is also used of animals (Gen. 7:2), referring to a male and his mate.
i.e. God, who had married Israel to himself, who was her Husband indeed: all others were as adulterers, as deceivers and seducers, who abuse the credulity of wanton women first, and next abuse their husbands’ beds.
For then was it better with me than now: how much the tune is changed! (In Hosea 2:5), all her gallantry, her feasts, her rich apparel, these are gifts of her lovers; not a word of her Husband’s greatest kindnesses. But now she sees and confesses that the least of her Husband’s kindnesses was better than the greatest kindness of these her paramours, and at worst with her Husband she was better than at best with adulterers.
You cannot try out the world and then come back to God anytime you want to. That is what Israel found out, and it is what Christians find out also. God did not want part of their love, He wanted all. Loyalty to God involves forsaking the entire world. Israel suddenly realizes that she was much better off when she was with God.
Her frantic efforts to find her lovers would be thwarted (Hos. 2:7). As a last resort, she would resolve to return to her Husband, the Lord, opening the way for restoration. The reality behind this figurative portrayal of judgment probably included drought, invasion, and exile (cf. Hos. 2:9, 2:11-12; Lev. 26:18-22).
for...
כִּי
kiy: A demonstrative particle meaning because, for, that, when, whenever; indeed, even; if; even when, even though. It is used in various ways and must be translated accordingly. In every case, the context in which the word functions will be the key to translating correctly. Here is a listing of the major ways it is used: as a conjunction meaning because (Gen. 3:14); for (Psm. 6:2, 6:5); that (Gen. 1:10; 1Kgs. 21:15); as a conjunctive time or condition indicator, when or if (Gen. 4:12); in a clause of condition, it means if, in fact, or in case (Job 7:13); as a demonstrative particle translated as yes, indeed, surely (Gen. 18:20; 1Sam. 14:44); truly, especially found in oaths (Gen. 42:16); used with ’im . . . kî . . . , it means if . . . then (Isa. 7:9); in combination with kî ’az, it is best rendered as then; kî ‛attāh usually means for them (Job 3:13). After a negative clause, kî is best rendered as rather (Gen. 3:6; 17:5; 24:4); preceded by the negative lō’, it is "no, but . . ." In clauses that concede something, it has the sense of even though, although, even when (Ecc. 4:14). It is used to show comparison when used in the construction kî . . . kēn, as . . . so (Isa. 55:9).
then...
אָז
’āz, מֵאָז
mē’āz: An adverb meaning then, at that time, or since. This word may introduce something that used to be so (Gen. 12:6); what happened next in a narrative (Exo. 15:1); or what will happen in the future (Isa. 35:5-6). On occasion, it is also used as a preposition, such as in Ruth 2:7, "Even from the morning" (KJV).
was it better...
טוֹב
ṭôḇ, טוֹבָה
ṭôḇāh, טֹבָה
ṭōḇāh: An adjective meaning good, well-pleasing, fruitful, morally correct, proper, convenient. This word is frequently encountered in the Old Testament and is roughly equivalent to the English word good in terms of its function and scope of meaning. It describes that which is appealing and pleasant to the senses (Num. 14:7; Est. 1:11; Psm. 52:9,11); is useful and profitable (Gen. 2:18; Zec. 11:12); is abundant and plentiful (Gen. 41:22; Jdg. 8:32); is kind and benevolent (1Sam. 24:18, 19; 2Chr. 5:13; Nam. 1:7); is good in a moral sense as opposed to evil (Gen. 2:17; Lev. 27:14; Psm. 37:27); is proper and becoming (Deu 1:14; 1Sam. 1:23; Psm. 92:1, 2); bears a general state of well-being or happiness (Deu. 6:24; Ecc. 2:24); is the better of two alternatives (Gen. 29:19; Exo. 14:12; Jon. 4:3). The creation narrative of Genesis 1 best embodies all these various elements of meaning when the Lord declares each aspect of His handiwork to be "good."
with me then now...
מִן
min, מִנִּי
minniy, מִנֵּי
minnēy: A preposition used to indicate from, out of, away from; more than: after, since; immediately; because of, since, so that; without; direction as southward, etc.). Its spelling varies according to its location and usage. Its basic meaning is from, away from, out of. Its basic meanings only can be noted here, but its exact meaning is easily discerned from its context: (1) With verbs, it expresses separation spatially or figuratively (Exo. 19:14; Deu. 22:8; Jos. 10:7). It can be used with a verb not indicating separation, e.g., to stay away from strife (Pro. 20:3; Isa. 14:19). (2) With the basic sense of out of, from (Gen. 3:22-24; 4:10; 34:26; Exo. 2:10; 8:9, 5; Jdg. 15:7; Psm. 40:2, 3), it often indicates what something is made of or formed from (Gen. 2:19; Hos. 13:2). With a pronominal suffix meaning from it, it means of one piece with it (Exo. 25:19, 25:31). It indicates a cause for something, on account of, because (Exo. 2:23; 6:9; 1Kgs. 14:4; Pro. 20:4; Isa. 53:5). (3) It is used to mean something is a part of something else, a part or share of it (Gen. 6:19; 7:8; 39:11; Num. 16:2). It indicates some of in an indefinite sense (Exo. 16:27; Lev. 25:49; Psm. 137:3). When repeated it means some . . . others or its equivalent expression (1Chr. 9:28-29). (4) It is used to mark time: from, since (Deu. 9:24), from a certain day or time (Lev. 22:27; Num. 15:23; 1Sam. 18:9). It is used in phrases to mean from ancient times, antiquity (Hab. 1:12); from of old (Isa. 42:14). It indicates right after a certain time (Gen. 38:24; Jos. 23:1; Ezk. 38:8). (5) Paired with ‛aḏ it usually means from . . . even to, as far as (Gen. 10:19; 15:18; Exo. 11:7; Jer. 51:62). In a figurative sense, this same construction can mean e.g., from young . . . to old, both inclusive (Gen. 19:4; 1Sam. 5:9; Jer. 6:13). (6) It may further indicate than, in comparisons (Lev. 21:10; Jdg. 14:18). (7) Prefixed to an infinitive, it is often translated as from (Gen. 16:2); a few times as on account of or because (Deu. 7:7-8); or temporally as since or after (Num. 24:23; Isa. 44:7). (8) It is often attached to other words in compounds and is sometimes used in front of infinitives of verbs: e.g., with ‛āḇaḏ meaning from serving (Exo. 14:5); with bāla‛ meaning from destroying (Lam. 2:8). (9) It is used in front of a verb form once as a conjunction indicating a negative purpose, "that . . . not" (Deu. 33:11). Other uses almost always fall under one of the above categories.
As a last resort, she would resolve to return to her Husband, the Lord, opening the way for restoration. The reality behind this figurative portrayal of judgment probably included drought, invasion, and exile (cf. Hos. 2:9, 2:11-12; Lev. 26:18-22).
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