Hosea 4:16

“For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer, etc.] A heifer or young cow Israel is compared unto; the rather, because of the object of their idolatrous worship, the calves at Daniel and Bethel: the Septuagint calls them “heifers”: which they are hereby put in mind of, and upbraided with; as also to express their brutish stupidity in worshipping such idols, in which they obstinately persisted: and so were like a “refractory” and “untamed” heifer, as somef92 render it, which will not be kept within bounds, either within doors or without, but breaks through, and passes over, all fences and enclosures; as they did, who transgressed the laws of God, and would not be restrained by them: or…”

“backsliding--Translate, "Israel is refractory, as a refractory heifer," namely, one that throws the yoke off her neck. Israel had represented God under the form of "calves" (Kg1 12:28); but it is she herself who is one. lamb in a large place--not in a good sense, as in Isa 30:23. Here there is irony: lambs like a large pasture; but it is not so safe for them as a small one, duly fenced from wild beasts. God will "feed" them, but it shall be with the "rod" (Mic 7:14). It shall be no longer in the narrow territory of Israel, but "in a large place," namely, they shall be scattered in exile over the wide realm of Assyria, a prey to their foes; as lambs, which are timid, gregarious, and not…”

“For Israel slideth back, as a backsliding heifer - The calves which Israel worshiped were pictures of itself. They represented natural, untamed, strength, which, when put to service, started back and shrank from the yoke. “Untractable, petulant, unruly, wanton, it withdrew from the yoke, when it could; if it could not, it drew aside or backward, instead of forward.” So is it rare, exceeding rare, for man to walk straight on in God’s ways; he jerks, writhes, twists, darts aside here and there, hating nothing so much as one straight, even, narrow tenor of his ways. Now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place - The punishment of Israel was close at hand, “now.” It would not have the…”

“Israel - The ten tribes. As a back - sliding heifer - Which when grown lusty, and wanton, will neither endure the yoke nor be confined in her allowed pastures. In a large place - In a large place or wilderness, where is no rest, safety or provision; such shall be the condition of the ten tribes. Hosea 4:17”

“slideth: Hos 11:7; Sa1 15:11; Jer 3:6, Jer 3:8, Jer 3:11, Jer 5:6, Jer 7:24, Jer 8:5, Jer 14:7; Zac 7:11 \*marg. as a lamb: Lev 26:33; Isa 7:21-25, Isa 22:18 Hosea 4:17”

“The reason for this warning is given in Hos 4:16., viz., the punishment which will fall upon Israel. Hos 4:16. "For Israel has become refractory like a refractory cow; now will Jehovah feed them like a lamb in a wide field." סורר, unmanageable, refractory ( Deu 21:18, cf. Zac 7:11). As Israel would not submit to the yoke of the divine law, it should have what it desired. God would feed it like a lamb, which being in a wide field becomes the prey of wolves and wild beasts, i.e., He would give it up to the freedom of banishment and dispersion among the nations. Hosea 4:17”