Hosea 5:14

“For I [will be] unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah, etc.] Being provoked by their above conduct and behaviour in seeking to others, and not to him, for help, he threatens to punish them in a more public and severe manner; not be to them only as a moth and rottenness, but as a lion, and as a young lion, creatures strong and fierce, that destroy and devour all that come into their hands, and from whom there is no deliverance: thus the Lord was both to Israel and Judah, by means of the Assyrians and Babylonians; the former are compared to a lion, that devoured Israel; and the latter to a young lion, that broke the bones of Judah; (see <245017>Jeremiah 50:17); and…”

“lion--The black lion and the young lion are emblems of strength and ferocity (Psa 91:13). I, even I--emphatic; when I, even I, the irresistible God, tear in pieces (Psa 50:22), no Assyrian power can rescue. go away--as a lion stalks leisurely back with his prey to his lair.”

“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion - He who would thus strengthen himself by Outward help against God’s chastisements, challenges, as it were, the Almighty to a trial of strength. So then God, unwilling to abandon him to himself, changes His dealings, and , “He who had heretofore, in His judgments, seemed but as a tender moth or a weak worm,” now shows forth His resistless power, imaged by His creatures in whom the quality of power is most seen. It may again be, that the fiercer animal (literally, the roaring) is associated with the name of Ephraim; that of the younger lion, fierce and eager for prey, yet not full-grown, with that of Judah. I, I will tear - “It is a fearful thing, to fall…”

“Will tear - Divine vengeance by the Assyrians, shall be as a lion tearing his prey. Next: Hosea Chapter 6”

“as a lion: Hos 13:7, Hos 13:8; Job 10:16; Psa 7:2; Lam 3:10; Amo 3:4-8 will tear: Psa 7:2, Psa 50:22; Mic 5:8 none: Deu 28:31; Job 10:7; Isa 5:29; Amo 2:14 Hosea 5:15”

“No help is to be expected from Assyria, because the Lord will punish His people. Hos 5:14. "For I am like a lion to Ephraim, and like the young lion to the house of Judah: I, I tear in pieces, and go; I carry away, and there is no deliverer. Hos 5:15. "I go, return to my place, till they repent and shall seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me early." For the figure of the lion, which seizes its prey, and tears it in pieces without deliverance, see Hos 13:7 and Isa 5:29. אשּׂא denotes the carrying away of booty, as in Sa1 17:34. For the fact itself, compare Deu 32:39. The first clause of Hos 5:15 is still to be interpreted from the figure of the lion. As the lion withdraws into…”