Hosea 7:9

“Strangers have devoured his strength, etc.] Or his substance, as the Targum; his wealth and riches, fortresses and strong holds: these strangers were either the Syrians, who, in the times of Jehoahaz, destroyed Ephraim or the Israelites, and so weakened them, as to make them like the dust by threshing, (<121207>2 Kings 12:7); or the Assyrians, first under Pul king of Assyria, who came out against Menahem king of Israel, and exacted a tribute of a thousand talents of silver, and so drained them of their treasure, which was their strength, (<121519>2 Kings 15:19,20); and then under Tiglathpileser, another king of Assyria, who came and took away from them many of their fortified places, and…”

“Strangers--foreigners: the Syrians and Assyrians (Kg2 13:7; Kg2 15:19-20; Kg2 17:3-6). gray hairs--that is, symptoms of approaching national dissolution. are here and there upon--literally, "are sprinkled on" him. yet he knoweth not--Though old age ought to bring with it wisdom, he neither knows of his senile decay, nor has the true knowledge which leads to reformation.”

“Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not - Like Samson, when, for sensual pleasure, he had betrayed the source of his strength and God had departed from him, lsrael knew not how or wherein his alliancs with the pagan had impaired his strength. He thought his losses at the hand of the enemy, passing wounds, which time would heal; he thought not of them, as tokens of God’s separation from him, that his time of trial was coming to its close, his strength decaying, his end at hand. Israel was not only incorrigible, but “past feeling” Ephesians 4:19, as the Apostle says of the pagan. The marks of wasting and decay were visible to sight and touch; yet he himself perceived not…”

“Knoweth it not - He is not aware of the loss he hath sustained. Gray hairs - Of old age and declining strength are upon their kingdom. Hosea 7:11”

“7:9 foreign gods (literally foreigners): Israel’s political involvement with foreign nations had harmed their spiritual well-being.”

“devoured: Hos 8:7; Kg2 13:3-7, Kg2 13:22, Kg2 15:19; Pro 23:35; Isa 42:22-25, Isa 57:1 here and there: Heb. sprinkled Hosea 7:10”