Hosea 8:10

“Yea, though they have hired among the nations, etc.] That is, lovers, as before; got into confederacies and alliances with the nations about them, thinking thereby to strengthen their hands, and secure themselves and their kingdom; particular regard may be had to the Egyptians, as distinct from the Assyrians, whom they privately engaged on their side to shake off the Assyrian yoke, or their obligation to send yearly presents to the Assyrian king: now will I gather them; either the Assyrians against them, to invade their land, besiege their city, and take and carry them captive; or the Israelites in a body into the city of Samaria, and there be cooped up, and taken and destroyed, or carried…”

“will I gather them--namely, the nations (Assyria, &c.) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished (Eze 16:37). a little--rather, "in a little" [HENDERSON]. English Version gives good sense: They shall sorrow "a little" at the imposition of the tribute; God suspended yet the great judgment, namely, their deportation by Assyria. the burden of the king of princes--the tribute imposed on Israel (under Menahem) by the Assyrian king Pul, (Kg2 15:19-22), who had many "princes" under his sway (Isa 10:8).”

“Yea, though they have hired - Or better, “because or when they hinge among the pagan, now will I gather them;” i. e., I will gather the nations together. The sin of Israel should bring its own punishment. He sent presents to the king of Assyria, in order to strengthen himself against the will of God; “he thought himself secured by his league made with them; but he should find himself much deceived in his policy;” he had “hired among them” only; “now,” ere long, very speedily, God Himself would “gather them,” i. e., those very nations, not in part, but altogether; not for the help of Israel, but for its destruction. As though a man would let out some water from a deep lake ponded up, the…”

“Gather them - I will assemble them together, that they may be taken and destroyed together. A little - For a while before their final captivity. The burden - The tribute laid on them by the king. Hosea 8:11”

“8:10 I will now gather them together: Although God sometimes promises to gather his people for deliverance (Zech 10:8-10), here the Lord would gather them for judgment (Joel 3:11).”

“now: Hos 10:10; Eze 16:37, Eze 23:9, Eze 23:10, Eze 23:22-26, Eze 23:46, Eze 23:47 sorrow a little: or, begin to sorrow in a little while, as, Hag 2:6 for: Kg2 14:26, Kg2 15:19, Kg2 15:20, Kg2 17:3; Ch1 5:26 the king: Isa 10:8, Isa 36:13; Eze 26:7; Dan 2:37 Hosea 8:11”