Hosea 8:14

“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, etc.] The Creator and Preserver of everyone of them, and who had raised them up to a state and kingdom, and had made them great and rich, and populous, and bestowed many favours and blessings on them; and yet they forgot him, to give him glory, and to serve and worship him: and buildeth temples; to idols, as the Targum adds; to the calves at Daniel and Bethel, at which places, as there were altars set up, and priests appointed, so temples and houses of high places built to worship in; (see <111231> 1 Kings 12:31,32 <300710>Amos 7:10, 13); and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities; to protect them from their enemies, which was not unlawful; but that they…”

“forgotten . . . Maker-- (Deu 32:18). temples--to idols. Judah . . . fenced cities--Judah, though less idolatrous than Israel, betrayed lack of faith in Jehovah by trusting more to its fenced cities than to Him; instead of making peace with God, Judah multiplied human defenses (Isa 22:8; Jer 5:17; Mic 5:10-11). I will send . . . fire upon . . . cities--Sennacherib burned all Judah's fenced cities except Jerusalem (Kg2 18:13). palaces thereof--namely, of the land. Compare as to Jerusalem, Jer 17:27. Next: Hosea Chapter 9”

“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker - God was his Maker, not only as the Creator of all things, but as the Author of his existence as a people, as He saith, “hath he not made thee, and established thee?” Deuteronomy 32:6. And buildeth temples - as for the two calves, at Bethel and at Dan. Since God had commanded to build one temple only, that at Jerusalem, to “build temples” was in itself sin. The sin charged on Ephraim is idolatry; that of Judah is self-confidence ; from where Isaiah blames them, that they were busy in repairing the breaches of the city, and cutting off the supplies of water from the enemy; “but ye have not looked unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect unto Him, that…”

“Temples - Idol temples. Devour the palaces - This was fulfilled when all the cities of Judah and Israel were laid in ashes by the king of Assyria. Next: Hosea Chapter 9”

“8:14 Israel has forgotten its Maker: See 2:13. • God’s judgment is often described as fire sent upon the royal palaces and fortresses (see Amos 1:4, 7).”

“forgotten: Hos 13:6; Deu 32:18; Psa 106:21; Isa 17:10; Jer 2:32, Jer 3:21, Jer 23:27 Maker: Isa 29:23, Isa 43:21; Eph 2:10 and buildeth: Kg1 12:31, Kg1 16:31 and Judah: Ch2 26:10, Ch2 27:4; Isa 22:8-11 I will send: Kg2 18:13; Isa 42:13, Isa 42:25; Jer 17:27; Amo 1:4, Amo 1:10, Amo 1:12, Amo 1:14, Amo 2:5 Next: Hosea Chapter 9”