Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Hosea 14:8
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Ephraim [shall say], what have I to do any more with idols? etc.] This is to be understood, not of apostate Ephraim, as in the times of the prophet, who was so wedded and glued to the idols, that there was no hope of getting him from them; and therefore is bid to let him alone, (<280417>Hosea 4:17); but of Ephraim Israel returning to God at his call, under the influence of his grace, in the latter day, (<281401>Hosea 14:1,2). Idols are the same with the works of their hands, (<281403>Hosea 14:3); and to be interpreted, not of graven or molten images, to the worship of which the Jews have not been addicted since their captivity to this day; (see <280304>Hosea 3:4); but of the idols of their hearts, their impiety, their unbelief, their rejection of the Messiah, which, at the time of their conversion, they will loath, abhor, and mourn over; likewise the traditions of their elders, they are now zealous and tenacious of, and prefer even to the written word; but will now relinquish them, and embrace the Gospel of Christ; as well as the idol of their own righteousness they have always endeavoured to establish; but shall now renounce, and receive Christ as the Lord their righteousness. The like to this is to be found in common in all truly penitent and converted sinners; who, being made sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, detest and abhor it, and declare they will have nothing to do with it; not but that it continues in them, and has to do with them, and they with that; yet not so as to live and walk in it; to yield their members as instruments of it; to serve and obey it as their master; to make provision for it, and to have the course of their lives under the direction and power of it; and so likewise, being convinced of the imperfection and insufficiency of their own righteousness to justify them, they will have nothing to do with that in the business of justification before God, and acceptance with him: now these are the words of the Lord, affirming what Ephraim should say, as Kimchi rightly observes; he promises for him, as he well might, since it is he that gives repentance to Israel, and works in his people principles of grace, and enables them both to will and to do, to make such holy resolutions, and perform them. Some render the words, “O Ephraim, what have I to do”f300? etc. and take them to be words of God concerning himself, declaring he would have nothing to do with idols, nor suffer them in his service, nor should they; for “what concord hath Christ with Belial?” or “what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” (<470615>2 Corinthians 6:15,16); but the former sense is much best; rather what Schmidt suggests is more agreeable, who, rendering the words in the same way, makes them to be the words of a believing Gentile returning and dwelling under the shadow of Israel; so he interprets (<281407>Hosea 14:7), and takes this to be the language of such an one throughout. The Targum is, “they of the house of Israel shall say, what [is it] to us to serve idols any more?” I have heard [him]; says the Lord; Ephraim bemoaning himself, repenting of his sins, and confessing them; his prayers for pardon and acceptance, and the resolutions made by him in the strength of divine grace, (<281402>Hosea 14:2,3,8); (see <243118>Jeremiah 31:18-20); and this is what his idols he once served could not do, who had ears, but heard not; but the Lord not only heard, but answered, and granted his request. So the Targum, “I by my Word will rec…
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