Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Hosea 4:14
A historical reference excerpt for this verse.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.
I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredoms, nor your spouses when they commit adultery, etc.] Either not punish them at all, so that they shall go on in sin, and to a greater degree, to the disgrace and reproach of their parents and husbands; or not as yet, or not so severely in them, because it was by their example they were led into it. Jarchi’s note is very impertinent, that God threatens them with the disuse of the bitter waters of jealousy. The words are by some rendered interrogatively, “shall I not punish your daughters?” etc.f89; verily I will; and not them only, but their parents and husbands too, who deserve more severe corrections: for themselves are separated with whores, and sacrifice with harlots; they separated themselves to Baalpeor, that shameful idol, (<280910>Hosea 9:10), the Priapus of the Gentiles, in whose idolatrous worship many obscene rites were used; these men separated themselves from their wives, as well as from God and his worship, and from the company and conversation of men, and in private committed uncleanness with the women that attended, and with the female priests that officiated at the worship of idols; those “sanctified” ones, as the word may be rendered; and after that ate of things offered to idols with them. So the Targum, “they associated themselves with whores, and ate and drank with harlots.” Some versions understand the latter of catamites, or sodomitical persons, and of the wickedness practised by them in such places. Therefore the people that doth not understand; the law, as the Targum; what is to be done, and what to be avoided; the difference between the true and false religion; have no knowledge of divine and spiritual things, at least are very wavering and unsettled in their minds about religion, having thought little, and know less, of the matter: shall fall: into idolatry and adultery, led by such examples. So the Septuagint version, “is implicated with a whore”; or “embraces a whore”, as the Syriac and Arabic versions; (see <200722>Proverbs 7:22 <202214>22:14) or shall fall into calamities, ruin, and destruction; shall be dashed, as the Targum; so the Arabic interpreter of (<410926>Mark 9:26 <420942>Luke 9:42), uses the word: though Aben Ezra and Kimchi say, that in the Arabic language it signifies to be perplexed and disturbed, so as not to know what to dof90. The first sense seems to be best, of being scandalized, offended, and stumbling and falling into sin; and which Abarbinel suggests, and it agrees with what follows concerning Judah.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
