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Text -- Hosea 6:9 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
6:9 The company of priests is like a gang of robbers, lying in ambush to pounce on a victim. They commit murder on the road to Shechem; they have done heinous crimes!
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Shechem member of the Shechem Clan and/or resident of Shechem


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Sin | Robbery | Robbers | Minister | MURDER | MONEY | LEWD; LEWDNESS | HOSEA | ENORMITY | Church | COMPANY | Backsliders | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes


Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Hos 6:9 - -- The priests by companies lay wait, and rob, and murder.

The priests by companies lay wait, and rob, and murder.

JFB: Hos 6:9 - -- "association" or guild of priests.

"association" or guild of priests.

JFB: Hos 6:9 - -- Literally, "with one shoulder" (compare Zep 3:9, Margin). The image is from oxen putting their shoulders together to pull the same yoke [RIVETUS]. MAU...

Literally, "with one shoulder" (compare Zep 3:9, Margin). The image is from oxen putting their shoulders together to pull the same yoke [RIVETUS]. MAURER translates, "in the way towards Shechem." It was a city of refuge between Ebal and Gerizim; on Mount Ephraim (Jos 20:7; Jos 21:21), long the civil capital of Ephraim, as Shiloh was the religious capital; now called Naploos; for a time the residence of Jeroboam (1Ki 12:25). The priests there became so corrupted that they waylaid and murdered persons fleeing to the asylum for refuge [HENDERSON]; the sanctity of the place enhanced the guilt of the priests who abused their priestly privileges, and the right of asylum to perpetrate murders themselves, or to screen those committed by others [MAURER].

JFB: Hos 6:9 - -- Deliberate crime, presumptuous wickedness, from an Arabic root, "to form a deliberate purpose."

Deliberate crime, presumptuous wickedness, from an Arabic root, "to form a deliberate purpose."

Clarke: Hos 6:9 - -- As troops of robbers - What a sad picture is this of the state of the priesthood! The country of Gilead was infamous for its robberies and murders. ...

As troops of robbers - What a sad picture is this of the state of the priesthood! The country of Gilead was infamous for its robberies and murders. The idolatrous priests there formed themselves into companies, and kept possession of the roads and passes; and if they found any person going to Jerusalem to worship the true God, they put him to death. The reason is given: -

For they commit lewdness - They are gross idolaters.

Calvin: Hos 6:9 - -- The Prophet pursues more at large what he had briefly touched; for he does, not now confine himself to the common people, but directs his accusation ...

The Prophet pursues more at large what he had briefly touched; for he does, not now confine himself to the common people, but directs his accusation against the sacerdotal order. “See,” he says, “the priests conspire among themselves like robbers, that they may slay wretched men, who may meet them in the way.” It is indeed certain that the Prophet speaks not here of open murders; for it is not credible that the priests had proceeded into so great a licentiousness, that Gilead had become a slaughter-house. But the Prophets, we know, are thus wont to speak, whenever they upbraid men with being sanguinary and cruel; they compare them to robbers, and that justly. Hence he says, The faction of the priests kill men in the way, as if they were robbers conspiring together. And then he shows that the priests were so void of every thing like the fear of God, that they perpetrated every kind of cruelty as if they were wholly given to robberies. This is the meaning.

The word שכמה , shicame, is no doubt taken by the Prophet for “consent.” What is meant by שכם , shicam, is properly the “shoulder;” but it is metaphorically changed into the sense which I have mentioned; as it is in the Zep 3:0 38 ‘They shall serve the Lord שכם אחד , shicam ached, with one shoulder;’ that is, “with one consent.” So also in this place, the priests conspire together שכמה , shicame, with consent.” For they who think that the name of a place is intended are much mistaken.

Now in the last clause of the verse it is made evident why the Prophet had said that the priests were like robbers, ‘because,’ he says, ‘they do the thought,’ or ‘wickedness.’ The verb to זמם , zamem signifies “to think,” as it has been already said: hence זמה , zame is “thought” in general; but is often taken by the Hebrews in a bad sense, for a “bad design,” or “wicked trick:” They do then their conceived wickedness We hence learn that they were not open robbers, and publicly infamous in the sight of men, but that they were robbers before God, because the city was full of wicked devices, which were there concocted; and since they executed their schemes, it is justly said of them by the Prophet, that they imitated the licentiousness of robbers. Let us now go on —

TSK: Hos 6:9 - -- as troops : Hos 7:1; Ezr 8:31; Job 1:15-17; Pro 1:11-19 so : Hos 5:1; Jer 11:9; Eze 22:27; Mic 3:9; Zep 3:3; Mar 14:1; Luk 22:2-6; Joh 11:47; Act 4:24...

as troops : Hos 7:1; Ezr 8:31; Job 1:15-17; Pro 1:11-19

so : Hos 5:1; Jer 11:9; Eze 22:27; Mic 3:9; Zep 3:3; Mar 14:1; Luk 22:2-6; Joh 11:47; Act 4:24

by consent : Heb. with one shoulder, or, to Shechem, 1Ki 12:25

lewdness : or, enormity

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Hos 6:9 - -- And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent - Or (more probably) "in the way to Shechem."Sh...

And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent - Or (more probably) "in the way to Shechem."Shechem too was a "city of refuge"Joh 20:7, and so also a city of Levites and priests Joh 21:21. It was an important city. For there Joshua assembled all Israel for his last address to them, and made a covenant with them John 24:1, 25. There, Rehoboam came to be accepted by Israel as their king 1Ki 12:1, and was rejected by them. There Jeroboam after the schism, for a time, made his residence 1Ki 12:25. The priests were banded together; their counsel was one; they formed one company; but they were bound together as a band of robbers, not to save people’ s lives but to destroy them. Whereas the way to the cities of refuge was, by God’ s law, to be "prepared"Deu 19:3, clear, open, without let or hindrance to the guiltless fugitive, to save his life, the priests, the guardians of God’ s law, obstructed the way, to roll and destroy. They, whom God appointed to teach the truth that people might live, were banded together against His law.

Shechem, besides that it was a city of refuge, was also hallowed by the memory of histories of the patriarchs who walked with God. There, was Jacob’ s well Joh 4:5-6; there Joseph’ s bones were buried Jos 24:32; and the memory of the patriarch Jacob was cherished there, even to the time of our Lord Joh 4:5-6. Lying in a narrow valley between Mount Ebal and Gerizim, it was a witness, as it were, of the blessing and curse pronounced from them, and had, in the times of Joshua, an ancient sanctuary of God Jos 24:26. It was a halting-place for the pilgrims of the northern tribes, in their way to the feasts at Jerusalem; so that these murders by the priests coincide with the tradition of the Jews, that they who would go up to Jerusalem were murdered in the way.

For they commit lewdness - Literally, "For they have done deliberate sin". The word literally means "a thing thought of,"especially an evil, and so, deliberate, contrived, bethought-of, wickedness. They did deliberate wickedness, gave themselves to do it, and did nothing else.

Poole: Hos 6:9 - -- What is here charged upon these priests, they turned highway-men and murderers, some understand of their killing and spoiling those that were going ...

What is here charged upon these priests, they turned highway-men and murderers, some understand of their killing and spoiling those that were going up to Jerusalem to worship God there; but more likely it is, that in this Gilead were many murderers, who durst not go out, nor could get their livelihood within the city, but, reduced to straits, took this wicked course for a livelihood, robbed and murdered on the highway, and then divided the prey with the priests, whose consent to the thing made them deeply guilty. And thus in this manner they act most lewd things; or these things are done and encouraged by the priests, because they make it their business, it is their trade now to contrive and act wickedness, highest wickednesses. Or, if you rather like it in the brief, the priests by companies lay wait, and rob, and murder, like as do the troops which rob towards Shethem.

Haydock: Hos 6:9 - -- Robbers. Jephte had infested those parts, and the country was noted for murders; whence more cities of refuge were appointed in it, Judges xi., and ...

Robbers. Jephte had infested those parts, and the country was noted for murders; whence more cities of refuge were appointed in it, Judges xi., and Josue xx. 8. The prophet alludes to what had been said to Gad, Genesis xlix. 19. ---

Out of, or to Sichem. They were jealous of people going thither, (Calmet) wishing to receive their offerings themselves. (Haydock)

Gill: Hos 6:9 - -- And as troops of robbers wait for a man,.... As a gang of highwaymen or footpads lie in wait in a ditch, or under a hedge, or in a cave of a rock or m...

And as troops of robbers wait for a man,.... As a gang of highwaymen or footpads lie in wait in a ditch, or under a hedge, or in a cave of a rock or mountain, for a man they know will come by that way, who is full of money, in order to rob him; or, as Saadiah interprets it, as fishermen stand upon the banks of a river, and cast in their hooks to draw out the fish; and to the same purpose is Jarchi's note from R. Meir:

so the company of priests murder in the way by consent; not only encourage murderers, and commit murders within the city, but go out in a body together upon the highway, and there commit murders and robberies, and divide the spoil among them; all which they did unanimously, and were well agreed, being brethren in iniquity, as well as in office: or, "in the way of Shechem" e; as good people passed by Gilead to Shechem, and so to Jerusalem, to worship there at the solemn feasts, they lay in wait for them, and murdered them; because they did not give into the idolatrous worship of the calves at Dan and Bethel: or, "in the manner of Shechem" f; that is, they murdered men in a deceitful treacherous manner, as the Shechemites were murdered by Simeon and Levi: Joseph Kimchi interprets this of the princes and great men, so the word "cohanim" is sometimes used; but the context seems to carry it to the priests:

for they commit lewdness; or "enormity"; the most enormous crimes, and that purposely, with deliberation devising and contriving them.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Hos 6:1-11 - --1 Exhortations to repent and hope in God.4 A lamentation over those who had sinned after conviction.5 Reproofs of obstinate sinners, and threatenings ...

MHCC: Hos 6:4-11 - --Sometimes Israel and Judah seemed disposed to repent under their sufferings, but their goodness vanished like the empty morning cloud, and the early d...

Matthew Henry: Hos 6:4-11 - -- Two things, two evil things, both Judah and Ephraim are here charged with, and justly accused of: - I. That they were not firm to their own convict...

Keil-Delitzsch: Hos 6:8-9 - -- The prophet cites a few examples in proof of this faithlessness in the two following verses. Hos 6:8. "Gilead is a city of evil-doers, trodden with...

Keil-Delitzsch: Hos 6:9-10 - -- In these crimes the priests take the lead. Like highway robbers, they form themselves into gangs for the purpose of robbing travellers and putting t...

Constable: Hos 6:4--11:12 - --V. The fourth series of messages on judgment and restoration: Israel's ingratitude 6:4--11:11 This section of th...

Constable: Hos 6:4--11:8 - --A. More messages on coming judgment 6:4-11:7 The subject of Israel's ingratitude is particularly promine...

Constable: Hos 6:4--9:1 - --1. Israel's ingratitude and rebellion 6:4-8:14 Two oracles of judgment compose this section. Eac...

Constable: Hos 6:4--8:1 - --Accusations involving ingratitude 6:4-7:16 The Lord accused the Israelites of being ungr...

Constable: Hos 6:4-11 - --Lack of loyalty 6:4-11 This section stresses Israel's covenant disloyalty to Yahweh. 6:4 The Lord twice asked rhetorically what He would do with Ephra...

Guzik: Hos 6:1-11 - --Hosea 6 - "Come, Let Us Return to the Lord" A. A call to return to the LORD. 1. (1-2) Israel should trust in the God who chastened her. ...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Hosea (Book Introduction) THE first of the twelve minor prophets in the order of the canon (called "minor," not as less in point of inspired authority, but simply in point of s...

JFB: Hosea (Outline) INSCRIPTION. (Hos 1:1-11) Spiritual whoredom of Israel set forth by symbolical acts; Gomer taken to wife at God's command: Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and ...

TSK: Hosea 6 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Hos 6:1, Exhortations to repent and hope in God; Hos 6:4, A lamentation over those who had sinned after conviction; Hos 6:5, Reproofs of ...

Poole: Hosea (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT Without dispute our prophet is one of the obscurest and most difficult to unfold clearly and fully. Though he come not, as Isaiah and ...

Poole: Hosea 6 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 6 An exhortation to repentance, Hos 6:1-3 . A complaint against Israel and Judah for persisting still in their wickedness, Hos 6:4-11 . T...

MHCC: Hosea (Book Introduction) Hosea is supposed to have been of the kingdom of Israel. He lived and prophesied during a long period. The scope of his predictions appears to be, to ...

MHCC: Hosea 6 (Chapter Introduction) (Hos 6:1-3) An exhortation to repentance. (Hos 6:4-11) Israel's instability and breach of the covenant.

Matthew Henry: Hosea (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Hosea I. We have now before us the twelve minor prophets, which some of the anc...

Matthew Henry: Hosea 6 (Chapter Introduction) The closing words of the foregoing chapter gave us some hopes that God and his Israel, notwithstanding their sins and his wrath, might yet be happi...

Constable: Hosea (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and Writer The prophet's name is the title of the book. The book cl...

Constable: Hosea (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1 II. The first series of messages of judgment and restoration: Ho...

Constable: Hosea Hosea Bibliography Andersen, Francis I., and David Noel Freedman. Hosea: A New Translation, Introduction and Co...

Haydock: Hosea (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF OSEE. INTRODUCTION. Osee , or Hosea, whose name signifies a saviour, was the first in the order of time among those who are ...

Gill: Hosea (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA This book, in the Hebrew Bibles, at least in some copies, is called "Sopher Hosea", the Book of Hoses; and, in the Vulgate La...

Gill: Hosea 6 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 6 This chapter gives an account of some who were truly penitent, and stirred up one another to return to the Lord, encouraged...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


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