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Text -- Hosea 7:11 (NET)

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Context
Israel Turns to Assyria and Egypt for Help
7:11 Ephraim has been like a dove, easily deceived and lacking discernment. They called to Egypt for help; they turned to Assyria for protection.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Assyria a member of the nation of Assyria
 · Egypt descendants of Mizraim
 · Ephraim the tribe of Ephraim as a whole,the northern kingdom of Israel


Dictionary Themes and Topics: TREATY | HOSHEA | False Confidence | DOVE | Confidence | Blindness | more
Table of Contents

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

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
, Geneva Bible

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

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Hos 7:11 - -- Ephraim is now become like the dove in weakness and fear, as well as in imprudence and liableness to be deceived.

Ephraim is now become like the dove in weakness and fear, as well as in imprudence and liableness to be deceived.

Wesley: Hos 7:11 - -- Without either discretion or courage.

Without either discretion or courage.

Wesley: Hos 7:11 - -- Instead of going to God, who alone can help.

Instead of going to God, who alone can help.

JFB: Hos 7:11 - -- A bird proverbial for simplicity: easily deceived.

A bird proverbial for simplicity: easily deceived.

JFB: Hos 7:11 - -- That is, understanding.

That is, understanding.

JFB: Hos 7:11 - -- Israel lying between the two great rival empires Egypt and Assyria, sought each by turns to help her against the other. As this prophecy was written i...

Israel lying between the two great rival empires Egypt and Assyria, sought each by turns to help her against the other. As this prophecy was written in the reign of Hoshea, the allusion is probably to the alliance with So or Sabacho II (of which a record has been found on the clay cylindrical seals in Koyunjik), which ended in the overthrow of Hoshea and the deportation of Israel (2Ki 17:3-6). As the dove betrays its foolishness by fleeing in alarm from its nest only to fall into the net of the fowler, so Israel, though warned that foreign alliances would be their ruin, rushed into them.

Clarke: Hos 7:11 - -- Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart - A bird that has little understanding; that is easily snared and taken; that is careless about its ...

Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart - A bird that has little understanding; that is easily snared and taken; that is careless about its own young, and seems to live without any kind of thought. It has been made, by those who, like itself, are without heart, the symbol of conjugal affection. Nothing worse could have been chosen, for the dove and its mate are continually quarrelling

Clarke: Hos 7:11 - -- They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria - They strive to make these their allies and friends; but in this they showed that they were without heart, h...

They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria - They strive to make these their allies and friends; but in this they showed that they were without heart, had not a sound understanding; for these were rival nations, and Israel could not attach itself to the one without incurring the jealousy and displeasure of the other. Thus, like the silly dove, they were constantly falling into snares; sometimes of the Egyptians, at others of the Assyrians. By the former they were betrayed; by the latter, ruined.

Calvin: Hos 7:11 - -- The Prophet here first blames Israel for foolish credulity, and compares them to a dove; for they had invited the Egyptians and sent to Assyria for h...

The Prophet here first blames Israel for foolish credulity, and compares them to a dove; for they had invited the Egyptians and sent to Assyria for help. Simplicity is indeed a commendable virtue, when joined to prudence. But as everything reasonable and judicious in men is turned into wickedness when there is no integrity; so when men are too credulous and void of all judgment and reason, it is then mere folly. But when he says that Israel is like a dove, he does not mean that the Israelites had sinned through mere ignorance, but that they were destitute of all judgment; and this folly is opposed to the knowledge which God had offered to them in his law: for God had never ceased to guide Israel by sound doctrine; he had ever exhibited before them the torch of his word; but when God thus gave them light, Israel was so credulous as to give heed to the delusions of Satan and of the world. We now then perceive the meaning of the Prophet.

Some render פותה , pute, by “turning aside:” and its root פתה , pite, no doubt, means “to turn aside;” and it means also sometimes “to persuade:” hence some give this rendering, “a persuasible,” or, “a credulous dove.” But the Prophet, I doubt not, means, that they were enticed by flatteries, or deceived by allurements, which is the same thing. Israel then was like a dove, deceived by various lures.

How so? Because they ran to the Assyrians, they invited the Egyptians If Israel had attended to the law of God, they might have felt assured that they were not in danger of going astray; for the Lord keeps us not in suspense or doubt, that we may fluctuate, but makes our minds fixed and tranquil by his word, as it is also said in another place, ‘This is rest.’ It was then determined by the Israelites not to fix their feet as it were on solid ground; and they preferred to fly here and there like doves; and their credulity led them to many errors. How? Because they chose rather to give themselves up to be deceived by the Egyptians as well as by the Assyrians, when yet God was willing to guide them by sound knowledge. We now understand the design of this accusation of the Prophet to be, that Israel wilfully refused the way of safety offered to them, which they might have followed with confidence, and with a tranquil and composed mind; but in the meantime they flew up and down, and became wilfully erratic; for they suffered themselves to be deceived by various lures.

Now this place teaches us that men are not to be excused by the pretext of simplicity; for the Prophet here condemns this very weakness in the Israelites. We ought then to attend to the rule of Christ, ‘To be innocent as doves, and yet to be prudent as serpents.’ 46 But if we inconsiderately abandon ourselves, the excuse of ignorance will be frivolous; for the Lord shines upon us by his word and shows us the right way; and he has also in his power the spirit of prudence and judgment, which he never denies to those who ask. But when we despise the word, and neglect the Spirit of God, and follow our own vagrant imaginations, our sin is twofold; for we thus despise and quench the light of the word, and we also wilfully perish, when the Lord would save us.

TSK: Hos 7:11 - -- a silly : Hos 11:11 without : Hos 4:11; Pro 6:32, Pro 15:32 *marg. Pro 17:16 they call : Hos 5:13, Hos 8:8, Hos 8:9, Hos 9:3, Hos 12:1, Hos 14:3; 2Ki ...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Hos 7:11 - -- Ephraim is - (become) like a silly dove "There is nothing more simple than a dove,"says the Eastern proverb. Simplicity is good or bad, not in ...

Ephraim is - (become) like a silly dove "There is nothing more simple than a dove,"says the Eastern proverb. Simplicity is good or bad, not in itself, but according to some other qualities of the soul, good or evil, with which it is united, to which it opens the mind, and which lead it to good or mislead it to evil. The word describes one, easily persuaded, open, and so, one who takes God’ s word simply, obeys His will, without refinement or subtlety or explaining it away; in which way it is said, "The Lord preserveth the simple;"or, on the other hand, one who lets himself easily be led to evil, as the pagan said of youth, that they were "like wax to be bent to evil"Psa 116:6. In this way, it is said, "How long, ye simple one, will ye love simplicity?"Pro 1:22. Our Lord uses this likeness of the dove, for good, "be wise as serpents, simple, or harmless as doves"Mat 10:16. Hosea speaks of simplicity without wisdom, for he adds, "a silly dove without understanding,"(literally, "without a heart,") whereby they should love God’ s will, and so should understand it. Ephraim "became,"he says, like a silly dove. Neglecting God’ s calls, unmoved by calamity or sufferings, and not "seeking"to God "for all this"which He has done to recall them, they grew in folly. Man is ever "growing in wisdom"or in folly, in grace or in gracelessness. This new stage of folly lay in their flying to Assyria, to help them, in fact, against God; as it follows,

They call to Egypt - Instead of "calling to"God who could and would help, they "called to Egypt"who could not, and "went to Assyria"who would not. So God complains by Isaiah, "To Me, thou hast not called, O Jacob"Isa 43:22. This was their folly; they called not to God, who had delivered them out of Egypt, but, alternately, to their two powerful neighbors, of whom Egypt was a delusive promiser, not failing only, but piercing, those who leant on it; Assyria was a powerful oppressor. Yet what else is almost the whole history of Christian states? The "balance of power,"which has been the pride of the later policy of Europe, which has been idolized as a god, to which statesmen have looked, as a deliverance out of all their troubles; as if it were a sort of divine providence, regulating the affairs of human beings, and dispensing with the interference of God; what is it but the self-same wisdom, which balanced Egypt against Assyria?

Poole: Hos 7:11 - -- Ephraim: see Hos 7:1,8 . Is like a silly dove a deceived dove, seduced by false prophets and idolatrous priests, whose weak arguments are soon beli...

Ephraim: see Hos 7:1,8 .

Is like a silly dove a deceived dove, seduced by false prophets and idolatrous priests, whose weak arguments are soon believed, and whose unseasonable advice is too soon followed: Ephraim is now become like the dove in weakness and fear, as well as in imprudence and liableness to be deceived.

Without heart: this explains the former, whether heart here be judgment and discretion, as sometimes it is, or be resolution and courage, as other while it is; this dove, this Ephraim, wants both.

They call they should in their perplexity call on God, who can help, but they do not; they call indeed, but not to their God, or to a friend.

To Egypt: this Hoshea did, 2Ki 17:4 ; and I remember not any mention of other application to Egypt since Jehu’ s time. It is probable Hosea aims at this embassy, and private confederacy, of which, as of a thing in hand, he speaketh. They do call to Egypt, whose king is called So, and judged to be Sabacon the Ethiopian, who had lately conquered Egypt: by this also may we guess at the time of this prophecy, about some four years before Samaria was taken.

They go to Assyria so did Menahem when on the throne, so did Hoshea, as is evident, 2Ki 15:19,20 , with 2Ki 17:3 . Thus both betrayed the greatest imprudence, depending for help on professed, old inveterate enemies. So silly were they! See Hos 5:13 14:3 .

Gill: Hos 7:11 - -- Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart,.... Or understanding; which comes and picks up the corns of grain, which lie scattered about, and do...

Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart,.... Or understanding; which comes and picks up the corns of grain, which lie scattered about, and does not know that the net is spread for it; and when its young are taken away, it is unconcerned, and continues its nest in the same place still; and, when frightened, flees not to its dove house, where it would be safe, but flies about here and there, and so becomes a prey to others. Thus Ephraim, going to Egypt and Assyria for help, were ensnared by them, not having sense enough to perceive that this would be their ruin; and though they had heretofore suffered by them, yet still they continued to make their addresses to them; and instead of keeping close to the Lord, and to his worship and the place of it, and asking counsel and help of him they ran about and sought for it here and there:

they call to Egypt; that is, for help; as Hoshea king of Israel, when he sent messengers to So or Sabacon king of Egypt, for protection and assistance, 2Ki 17:4. Such a foolish part, like the silly doves, did they act; since the Egyptians had been their implacable enemies, and their fathers had been in cruel bondage under them:

they go to Assyria; send gifts and presents, and pay tribute to the kings thereof, to make them easy; as Menahem did to Pul, and Hoshea to Shalmaneser, 2Ki 15:19. Some understand this last clause, not of their sin in going to the Assyrian for help; but of their punishment in going or being carried captive thither; and so the Targum seems to interpret it,

"they go captive, or are carried captive, into Assyria.''

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

Geneva Bible: Hos 7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without ( h ) heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. ( h ) That is, without all judgment, as those that can...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Hos 7:1-16 - --1 A reproof of manifold sins.11 God's wrath against them for their hypocrisy.

MHCC: Hos 7:8-16 - --Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were to...

Matthew Henry: Hos 7:8-16 - -- Having seen how vicious and corrupt the court was, we now come to enquire how it is with the country, and we find that to be no better; and no marve...

Keil-Delitzsch: Hos 7:11-12 - -- "And Ephraim has become like a simple dove without understanding; they have called Egypt, they are gone to Asshur. Hos 7:12. As they go, I spread ...

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 7:8-15 - --Reliance on foreigners 7:8-15 This pericope condemns Israel's foreign policy. 7:8 Ephraim had mixed itself with the pagan nations, like unleavened dou...

Guzik: Hos 7:1-16 - --Hosea 7 - The Oven, the Bread, and the Dove A. A heart like an oven. 1. (1-3) The sinful ignorance and willful blindness of Israel. "When I w...

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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 7 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Hos 7:1, A reproof of manifold sins; Hos 7:11, God’s wrath against them for their hypocrisy.

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 7 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 7 Israel reproved for manifold sins, Hos 7:1-10 . God’ s wrath against them for their hypocrisy, Hos 7:11-16 .

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 7 (Chapter Introduction) (Hos 7:1-7) The manifold sins of Israel. (Hos 7:8-16) Their senselessness and hypocrisy.

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 7 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. A general charge drawn up against Israel for those high crimes and misdemeanors by which they had obstructed the cours...

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 7 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 7 This chapter either begins a new sermon, discourse, or prophecy, or it is a continuation of the former; at least it seems t...

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