Hosea 1:10

10. Yet In Hebrew the simple conjunction and.

As the sand of the sea All the prophets are convinced that from the judgment a remnant will escape, out of which shall rise the new people of God (Isaiah 6:13). In this new nation the promise to the patriarchs (Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12), realized in a very small degree under Solomon (1 Kings 4:20), will be completely fulfilled.

Israel Not the whole nation, but the northern kingdom only, as in 4, 5, 6, 11.

In the place where it was said So LXX. and Romans 9:26. But, since the important thing is the fact and not the place of the restoration, the marginal reading, “instead of that which was said,” a possible translation of the Hebrew, is to be preferred.

Not my people Lo-ammi (Hosea 1:9).

Sons The representation of the relation of the deity to his worshipers as fatherhood is a common idea in Semitic religions. Chemosh has sons and daughters (Numbers 21:29); the expression is used even of idols of wood and stone (Jeremiah 2:27); outside of Israel the expression seems to imply, in the beginning at least, physical relationship; never so in Israel. There the basis is an act of mercy on the part of Jehovah; adoption, not generation (Hosea 11:1; compare Exodus 4:22). The former intimate relation, severed through Israel’s rebellion (Isaiah 1:2), is to be restored.

Living God In contrast with the dead idols, which are unable to do anything for their worshipers. “One of the earliest appearances of prophetic monotheism” (compare Isaiah 37:4; Deuteronomy 5:23). Restoration to son-ship will mean a renewal of the divine grace and favor to Israel. 11.

Shall… be gathered together The common prophetic anticipation that in the new era North and South will be reunited (Isaiah 11:13; Ezekiel 37:22; Zechariah 9:13, etc.). While the tenth century prophets favored the schism (1 Kings 11:29; 1 Kings 12:22 ff.), later prophets looked upon it as a serious disaster (Isaiah 7:17).

One head One common leader (Numbers 14:4; 1 Samuel 15:17). Who he will be, whence he will come, is not stated, he is possibly to be identified with “David their king” (Hosea 3:5).

Shall come up out of [“go up from”] the land If the verses are allowed to retain their present position the words cannot refer to a return from exile; nor can they be interpreted primarily in the sense suggested by Cheyne, “The reconciled people, too numerous for the land to bear them, shall seek to enlarge their territory” (Amos 9:12; Micah 2:12-13); for before they can enter upon a career of conquest they must regain their former standing. To do this is the purpose of the going up, that is, to battle (Nab. Hosea 2:1; Joel 1:6).

The day of Jezreel Not identical with the day of disaster (Hosea 1:4), though this verse looks back to it, as Hosea 2:1, looks back to Hosea 1:6; Hosea 1:9. It is the very opposite, a day of victory to be won on the old battlefield of Jezreel. If the three verses are placed after Hosea 3:5, go up might refer to a return from exile (Hosea 3:4), though not necessarily. Then Jezreel would better be interpreted in connection with Hosea 2:22-23, as pointing to the permanent settlement of Israel in the promised land, which will be followed by the transformation indicated in Hosea 2:1.

Great Glorious; marked by manifestations of the divine power.