Hosea 8

7. sown . . . reap--( Proverbs 22:8 , Galatians 6:7 ). "Sow . . . wind," that is, to make the vain show of worship, while faith and obedience are wanting [CALVIN]. Rather, to offer senseless supplications to the calves for good harvests (compare Hosea 2:8 ); the result being that God will make them "reap no stalk," that is, "standing corn." Also, the phraseology proverbially means that all their undertakings shall be profitless ( Proverbs 11:29 , Ecclesiastes 5:16 ).
the bud--or, "growth."
strangers--foreigners ( Hosea 7:9 ).

8. vessel wherein is no pleasure--( Psalms 41:12 , Jeremiah 22:28 , 48:38 ).

9. gone . . . to Assyria--referring to Menahem's application for Pul's aid in establishing him on the throne (compare Hosea 5:13 , 7:11 ). Menahem's name is read in the inscriptions in the southwest palace of Nimrod, as a tributary to the Assyrian king in his eighth year. The dynasty of Pul, or Phalluka, was supplanted at Nineveh by that of Tiglath-pileser, about 768 (or 760) B.C. Semiramis seems to have been Pul's wife, and to have withdrawn to Babylon in 768; and her son, Nabonassar, succeeding after a period of confusion, originated "the era of Nabonassar," 747 B.C. [G. V. SMITH]. Usually foreigners coming to Israel's land were said to "go up"; here it is the reverse, to intimate Israel's sunken state, and Assyria's superiority.
wild ass--a figure of Israel's headstrong perversity in following her own bent ( Jeremiah 2:24 ).
alone by himself--characteristic of Israel in all ages: "lo, the people shall dwell alone" ( Numbers 23:9 ; compare Job 39:5-8 ).
hired lovers--reversing the ordinary way, namely, that lovers should hire her ( Ezekiel 16:33 Ezekiel 16:34 ).

10. will I gather them--namely, the nations (Assyria, &c.) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished ( Ezekiel 16:37 ).
a little--rather, "in a little" [HENDERSON]. English Version gives good sense: They shall sorrow "a little" at the imposition of the tribute; God suspended yet the great judgment, namely, their deportation by Assyria.
the burden of the king of princes--the tribute imposed on Israel (under Menahem) by the Assyrian king Pul, ( 2 Kings 15:19-22 ), who had many "princes" under his sway ( Isaiah 10:8 ).

11. God in righteous retribution gives them up to their own way; the sin becomes its own punishment ( Proverbs 1:31 ).
many altars--in opposition to God's law ( Deuteronomy 12:5 Deuteronomy 12:6 Deuteronomy 12:13 Deuteronomy 12:14 ).
to sin . . . to sin--Their altars which were "sin" (whatever religious intentions they might plead) should be treated as such, and be the source of their punishment ( 1 Kings 12:30 , 13:34 ).

12. great things of . . . law--( Deuteronomy 4:6 Deuteronomy 4:8 , Psalms 19:8 , Psalms 119:18 Psalms 119:72 , Psalms 147:19 Psalms 147:20 ). MAURER not so well translates, "the many things of My law."
my law--as opposed to their inventions. This reference of Hosea to the Pentateuch alone is against the theory that some earlier written prophecies have not come down to us.
strange thing--as if a thing with which they had nothing to do.

13. sacrifices of mine offerings--that is, which they offer to Me.
eat it--Their own carnal gratification is the object which they seek, not My honor.
now--that is, "speedily."
shall return to Egypt--( Hosea 9:3 Hosea 9:6 , 11:11 ). The same threat as in Deuteronomy 28:68 . They fled thither to escape from the Assyrians (compare as to Judah, Jeremiah 42:1-44:30'), when these latter had overthrown

14. forgotten . . . Maker--( Deuteronomy 32:18 ).
temples--to idols.
Judah . . . fenced cities--Judah, though less idolatrous than Israel, betrayed lack of faith in Jehovah by trusting more to its fenced cities than to Him; instead of making peace with God, Judah multiplied human defenses ( Isaiah 22:8 , Jeremiah 5:17 , Micah 5:10 Micah 5:11 ).
I will send . . . fire upon . . . cities--Sennacherib burned all Judah's fenced cities except Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 18:13 ).
palaces thereof--namely, of the land. Compare as to Jerusalem, Jeremiah 17:27 .