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Osee xi.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Away.
The last kings of Israel lived in the midst of troubles. (Haydock) --- Osee, though one of the best, brought ruin on the nation.
(Calmet) --- Son: Israel. But as the calling of Israel out of Egypt was a figure of the calling of Christ from thence;
therefore this text is also applicable to Christ, as we learn from St. Matthew ii. 15. (Challoner) Julian pretends that the
apostle has abused this text. But it speaks of both events. (St. Jerome) --- Eusebius (Dem. ix. 3.) thinks that St. Matthew
refers to Balaam; (Numbers xxiv. 8.) and St. Jerome does not reject this opinion, (in Matthew ii.; Calmet) to avoid "wrangling,"
though he repeatedly alleges this text as a proof his version being more accurate than that of the Septuagint, which has his
children. This reading the best editions retain; so that it may seem a matter of surprise, that Fabricius should give
this verse as a specimen of Origen's Hexapla, and still print my son, taking it, as he says, from the Barbarini copy,
the London Polyglot, and Cave. Bib. Gr. iii. 12. The first column has the Hebrew text, and the second the same in Greek characters,
&c. The reader may form a judgment of this work from the following specimen: 1. Hebrew (which we shall express) karathi
bani. 2. Greek karathi bani. 3. Aquila ekalesa ton uion mou. 4. Symmachus kekletai
uios mou. 5. Septuagint kekletai uios mou. 6. Theodotion kai ekalesa uion mou.
If any other versions were added, to form Octapla, &c., they were placed after Theodotion, who, though prior to Symmachus,
is placed after him, because his version was not so unlike that of the Septuagint, and the deficiencies were chiefly supplied
from him. In the Roman and Alexandrian editions, instead of the above we find, metekalesa ta tekna autou.
"I have recalled his children." (Haydock) --- This is literally spoken of Israel, (styled God's son, Exodus iv 23.) and mystically,
(Worthington) though no less (Haydock) truly, of Jesus Christ, as the inspired evangelist shews. (Worthington)
Ver. 2. They
called: viz., Moses and Aaron called: but they went away after other gods, and would not hear. (Challoner) --- Septuagint,
"As I called them back, or (repeatedly; metekalesa. Grabe has, "he called;" meaning any of God's ministers)
so they rushed away from my presence." (Haydock) --- This sense appears preferable to the Hebrew. (Calmet)
Ver. 3. Healed
them. My laws were designed to counteract idolatry. (Haydock) --- I treated them with the utmost tenderness, Deuteronomy
i. 31., and xxxii. 11.
Ver. 4. Adam.
I placed my people in a sort of paradise, (Calmet) like the first man; and as they have imitated him, they shall suffer accordingly.
(Rufin. Haimo.) --- But Septuagint, &c., render, "of a man." They shall be treated like the rest. (Calmet) --- Grace draws
man by sweet means. His free-will is not destroyed, nor is he impelled, like beasts, by force or fear, (Worthington) though
the latter is often used for the most salutary purposes. --- Yoke, or muzzle, which prevents them from eating. (Haydock)
--- I furnish them with manna. Can it be suspected that I wish to oppress them? (Calmet)
Ver. 5. Egypt.
Many went, contrary to this prohibition. (Haydock) --- Yet they did not prosper, as they expected. The Hebrews had also often
murmured in the desert, and threatened to return to Egypt.
Ver. 6. Heads.
Hebrew, "counsellors." Civil war desolated the kingdom, and made way for the Assyrians. Septuagint, "they are devoured on
account of their projects." (Calmet) --- They are at a loss what to do.
Ver. 7. Off,
for a long time; and indeed Israel never recovered its former state, after the captivity. (Haydock) --- Then they became more
docile. Hebrew is very ambiguous. (Calmet)
Ver. 8. Adama,
&c. Adama and Seboim were two cities in the neighbourhood of Sodom, and underwent the like destruction.
(Challoner) --- God punishes, like a father, with regret.
Ver. 9. Not
man. I am not actuated by the spirit of revenge, nor do I fear lest my enemy escape. (Calmet) --- I punish in order to
reclaim, (St. Jerome) and reserve eternal vengeance only for those who die impenitent. --- Holy one. If there be a
just man in Israel, I will spare the nation; (Genesis xviii. 32.) or there are some just, like Tobias, and therefore a part
shall be reserved; or, (Calmet) I am the just (Haydock) God. (St. Jerome)
Ver. 10. Lion.
His power is most terrible, and his commands must be obeyed. (Calmet) --- All nations shall permit the return of Israel. (Haydock)
--- They shall come from the sea, of from its islands.
Ver. 11. Egypt.
Some returned soon; others not before the reign of Alexander, or perhaps later. (Calmet, Diss.)
Ver. 12. Denials;
refusing to adhere to my worship. (Haydock) --- They wished to unite it with that of idols, 3 Kings xviii. (Calmet) --- Saints.
The priests and temple are preserved in Juda. Ezechias brought the people to serve God faithfully, while Israel was led captive.
Septuagint, "the house of Israel and Juda with impiety. Now God hath known them lovingly, and it shall be called the
holy people of God." Thus both kingdoms were criminal, and God exercised his mercy towards both. (Haydock) --- The Jews relate
that when their ancestors were pursued by the Egyptians, and the people were desponding, Juda signalized his courage by entering
the bed of the sea. (St. Jerome) --- These traditions are suspicious. (Calmet)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
God proceeds in threatening Israel for their ingratitude:
yet he will not utterly destroy them.
1 As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. Because
Israel was a child, and *I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered
victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.
3 And I was like a foster-father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms:
and they knew not that I healed them.
4 I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and
I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him, that he might eat.
5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall
be his king: because they would not be converted.
6 The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen
men, and shall devour their heads.
7 And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon
them together, which shall not be taken off.
8 How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel?
*how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to
destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.
10 They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he
shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.
11 And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove
out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their own houses, saith the Lord.
12 Ephraim hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of Israel
with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is faithful with the saints.
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*
1: Matthew ii. 15.
8: Genesis xix. 24.
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