\\INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 9\\

This chapter is an address to Israel or the ten tribes, and contains
either a new sermon, or is a very considerable part of the former upon
the same subject, the sins and punishment of that people. It begins with
an instruction to them, not to rejoice in their prosperity, as others
did; since it would soon be at an end, because of their idolatry, which
was everywhere committed, and for which they expected a reward of
temporal good things, \\#Ho 9:1\\; but, on the contrary, they are threatened
with famine, with want both of corn and wine, \\#Ho 9:2\\; and with an
ejection out of their land into foreign countries; where they should be
obliged to eat things unclean by their law, \\#Ho 9:3\\; and where their
sacrifices and solemnities should be no more attended to, \\#Ho 9:4,5\\;
yea, where their carcasses should fall and be buried, while their own
country and houses lay waste and desolate, \\#Ho 9:6\\; for, whatsoever
their foolish and mad prophets said to the contrary, who pretended to be
with God, and know his will, and were a snare to them that gave heed
unto them, and brought hatred on them, the time of their punishment
would certainly come, \\#Ho 9:7,8\\; and their iniquities would be
remembered and visited; seeing their corruptions were deep, like those
that appeared in Gibeah, in the days of old, \\#Ho 9:9\\; they acting the
same ungrateful part their fathers had done, of whom they were a
degenerate offspring, \\#Ho 9:10\\; wherefore for these, and other offences
mentioned, they are threatened with being bereaved of their children,
and drove out of their land, to wander among the nations, \\#Ho 9:11-17\\.