A commentary on the prophecy of Hosea by Edward Pococke.

5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break, &c.] In that day, viz. when he shall cut off the race of Jehu, and cause the Kingdom of Israel to cease, for bring∣ing this to pass, he will break the bow of Israel; this, saith a z 1.1 learned Jew, is a pro∣verbial expression, to denote the taking away their power and Kingdom; another, to like purpose, their bow, i. e. their strength, and force, or power. And so the Chalde renders it, I will break the strength of the Warriers of Israel. The bow being in those times of great use in war, may figuratively be taken for all sort of Arms and Instruments of War, and also all strength of War, all power and force shewed in the use of those Arms; which will be illustrated by comparing, 1 Sam. 2.4. and Ezek. 39.3. and Jer. 49.35. and like places. So that by breaking their bow, a 1.2 will be meant, I will take away from them all means of defend∣ing themselves, and power of resisting or repelling their enemies. This, he saith, he will do in the valley of Jezreel, that place from which this son had his name, as to put them in mind of what was formerly there done, so to warn them what God would now therein do for declaration of his judgements, as hath been above seen. I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel, i.e. saith Kimchi, their bow w^ch was in Jezreel, because their head (or chief) places of the Kingdom of Ephraim (or the ten Tribes) were Samaria and Jezreel. In them were Ahabs Palaces, or his chief abode, and so of those Kings that succeeded him. b 1.3 There then in Jezreel seems to have been much of their strength, as a place well fortified and guarded, so that they did not much fear that any enemy should take it, and there prevail against them, but the Lord saith that even there where was their greatest confidence, he would break the bow of their strength. How and when this was done, as to the History, is not so evident, though certain that it was done. c 1.4 Some think that it was done by ci∣vil and intestine wars among themselves, d 1.5 which did most appear in that Valley, and more peculiarly by that great slaughter by Menahem thereabout made, 2 Kings 15.16. e 1.6 Others think to be noted by it some great overthrow, which there the Israelites received by the Assyrians, and were by it much weak∣ned, though not in the Scripture expressed, f 1.7 and that it is probable that in that space of time, wherein the Assyrians led up and down their Armies in the Land, before they besieged and took Samaria, they might in some great Battel in that Valley, which was near to Sa∣maria, defeate and route the Israelites, that we may not with g 1.8 some by Jezreel under∣stand the whole Kingdom, or Country, of Israel, which Israel they would have under∣stood by Jezreel. This way of Exposition, which we have followed, keeps more pressely to the letter, and is agreeable to what is by the most given. Yet h 1.9 others take another way, in which perhaps is more of nicety then soli∣dity, viz. that by the bow of Israel should be understood here, the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin, as being the glory and strength of all Israel; the ground of their opinion they take from what is said of Judah, 2 Sam. 1.10. he bade them to teach Judah the bow. And of the Benjamites, 2 Chron. 12.1.2. that they were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones, and shooting arrows out of a bow; by which it appears that they were excellently skilled in the use of that instrument. But they might find places as well to prove that among the ten Tribes, there were those who were skilled in the bow too, as, 1 Chron. 5.18. that there were very many thou∣sands of the sons of Ruben and the Gadites, and the half Tribe of Manasseh, valiant men able to bear Buckler and Sword, and to shoot with Bow,

and skilful in war, so that when these were overcome and carried captive (as they were by the King of Assyria, ibid. ver. 26.) the bow of Israel might as justly said to be broken as by any discomfiture of Judah and Benja∣min. Of the Children of Ephraim also we read that they carried bows, Psal. 78.9. Then by his saying, in the Valley of Jezreel, they think not to be meant that what is threatned should be done in that place, but that the slaughter should be like to that which was formerly made in that place, to the destruction of the family of Ahab, very cruel and bloudy, and according to the pattern of that execution for the exerting the strength of Gods arm, which is denoted by that name, executing like ven∣geance on them, for being guilty of the like sins of Idolatry, and that, with allusion to the name Jezreel, in the valley or depth of Gods arm, and his judgement or justice; or that, according to another notion intimated by that name, viz. of sowing, and by the mention of valley, betokening a low and deep place, he would profundè ultionem & poenam seminare (as Ar. Montanus, who plainly follows that Jew, speaks) deeply sow or scatter among, and upon, them, vengeance and punishment. And so by thus understanding by the bow of Israel, Judah and Benjamin joyned with him, he col∣lects, that judgement is here threatned, and by the name of this son Jezreel fore-signified to three parties, the house of Jehu, the house of Israel, and the house of Judah, all to be exe∣cuted in that day, viz. that time which after God began with the destruction of the house of Jehu, ended not till both the other were destroyed too; which time, though it compre∣hended some number of years, yet in respect to God, and the continuance of the execu∣tion of the judgements following one on an∣other, might be without impropriety of speech called a day. However this may possibly be collected, yet the plainer way will be to re∣fer what is spoken hitherto, more peculiarly to the ten Tribes, as distinct from Judah.

As to the last words, there is yet another rendring given by i 1.10 some, viz. propter, for the Valley of Jezreel, i. e. for, or because of the slaughter in that place made, and the bloud there shed by Jehu, that so it may be but the same which was in the former verse said, I will avenge the bloud of Jezreel. But this is by k 1.11 other learned men disapproved, because though the Preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Be, put before the Noun 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies the Valley, l 1.12 though it may in some cases import, for, or because of, yet being prefixed to a Noun denoting a place, as here, it properly signifies, in, as ours and others usually translate it. Thus have we in these words a description of the first child that Gomer is said to bring forth, and of the imposition of his name, and of what he so called was a sign to Israel; there follows in the next words a description of a second birth; and of what that also was a sign to them;

Notes

• z 1.1

  R. Tanch. & R. D. Kimchi.
• a 1.2

  Diodati.
• b 1.3

  See Rivet.
• c 1.4

  Grot.
• d 1.5

  See St••••kes.
• e 1.6

  Hieron. Mercer. Riber. & Rivet.
• f 1.7

  Ch. à Castro.
• g 1.8

  See Mercer. Riber. & Rivet.
• h 1.9

  Abarb. & ••r. Mont.
• i 1.10

  Jun. Tr. & Piscat.
• k 1.11

  Lively.
• l 1.12

  See Glass. Gram. pag. 533.