A commentary on the prophecy of Hosea by Edward Pococke.

V. 5. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

I will be as the dew unto Israel &c. Those good blessings in which God will shew forth his great love to them being converted and reconciled to him, he setteth forth in figura∣tive expressions, taken from things obvious to their senses, and so well known unto them, that at the hearing of them, they must needs conceive how gracious he will be to them, and how happy they shall be in his love. The first expression is, that he will be unto them as the dew. How beneficial the dew is to the earth and the things springing out of it, for re∣freshing and quickening them and to make them prosper and flourish, is a thing so gene∣rally known, as that when any shall hear any thing compared to it, or said to be as that to any, they cannot but conceive it to be very be∣neficial to them, and of that kind are such comparisons in Scripture taken from it; so Deut. 32.2. my speech shall distil as the dew; and Psalm 133.3. David compareth the unity of brethren dwelling together in love to the dew of Hermon, and that which descended on the mountains of Sion, as a token that there the Lord commanded his blessing; and Prov. 10.12. the kings favour is likened to dew on the grass. The name of it is used as comprehending all sorts of blessings, as Gen. 27.28. and 39. If. 26.19. the deprivation of it is looked on as a great curse, as 2 Sam. 1.21. 1 Kings 17.1. There are two places in this our Prophet, as c. 6.4. and c. 13.3. where the using it argues defect in that which is likened to it; as in the first, in their goodness; in the second, in them∣selves, viz. the transitoriness of both. But in those places the comparison being to express what was in men, is taken from a different property of it from what is here had respect to for expressing the things of God, which are unchangeable; there from the transitoriness and soon fading nature of it, which cannot where any thing concerning God is spoken of, be referred to, but on the contrary, the con∣stant and continuing benefit thereof. For though when the sun shineth with fervent heat it seem to vanish and be quite gone, yet doth the refreshing and quickening vertue thereof continue in the earth, and herbs thereout springing, and it is made constant by every nights new supplies. It is by s some observed that in the land of Canaan, the place where these words were spoken, for such months in which was not usually rain, were constant dews, by benefit of which such things as grew out of the earth were not parched and withered, but were refreshed, made to grow, and brought to maturity: and to such constant falling of it on the earth doth t Kimchi take respect here to be had in Gods saying, he would be as it to them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he saith dew, because it faileth not; so the good or beneficence of the blessed God shall not faile from them.

This promise to those that shall be con∣verted seems opposite to that threat or curse above denounced to them that are turned from God, viz. c. 13.15. his spring shall become drie, and his fountain shall be dried up; but no fear of drought here. The same Kimchi faith, as to the time when this should have its completion, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that it shall be hereafter, when they shall return out of capti∣vity. Such a time he seems to fancy yet to come, in which the ten tribes shall be re∣stored to their own land; but sure without ground on this or any other Prophecy, as we have before elsewhere observed, and therefore we do justly refer it to the times u of Christ, & the preaching of the Gospel, in which time hath been, and continueth to be, made good by Gods plentifull effusion of his holy Spirit, and the graces thereof, on his Church and true believers, his Israel, whether such of them according to the flesh, or of other nations, that by being converted are made w the Israel of God, as they according to the flesh otherwise are x not reputed, that which he here promi∣seth, that he will be as the dew unto Israel. Whatsoever good or beneficial, that compa∣rison taken from the benefit of the dew to the earth and the things that grow on it, with∣out which they would wither and drie away, but by vertue of which they are refreshed, grow and prosper, may suggest to a man to conceive to be required as to mens true wel∣fare,

the good of their fouls as well as their bodies, is by God in Christ made good to his Church, and all the members thereof, in a more high and excellent manner. They go too low, who seem with Kimchi to look after only the flourishing of a fading temporal condition. The things here spoken of are of an higher nature, and such as concern men, not only as they live, and grow, and partake with vegetables, but as they are men, who have an immortal soul, and must grow as well for another world as for this, and bring forth fruit here to everlasting life. And such things by the heavenly dew of Gods y grace in Christ are they inabled to do. For the re∣ceiving these benefits it is not necessary that they should be brought back and settled in their own land, but transplanted into the garden of God, his Church: so those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God, Psalm 92.13.

Such a flourishing condition by vertue of that heavenly dew distilling on them, the next words promise to them, he shall grow as a lily. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 yiphrach, he shall grow, say ours in the text, in the margin, blossome; some in Latin, florebit; some, germinabit: Grotius would have it, assurget, shall rise up, because he saith the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 parach, is rendred by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, so signifying; yet it is not here so rendred in the Greek, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, shall flourish. But it is no matter which of those words are here taken, all importing that to which they are applied, to be in a good thriving and prosperous condition. That which it is here ap∣plied to, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shoshannah, a lily, which some render a z rose, but I know not for what reason; it seems properly to be a lily, as it is also in the Syriack 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shushanto, and in Arabick 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sausan, as in Greek also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which there are a divers sorts: but sure a rose comes not properly under them, being a flower of a different kind. How beautifull and glorious flowers lilies in those parts were, appears by what our Sa∣viour saith, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arraied like one of them, Matt. 6.29. Well may therefore the Church of Christ, which b is glorious not having spot or wrinckle, or any such thing, but is holy and without blemish, in this regard be compared to a lily, and is so likewise compared, Cant. 2.2. being in respect to other people out of Christ, as a lily among the thorns. But besides this respect to the beauty of the flower, there is also ob∣served another property for which it may be compared to it, viz. the quick springing and growing up of the flower from any little root or part thereof, in which the Church of Christ may well be resembled to it from its wonder∣full growth at first to so great an height, and its sudden spreading its self over the world among all nations from very small and un∣likely beginnings, only by vertue of the gentle dew of Gods grace, without any power of man to assist it, yea against it, resisting it, and seeking to hinder its growth; which of any thing which since our speaking of these words befell Israel or the ten tribes, as to the pros∣pering of their temporal condition, cannot be verified. This saying that he would be to them as the dew, and then they should grow as a lily, Abarbinel thinks to be therefore joined toge∣ther, because the lily moistned by gentle dew, groweth and flourisheth, not by a vio∣lent and hasty rain.

His comparing the condition that they shall be in, thus to a lily, that quickly groweth up and yeeldeth a beautifull flower, argueth a prosperous estate, and flourishing for the pre∣sent, but doth not secure it to them, or shew that it shall be constant and durable: for all this they may be but like those seeds in the parable Matt. 13.5, 6. which falling upon stony places where they had not much earth, forthwith indeed sprung up, but because they had not root, quickly again withered away. For the lily is a plant c apt to multiply, and that hath a fair flower, yet is but of a d weak root, and apt to fade; so that the prosperity compared to its flourishing may be yet unstable, and so, imperfect in that respect, and defective. God therefore to shew that the happiness by him promised to his people is not such, addeth more similitudes by which it is warranted against any such or other defects: as first, that they may be assured that it shall be firm and stable, he by a farther comparison taken not from a weak herb or grass, but from the firmest rooted trees, saith, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. Such shall they be for their firm rooting, as well as like the lily for their beauty, taking as well root downward, as bearing flowers and fruit upward Isaiah 37.31. This promise seems again opposed to that curse, which was denounced to those who are out of God, c. 9.16. they are smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit. The word rendred, and east forth, viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 veyac, is in the margin of our Bibles rendred, striks, as a more literal signification. The Geneva

English hath, shall fasten his roots; our other former English, his roots shall breake forth. Such variety of rendrings have we also from Interpreters in other languages; the LXX have, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and shall cast his r••ots; so the Syriack also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the printed Arab. which usually followeth the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which the Latin renders, figetque radices suas, and shall fixe his roots, but properly it is shall put, or place. The MS. Arab. e 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which may pro∣perly be so rendred, shall fixe, viz. strike in his roots, taking it in the same latitude that the Hebrew word here used hath, and so as to comprehend its striking them forth, and ex∣tending them for that end. So R. Tanchum rendring it by the same word, for giving the meaning joins, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shall strike them in the ground, i. e. shall extend them in it. Among more modern Interpreters, f some render, percutiet, shall strike; g others, jaciet, or mittet, shall cast, or send forth; h others, propagabit, shall propagate; i others, figet, or k defiget, shall faseen; l others, aget radices, shall take root. These however a little differing in their expressions, yet make out but the same meaning, viz. to denote that it shall take fast rooting in the ground, and for that end cast or spread forth its roots in it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 both in length and breadth, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi speak. The Hebrew word that they thus differently express, viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nacah (from which this is the future) signifying in general striking, may be, fi∣guratively at least, applied to either of those ways of interpreting which we have men∣tion, by which roots of trees spread, and are fastned in the earth. Validae radices, seu ver∣berando viam si••i faciunt subterraneam, as Capi∣to speaks, strong roots, make to themselves way under ground, as it were by beating, or striking. And Mr. Lively farther as to the clearing of the meaning of the word, notes that it signi∣fies as, percutere, to strike a thing, so, incu∣tere, to strike into a thing, and fasten another thing in, or into, it, and so will it compre∣hend all these notions that we have seen given to it; ad verbum (saith he) incutiet radices suas, i. e. defiget, mittet in, litterally shall strike in his roots, i. e. shall strike, fasten, or cast, or put, or shoot them into. Our English word strike, will well enough comprehend any of the ways by which this is done, of spreading deep and wide. Mean while all these, and such as agree with them, take the same way of construction, and so far consent as to the scope, that it will be indifferent which of them be taken, though one may seem more litteral than another. The Vulgar Latin, though it may also be looked upon as intending the same thing, yet clean alters the constru∣ction, changing the nature of the verb from transitive to intransitive, and so the noun from the accusative to the nominative, and from the plural number to the singular, rendring, erumpet radix ejus, his root shall breake forth, Others in a like way as to the construction, m pertingent radices ejus, his roots shall come, or reach, forth. There is also another con∣struction of the words by n others given, making the nominative case or person spoken of, not to be Israel it self, but the dew to which God likeneth himself, percutiet radi∣ces ejus sicut Libani, it shall strike, or affect, his roots as those of Libanus, scil. ros, ut crescat vel radicetur, ejusque radices expandantur in longinquum, viz. the dew, that so he may grow or be rooted, and his roots may be spread far abroad. Munster gives yet another, different from any of these, though not in his transla∣tion, which is as that of others, percutiet ra∣dices ejus sicut Libanus, which would sound, he shall strike his roots as Libanus doth, yet in his note where he explains his meaning, which he saith to be different from that of Kimchi which we have seen, assimilat gratiam rori &c. he likens his grace to dew, by which they that are dead in sins, revivificantur, are quickned, and like an odiferous rose diffuse the sweet sent of a good life; & si percusseris radices, immobiles manebunt ut Libanus, and if you strike their roots, they shall remain immovable as Libanus, adeo consolidat gratia Dei electos fuos, so much doth the grace of God make solid his elect: so that according to this the words should sound, and (one) shall strike (i. e. if one strike) his roots (i. e. do violence to him) (he will be) as Libanus. The Chaldee not so much cleaving to the words, as giving in his way the meaning, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and they shall dwell in the strength or firmness of their ground, or land; to which seems well to answer what Grotius puts in explication of the expression in the Hebrew, erit in firmo loco positus, he shall be placed in a firm place. That indeed is that, which according to all these expressions, however otherwise diffe∣rent, is thought to be meant, viz. to shew how firmly rooted and fixed they shall be in that prosperous condition, which God promi∣seth they shall be in. For better declaring of which, makes his joining to these words the following 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 callebanon, as Lebanon, usually called Libanus, not only as the lily or other weaker plants, but as Libanus, or the tallest or strongest trees of Libanus.

Libanus is, we know, a known mountain in

those parts, famous of old for the tall Cedars that grew on it. The name of it here put, is by most taken by a Metonymy or figure, for the trees that grew on it, which word therefore is as by most understood, so by several added in their interpretations. So the Chaldee Para∣phrast 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as a tree of Libanus which sendeth forth his sprouts; so by the MS. Arab. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as a tree of Libanus; Jun. Trem. sicut Libanicae arbores; to that purpose R. Tanchum. The meaning of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 calle∣banon is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as the trees of Lebanon, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 according to the manner of a tree of Lebanon, or as the trees of Lebanon do. So other Rabbins likewise, as o R. Salomo, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi also, whose words are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. as the trees of Le∣banon, which are great, and their roots many, so shall they be planted in their land, and shall give (or send) forth strong roots, which cannot be plucked out of their places, as he saith Amos. 9.15. and I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land, which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God, according to which he likewise saith, he shall cause them that come out of Jacob to take root, Isaiah 27.6. So among Christian Interpreters, more ancienty Jerom and Cyril, and others of the modern, even the most, by Libanus understand the trees of it, Libanus with its trees comprehended under it, and that seems to be the best way of taking it; yet are there, who think it understood of the mountain it self. So in that note of Munsters above mentioned, so by p another, radices suas jaciet ut Libanus, he shall cast out his roots as Libanus, is explained, stabit veluti mons Libani auxilio Divino firmatus, immo∣tus, ac semper florens, he shall stand as the mount Libanus being established by the help of God, unmoved, and always flourishing, and it would not be an unusual way of comparison so to take Libanus for the mountain it self. So Ps. 105.1. it is said, they that trust in the Lord shall be like mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. The comparison in either way taken, either a green olive-tree, faire, and or the firm rooted trees that grow on it, tends to the same purpose, viz. to shew the stability of the prosperous condition of Gods Israel, his Church, and the true members thereof, to which he is as dew to cherish and preserve them by his Spirit, so that they shall as firmly endure and stand out against all temptations and tribulations, being rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith, Col. 2.7. as ei∣ther that mountain or those trees, against the most boisterous storms. Which firm standing thereof our Saviour expresseth and promiseth to it by saying, that he will so build his Church on a rock, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Great prosperity is that which he hath in these comparative expressions from the fruitfull lily, the strong trees of Libanus, or Libanus it self, given unto his assurance of; yet greater is it that he will bless them withall, than what can by these or any such single si∣militude be conceived as wholly set forth: for expressing it therefore by parts, he adds also frarther like comparative expressions, as in the next verse.

Notes

• s

  See Ribera.
• t

  And so Abarb.
• u

  To which acception the Chaldee will well agree 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 my word shall be as the dew to Israel.
• w

  Gal. 6.16.
• x

  Rom. 9.6,—8.
• y

  Significat gratiam justificationis, regenerationis, & sanctificationis in Christo liberaliter communicandam ad no∣vam vitam, Rivet.
• z

  Mr. Pool reckons among them that so render, Aben Ezra and Kimchi, but it is a mistake. So indeed Mercer renders them in Latin, but in them is the Hebrew the same words as in the text.
• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Syriack a tulip.
• b

  Ephes. 5.27.
• c

  Lilio nihil foecundius, Plin. see Rivet.
• d

  Infirma radice, Petr. à Fig.
• e

  So in the margin, but in the text 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seems written by an errour.
• f

  Interlin.
• g

  Tig.
• h

  Jun. Trem.
• i

  See Drus.
• k

  Trem.
• l

  Castal.
• m

  Pag. and see Vat.
• n

  Schindl. in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• o

  Abarbinel also.
• p

  Brenn.