Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 11:5

5 ¶ He shall not return into the land of Egypt , but the Assyrian shall be his king , because they refused to return .

Ephraim thus provided for by me, thus indulged, or else Ephraim punished.

Either needed not have courted Egypts friendship, or desired that assistance; I would have kept them safe enough, and sufficiently provided for them, so if you refer this to Ephraim, not threatned or punisht, but if Ephraim be here threatned, then you have it foretold, that though Ephraim flatters himself with false hopes of a refuge in Egypt, it should not be

conquering and captivating them should make himself their King, and rule them with rigour and cruelty.

The reason of all is, their obstinacy in Idolatry, and their impenitence, refusing to return to God, which two latter passages are also explicable as the former; thus, if they would have return[illegible: 1 letter]ed unto me, Assyria should not have been their King.

Marginal references: chap. 9.3.