Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 13:2

2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten Images of their silver , and Idols according to their own understanding , all of it the work of the craftsmen : they say of them , Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

Though they are admonish'd, threatned and in part punish'd. Yet now that Baal is taken in for a God and worshipped.

These were the figures and representation of the Gods they worshipt, and were multiplied as Families, able to go to the cost, did multiply, every one got their Houshold Gods, Heathen like, and most of these puppets were made of Silver. Or the phrase may imply, That at their own charge these people made them Gods; so though 'twas a strait Ash, or wood that would not soon putrifie which was formed into the Idol, yet because bought with their silver it may by a Metonymy be called their silver.

Every one as he fancied, as he thought most comely and proper to represent a Deity, perhaps these Idolaters vied with each other who should have the handsomest god. As Ahaz would vie Altars, and therefore made new ones. Perhaps some of these Idolaters melted down their old less handsom gods to run them into more pleasing Features.

Whatever is of the Image is of the workman, who gave it shape but could not give it breath, still 'tis a lifeless lump or Image.

Either the Kings of Israel, or the Priests of these Idols, or the people.

Of the Idols.

Let every one that sacrificeth, all that bring their offerings to these Idols.

Reverence, Worship or Adore, and shew they do so by kissing the Calves. They'l make them give full worship to their Idols.

They go on to sin, and adde new Idolatries to the old, they increase the number of their sins; in some respect their new sins are greater than those committed formerly but the Prophet here speaks not of greatness of sins, but the number.

Marginal references: Heb. add to sin.; chap. 2.8. and 8.4.; See 1 King. 19.18.