Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 2:14

14 Therefore behold , I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness , and speak comfortably unto her.

This particle seems to connect these following passages with those that went before as causal. or giving a reason why God will do thus, and so are difficulter than if read as [[non-Latin text not transcribed],] might be either as a particle that speaks order or time of things, and is as much as, afterwards, so 'twill be easie, I will visit, &c. afterwards I will allure, first punish, next comfort, or else it may be adversative as much as, yet, or but, so 'tis plain, thus she like an Adulteress hath sin'd, and I have punisht. But, or yet, or notwithstanding I will allure, and or else it is a particle that doth more strongly affirm, so rendred, the place would be less obscure, thus, I will destroy her vines, &c. Surely I will allure, &c. thus [non-Latin text not transcribed] is used Ieremiah 5.2. and Zecheriah 11.7.

With attention and wonder at the methods of Divine Grace.

With kind words, and kinder usage I will incline her mind to hear and consider what I propose, I will perswade by sweetest dealings like a kind Husband that makes use of the distresses of his disloyal Wife to commend his love to her, to win her to himself, and to wayes that are the honour and happyness of a Wife.

After that I have brought her into the wilderness; (So the French) and some other versions, and so it is plainer than as we read it.

Deep distress or Captivity, with all the sorrows that attend Captivity; then 'tis likely she will hearken; or, by Wilderness may be understood a retired place, and solitary where shall be no diversions of her mind, no such temptations as formerly, where with best leisure she may consider and bethink her self, so understood our version is easily intelligible.

Things that are full of comfort, and in such manner too as is comfortable to the hearer: Here are glad Tydings, gracious promises, and wonderful mercy to the true Israel after afflictions have brought them to God, after they are Converted from sin, by these means.

Marginal references: Or▪ friendly.; [illegible: 1 span]