Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 2:7

7 And she shall follow after her lovers , but she shall not overtake them ; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say , I will go and return to my first husband , for then was it better with me then now .

Hedged in with many and great distresses; when under the judgments of God.

With earnest travel and with wearisome toil, she shall attempt every way to get to them, but to no purpose, afflictions and sorrows surround Israel, these Israel can by no means break out of to these lovers▪ and they like false lovers hasten as fast and as far from this adulteress as they can.

Idols and Idolaters, her false friends, and falser Gods.

They which hasten after such strange gods and helps, as this shameless harlot shall meet with sorrow, but never overtake their desired help.

As is the manner of immodest strumpets, it speaks also her obstinate resolution in her way, so Israel forsook a God that would have sought him to do him good, and by no disappointments would be (for a long time) taken off from this frantick Wildness, of seeking to Idols that could do him no good.

The final issue of all is at last, she is wearied in her folly, tired with fruitless labour, and sits down hopeless of ever finding help from Idols and Idolaters.

As the prodigal first think well on it, next resolve with her self.

Restless she will try one way more, happy she, [illegible: 1 word] she had tryed this sooner, this would have been successful, she will return, come back, and seek to her Husband.

i. e. God who had Married Israel to himself, who was her Husband indeed, all others were as Adulterers, are deceivers and seducers, who abuse the credulity of wanton Women first, and next abuse their Husbands Beds.

How much the tune is changed? in ver. 5. all her gallantry, her feasts, her rich apparel, these are gifts of her Lovers; not a word of her Husbands greatest kindnesses: But now she sees and confesseth, the least of her Husbands kindnesses was better then the greatest kindness of these her Paramours, and at worst with her Husband, she was better then at best with Adulterers.