Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 4:15

15 ¶ Though thou Israel play the harlot , yet let not Judah offend , and come not ye unto Gilgal , neither go ye up to Beth-aven , nor swear, The LORD liveth .

This summeth up the sins, the Idolatries of the ten Tribes, and is a transition to what next follows.

Either by way of exhortation or admonition, or Prayer, and wish for the two tribes which stuck to the house of David, as to the Temple.

Commit like sins as Israel hath done, imitate none of their Idolatry; possibly the Prophet saw Iudah inclin'd to backslide, or this might be preacht in the beginning of A[illegible: 1 letter]az his Reign.

You of Iudah who have the Temple and house of God with you, who have hitherto been preserved from Israelitish Idolatry.

A place near Iordan, where the twelve stones were pitched, Io[illegible: 1 letter]h. 4.9. the Camp was pitched, Circumcision revived the Pass-over kept, Iosh. 5.2, 10. there Ioshua divided the land, Iosh. 14.6. there the Tabernacle was at first pitcht after they came over Iordan, and there they Sacrificed. There was in Ahabs time a Colledge of Prophets, and now whether out of reverence to the place on these accounts, or for what other reasons it matters not▪ but certain 'tis, this Gilgal was chosen out by Ieroboam, or by succeeding idolaters, for a place of publick Worship of their Idols, and grew famous for it. Go not up to partake of their idolatry, or to learn it. It is a concise speech, which forbids all the sins committed at Gilgal.

Which is Bethel where Iacob lodged, had a vision of Angels, and a more comfortable vision of God, who appear'd to Iacob, who for this gave name to the place, and called it Beth-el, house of God; but when Ieroboam made it the place for his Calf Worship, it became, and is called Beth-aven, house of vanity or iniquity. Go not thither to worship, 'tis as the former, a prohibition of being of that Religion which was in use at Beth-aven, and had been the Establisht Religion for two hundred years, or thereabouts, viz. ever since Ieroboams time.

This is in it self a lawful Oath, and may be used, but in the circumstances wherewith 'tis here attended, its forbidden, because many who went thither yet pretended there to sacrifice only to the true God, that they own'd him the only living God, reverenced him, swore by him, though they went up to Beth-aven or Gilgal, yet they worshipt God there. This is a Synecdoche, a part being put for the whole worship of God, which the Prophet warns them not to blend and mix with idolatries, which yet was done before Iosiahs time, Zeph. 1.5. which see, with the Annotations on it.

Marginal references: 1 Kin. 12.29.; Zeph. 1.5.