Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 5:14

14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion , and as a young lion to the house of Judah : I, even I, will tear , and go away : I will take away , and none shall rescue him .

The Lord whose Power is infinite, whose Wrath they have enkindled, who hath threatned to extirpate them.

A Panther say some, a very swift Beast, wherein he excels the Lion, and a very fierce and ravenous Creature, wherein he equals the Lion, or a Lioness, say others: but to leave that, God will make the Assyrian a Chirurgion, such as a fierce ravenous Lyon would be to a wounded man·

Which is grown up to his strength for mischief, and retains his inclination to gamesomness, or to play with his prey; so should Iudah find himself when caught by this Lion, first made a sport to please the Tyrannous humour, and after made a feast to feed his ravenous hunger.

The threat is doubled to ascertain it, and make it more dreadful: Divine Vengeance by the Assyrian, shall be as a Lyon tearing his Prey.

When satisfied, the Lyon goes away, flyeth not for fear.

Leaveth not any behind him, carrieth away what he did not eat, so should Assyria devour the Land, and carry away the People.

None have courage to attempt, or power to effect a rescue, the prey must hopeless perish; so 'twill be with Ephraim and Iud[illegible: 2 letters], when God appears as a Lion against them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]