Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 8:7

7 For they have sown the wind , and they shall reap the whirlwind : it hath no stalk : the bud shall yield no meal : if so be it yield the strangers shall swallow it up.

Since that, or for so much as, (or) verily, so the Heb. Particle is sometime used, Isa. 7.9.

A Proverbial speech to denote either lost labour, or which is much worse, labour that will undo and tear to pieces him that laboureth, both these are in the verse; Mans life and labour is a seed that will bring forth fruit, but when this life and labour is laid out on sin, as here Israels was, 'twill bring forth that fruit the sinner is unwilling to reap.

A violent, tearing and dissipating tempest, which beareth down, and destroyeth all that is in its way; an emblem of the wrath of God breaking out against these vain and▪ sinful men, so Ephraim reaped in his civil wars, and much more in Assyrian war, which ended in a Whirlwind▪ that hath scattered them into unknown Countries, and where they have layn buried in forgetfulness, above 2400 years.

Suppose this Seed should have its Harvest in no Whirlwind, it will end in loss and disappointment, as Seed that never springs up into a stalk, nor hath bud or ear; All your worship of, and dependance on Idols, and forreign assistance, will at best be as seed that yields neither stalk nor bud.

Or suppose it produced stalk and bud, yet 'twill be no profit, but all lost labour, for the bud shall be lank, shrivel'd and blasted, and never yield meal, so was the fruit Israel reaped, from Pul to Menahem, and from Egypts assistance to Hoshea against Salmaneser.

Or if yet Meal be [illegible: 1 letter]ound in the bud, Israel shall be never the better, Forreigners devour it, so did Pul and his, and Salmaneser and his Assyrians eat up all.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]