Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 9:1

1 REjoice not , O Israel , for joy , as other people : for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God , thou hast loved a reward on every corn-floor .

This might seem a morose humour of a discontented sullen Preacher; what, forbid a people to rejoyce when things prosper with them? when should a people rejoyce if not then? the Prophet who had a deeper reach, and took a larger prospect of things, had good cause to advise, or warn, or forbid as he doth, for he saw more cause to grieve then to rejoyce and to mourn than to be merry, the reason you will have presently.

You of the ten tribes.

For any thing that is counted just matter of Joy, though at present you prosper either under Ieroboam 2d. his victorious Arms, or under Menahem and the safety he hath procured by a Confederacy with Assyria, though at other times these might be matter of rejoycing, now in thy circumstances, O Israel, 'tis not meet thou shouldst shew any gladness.

With Feastings, publick Games, and Triumphs, or with solemn Sacrifices of thanksgiving, or with erecting Statues to the memory of your great and brave Commanders, or for continuing the remembrance of their atchievements.

With thee, O Israel, 'tis as unseemly as 'tis for an Adulteress wife to rejoyce and be jovial, whilest the guilt of her Adulteries, and the shame of her lewdnesses and the displeasure of her Husband fly in her face and whisper reproofs in her ear.

Such as is given by Adulterers to lewd women.

Thou hast loved to see thy floor full and hast thought and said thy Idols had so furnished thee, and therefore thou didst love them. Though mirth might become an honest woman, it doth not so well suit with a dishonest Adulteress; the very place, the company and occasion do upbraid such an one rejoycing with her lewd Adulterers: beside, this Adulteresses joys will be short, and end in sorrows and shame, so will thine, O Israel.

Marginal references: Jer. 44.17.; Or, in, &c.