Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 9:10

10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness : I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig-tree at her first time : but they went to Baal-Peor , and separated themselves to that shame ; and their abominations were according as they loved .

The Lord speaks of himself

in the person of a Traveller, who unexpectedly in the wilderness findeth a Vine loaded with Grapes, which are most delightful and welcom to him; such Love did God bear to Israel, i. e. a very strong and hearty love; the simile expresseth the greatness, not the cause of the Divine Love.

Not Abraham or Isaac, and Iacob, but your Fathers whom I brought out of Egypt.

As the earliest ripe Fruit, either of the Fig-tree as our Version, or the First-ripe of any sweet and delicious Fruit-Tree as the word will bear, which are most valued and desired; so was Israel dear and valued.

This evinceth that the Prophet speaketh not of Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, but of those who were brought out of Egypt, as appears in the story of their deportment in Shittim, Numb. 25.1, 2, 3. where they committed Idolatry with Baal-peor, of whose rites Authors do variously discourse, some reporting them to have been practised with shameless looseness, as the rites of Bacchus, Venu[illegible: 2 letters] or Priapus among the Romans; others say, this Idol of Moa[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 word] his Name from a Mountain in Moab where he was worshipped, and had a stately and famous Temple; this Mountain is mentioned Numb. 22.41. with 23.28. and this is the more likely opinion.

They did consecrate, and dedicate themselves;

Possibly some turn'd Priests to the Idol, however, they addicted themselves to, and worshipt the Idol, and brought their Sacrifices.

By way of contempt and detestation the Prophet speaks of this Idol, and gives it the name of shame in the abstract to express the greatest degree of detestation of it, and of that they did.

Their Idols and way of worshipping them.

Either as they fancied, or as the Idolatress Women whom they loved were multiplyed; so their Idols were, for they took the Idols with them.

Marginal references: Psa. 106.28.