Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 9:16

16 Ephraim is smitten , their root is dried up , they shall bear no fruit : yea, though they bring forth , yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb .

This gives us some ghess at the time of this prophecie, which was after Ieroboam's Death, in whose Life, and Reign, Ephraim was as a very flourishing Tree, whose roots were full of Sap and Life; but after the Death of this King they were as here 'tis exprest a Tree smitten, as if scorcht with Lightning, or burnt up with a vehement and continued heat and drought by day; blasted they were, what ever was the means; or possibly it may refer to those Seditions, Civil Wars, and Rebellio[illegible: 1 letter]s Conspiracies which (say some) did for some years afflict the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, which unnatural Wars were as an Ax to the Root of this Tree, and gave Pul King of Assyria opportunity and courage to set upon them, of whom they were forced to buy their peace at a dear rate, viz. a thousand Talents of silver; or to the captivating of Napthali, and taking many fortified Towns out of Pekah's hand by Tiglath Pileser, who came up to the rescue of Ahaz. 2 Kings cap. 15.

This hath dryed up the very Roots of this Tree; this blast from Heaven hath not only scorcht the top [illegible: 1 letter]oughs, but rended the very body of this Israeliti[illegible: 1 letter]h Tree, and hath spoiled its Roots; or Civil Wars first, and Foreign Wars next have cut up the Roots of this Tree, the strong and valiant young men, who were to perpetuate the life and beauty of this people.

As such a dead root cannot spring out; so these Ephraimites never shall spring forth, they shall ever be barren.

Suppose they should yet bring forth, (such a supposition you meet with ver. 12. which see) they shall not grow to maturity and greatness.

Either by Diseases which are legibly from God's hand, or by the sword of one another, or of a Forreign Invader, if you do not enumerate all the wayes God will take; we are sure he will [illegible: 1 letter]ake wayes enough to make good his own word, and slay their Beloved Children, those Children that were the more beloved, for that their Parents had either few, or else had lost some they had before.

Marginal references: Heb. desires.