John Trapp on Hosea 5:14

Verſe 14. For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion,] I, that is, my Aſſyrian, the rod of my wrath: will be as a lion, or leopard, a creature ſwift and fierce above meaſure.Aelian. de var. hiſt. lib. 12. cap. 39. The Vulgar rendreth it, a lioneſſe, which, ſaith Aelian, is robuſtiſſimum & bellicoſiſſimum animal, a moſt ſtrong and ſtout creature: Hence Semiram's gloried much, when in hunting ſhe had taken not a lion, but a lioneſſe. What is ſtronger then a lion, ſaid thoſe Philiſtims to Sampſon, Judg. 14.14. See 2 Som 1.23. Prov. 30.29. The Lion (but eſpecially the young Lion, that is in his hot blood) fears no other creature, falls upon his prey with great fury, and teareth it; carrieth it away when he hath done in his mouth, or devours it in the place, and fears no reſcue. If purſued, he altereth not his gate though he die for it. Some ſay that he is frighted at the crowing of a cock, or the creaking of wheeles. But the Lion of the tribe of Judah cannot be terrified by any thing or turned out of his track. And Nebuchadnezzar his ſervant is oft compared to a Lion, Eſa. 5.29. Jer. 41.7. Dan. 7.4. as being ſet awork by God to revenge the quarrell of his Covenant, upon a perverſe and perfidious Nation. Hence that oft-repetition here of the pronoune I.

I, even I will tear and go away] Tear the very kell of their heart in ſunder, tear them by the teeth of my terrible ſword, which ſhall devour fleſh and drink blood; yea be drenched and drunk in the gall of theſe ungodly wretches. They have no way to help themſelves better then to fall down flat before this Lion,Satis est proſtraſſe leoni. Plin. lib. 8. cap. 15. to rend their hearts and not their garments, to break off their ſins by repentance, and to be abrupt in the work, leſt he tear them to pieces, and there be none to deliver them. If this be not timely and truely done, God will go on in his wrath: and of a moth and little worm become a ramping and a roaring Lion. The little cloud though at firſt but as an handbredth, will ſoon overſpread the whole heaven: yea as one cloud followeth thick upon another, ſo will one judgement upon another, if the Sun of Repentance do not interpoſe and diſperſe them. Light afflictions not improved to this purpoſe, will be but as a drop of wrath forerunning the great ſtorm: as a crack forerunning the ruine of the whole building. That is a known text, If you will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will puniſh you ſeven times more, and ſeven times more and ſeven to that, Levit. 26.18, 28. Three ſeverall times God raiſeth his note, and he raiſeth it by ſevens; and thoſe are diſcords in Muſick. Such ſaying will be heavy ſongs, and their execution heavy pangs to the wicked.