John Trapp on Hosea 8:10

Verſe 10. Yea, though they have hired among the nations,] The uncircumciſed; ſtrangers to the promiſes, and aliens from the common-wealth of Iſrael: that they ſhould ſo far diſtruſt God, and debaſe themſelves, as to ſeek help of ſuch; this went neer to the heart of God, and was very grievous. They brought up an evil report upon Gods houſe-keeping, charged him with unfaithfulneſſe to his people, whom he now ſeemed to leave in the lurch, to ſhift for themſelves in their ſtraits; and hardened his enemies in their wicked, but yet more proſperous condition. Foelix ſcelus virtus vocatur. Cic. de divin. lib. 2. How would theſe Heathens hugge themſelves in the conceit that Iſrael ſhould do thus, who was Gods portion, Deut. 32.9. the dearly beloved of his ſoul, Jer. 12.7. of whom it was anciently ſund, and commonly ſaid among the Heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them, Pſal. 126.2. Happy art thou O Iſrael: who is like unto thee, O people! ſaved by the Lord, the ſhield of thy help; and who is the ſword of thine excellency: and thine enemies ſhall be found liars unto thee, and thou ſhalt tread upon their high-places, Deut. 33.29. Whoſoever was free of the city of Rome, might not accept of any freedome in another city: for that they counted a diſhonour to Rome. And will not God take it in ill part from his covenanters, to ſeek or make after correſpondency with his enemies, and ſafety by them? The help of the wicked, Eccleſiae ſunt tandem pernicioſa & ſemper perfidioſa, are the beſt perfidious, and at length pernicious to the Church.

now will I gather them,] This the Chaldee, and the Vulgar make to be a promiſe of bringing back their captivity; when indeed it is a commination of carrying them into captivity. I will gather them,] that is, either the enemies againſt Iſrael; or elſe Iſrael, for the enemies; ut eos acervatim perdam, that I may lay them heaps upon heaps, and gather them, as dead corps ſlain in battle are gathered together for buriall. Or, I will gather them, to the end that I may diſperſe them. And they ſhall ſorrow a little,] And but a little now, for the burden of the king of princes.] for the taxes and tributes exacted from them by the king of Aſſyria, (whoſe Nobles were Princes, 2 King. 18.24. Eſay 10.) See 2 King. 15.19, 29. But all this is but a little: it is but the beginning of ſorrows; it is but ſmall drops fore-running the great ſtorm; or as a crack fore-running the fall of the houſe. They ſhall ſorrow much more hereafter, when carried captive, and made a ſcorn to the ſcum of the people. See Deut. 32.42. Some read the whole verſe, Yea, becauſe they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them together: (for they have begun a little) becauſe of the burden of the king of Princes. And they thus paraphraſe it: Well may they bribe and hire, but this will be the end: The Iſraelites themſelves ſhall fall by heaps; the nations whom they hire ſhall come ſo tumbling in upon them (as Eſay told Ahaz, Eſay 8.) Do you not ſee it pretily well begun already? Look upon the late example that is yet now freſh and bleeding before your eyes: ſo you will the better beleeve my threatning in that which is to come: I mean, the ſacking and carrying away of the Tribes beyond Jordan, by Pul and Tiglath-Pileſer. If you ask me the reaſon,The calling of the Jews. pag. 212. why God ſhould be ſo angry with you? It is becauſe you are ſo fooliſh, or ſo wicked rather, to ſend preſents and tributes to the king of Aſhur (who in the pride and vanity of his heart nameth himſelf the King of Princes, the mighty and moſt potent King) with the pilling, polling, and burdening of your Subjects.