John Trapp on Hosea 9:12

Verſe 12, Though they bring up children, yet will I bereave them,] If his children be multiplied, it is for the ſword, and his off-ſpring ſhall not be ſatisfied with bread, Iob 27.14. This was fulfilled in Ahabs ſeventy ſonnes, beheaded together, 2 King. 10.6. in whom he had vainly promiſed himſelf the eſtabliſhment of his houſe, which God had threatned to root out: In Iehu and his poſterity after the fourth generation: Thoſe Romans that went out againſt the enemy at the Porta ſcelerata (as it was thereupon called) and never returned again: and that Eckins Raſchachius a German Captain, at the ſiege of Buda, Anno 1541. whoſe ſonne a valiant young Gentleman, being got out of the army without his fathers knowledge, bare himſelf ſo gallantly in fight againſt the enemy, in the ſight of his father and the Army, that he was highly commended of all men, and eſpecially of his father, that knew him not at all. Yet before he could clear himſelf, he was compaſſed in by the enemy, and valiantly fighting, ſlain. Raſchachius exceedingly moved with the death of ſo brave a man, ignorant how near he touched himſelf, turning about to the other Captains ſaid, This worthy Gentleman, whatſoever he be, is worthy of eternall commendation, and to be moſt honourably buried by the whole Army. As the reſt of the Captains were with like compaſſion approving his ſpeech, the dead body of the unfortunate ſonne reſcued, was preſented to the moſt miſerable father; which cauſed all them that were there preſent to ſhed tears.Turk. hiſt. But ſuch a ſudden and inward grief ſurprized the aged father, and ſtruck ſo to his heart, that after he had ſtood a while ſpeechleſſe, with his eyes ſet in his head, he ſuddenly fell down dead.

Yea, wo alſo to them when I depart from them,] This is indeed worſe then all the reſt: this is that onely evil ſpoken of by Ezekiel: hell it ſelf is nothing elſe but a ſeparation from Gods preſence, with the ill conſequents thereof: and the tears of hell are not ſufficient to bewail the loſſe of that beatificall viſion. How miſerable was Cain, when caſt off by God? Saul, when forſaken of him? David, when deſerted though but for a few moneths? Iob for a few years, Suidas ſaith ſeven? While God was graciouſly with him, and proſpered him, he was Iobab, (that ſame mentioned Gen. 36, 34, as ſome think) but when under ſenſe of Gods abſence, contracted into Iob. See the like, Gen. 17.5. Ruth. 1.20. His deſertion was far more comfortable then Davids: it was probationall. onely, but Davids penall, for chaſtiſement of ſome way of wickedneſſe. O lay we hold upon God (as the ſpouſe doth upon her beloved) and cry as the Prophet did, Lord leave us not. Jer. 14.9. If he ſeem to be about, and his back be turned, cry aloud afrer him, as the blinde man in the Goſpel did, till Ieſus ſtood: ſet up thy note, as Micha did after his loſt idols, Iudg. 18.24. Ye have taken away my Gods, ſaith he, and what have I more? as if he ſhould have ſaid, I eſteem all that you have left me as nothing, now that my gods are gone. Jeruſalem the joy of the whole earth pleaſed not Abſalom, unleſſe hee might ſee Davids face. God was no ſooner gone from Miriam, but the leproſie appeared in her face. But of this before.