4 What do I do to thee, O Ephraim? What do I do to thee, O Judah? Your goodness 'is' as a cloud of the morning, And as dew rising early—going. 5 Therefore I have hewed by prophets, I have slain them by sayings of My mouth, And My judgments to the light goeth forth. 6 For kindness I desired, and not sacrifice, And a knowledge of God above burnt-offerings. 7 And they, as Adam, transgressed a covenant, There they dealt treacherously against me. 8 Gilead 'is' a city of workers of iniquity, Slippery from blood. 9 And as bands do wait for a man, A company of priests do murder—the way to Shechem, For wickedness they have done. 10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing, There 'is' the whoredom of Ephraim—defiled is Israel. 11 Also, O Judah, appointed is a harvest to thee, In My turning back 'to' the captivity of My people!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 6:4-11
Commentary on Hosea 6:4-11
(Read Hosea 6:4-11)
Sometimes Israel and Judah seemed disposed to repent under their sufferings, but their goodness vanished like the empty morning cloud, and the early dew, and they were as vile as ever. Therefore the Lord sent awful messages by the prophets. The word of God will be the death either of the sin or of the sinner. God desired mercy rather than sacrifice, and that knowledge of him which produces holy fear and love. This exposes the folly of those who trust in outward observances, to make up for their want of love to God and man. As Adam broke the covenant of God in paradise, so Israel had broken his national covenant, notwithstanding all the favours they received. Judah also was ripe for Divine judgments. May the Lord put his fear into our hearts, and set up his kingdom within us, and never leave us to ourselves, nor suffer us to be overcome by temptation.