Warning against false security. The earthly prosperity of the people and kingdom was no security against destruction. Because Israel had fallen away from its God, it should not enjoy the blessing of its field-produce, but should be carried away to Assyria, where it would be unable to keep any joyful feasts at all. Hosea 9:1. "Rejoice not, O Israel, to exult like the nations: for thou hast committed whoredom against thy God: hast loved the wages of whoredom upon all corn-floors. Hosea 9:2. The threshing-floor and press will not feed them, and the new wine will deceive it." The rejoicing to which Israel was not to give itself up was, according to Hosea 9:2, rejoicing at a plentiful harvest. All nations rejoiced, and still rejoice, at this (cf. Isaiah 9:2), because they regard the blessing of harvest as a sign and pledge of the favour and grace of God, which summon them to gratitude towards the giver. Now, when the heathen nations ascribed their fights to their gods, and in their way thanked them for them, they did this in the ignorance of their heart, without being specially guilty on that account, since they lived in the world without the light of divine revelation. But when Israel rejoiced in a heathenish way at the blessing of its harvest, and attributed this blessing to the Baals (see Hosea 2:7), the Lord could not leave this denial of His gracious benefits unpunished. אל־גּיל belongs to תּשׂמח, heightening the idea of joy, as in Job 3:22. כּי זנית does not give the object of the joy ("that thou hast committed whoredom:" Ewald and others), but the reason why Israel was not to rejoice over its harvests, namely, because it had become unfaithful to its God, and had fallen into idolatry. זנה מעל, to commit whoredom out beyond God (by going away from Him). The words, "thou lovest the wages of whoredom upon all corn-floors," are to be understood, according to Hosea 2:7, Hosea 2:14, as signifying that Israel would not regard the harvest-blessing upon its corn-floors as gifts of the goodness of its God, but as presents from the Baals, for which it had to serve them with still greater zeal. There is no ground for thinking of any peculiar form of idolatry connected with the corn-floors. Because of this the Lord would take away from them the produce of the floor and press, namely, according to Hosea 9:3, by banishing the people out of the land. Floor and press will not feed them, i.e., will not nourish or satisfy them. The floor and press are mentioned in the place of their contents, or what they yield, viz., for corn and oil, as in 2 Kings 6:27. By the press we must understand the oil-presses (cf. Joel 2:24), because the new wine is afterwards specially mentioned, and corn, new wine, and oil are connected together in Hosea 2:10, 24. The suffix בּהּ refers to the people regarded as a community.

Joel 3:16 Parallel Commentaries

roar.

Joel 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word...

Isaiah 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yes, roar...

Jeremiah 25:30,31 Therefore prophesy you against them all these words, and say to them, The LORD shall roar from on high...

Hosea 11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

Amos 1:2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn...

Amos 3:8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who can but prophesy?

and the heavens.

Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark...

Ezekiel 38:19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

Haggai 2:6 For thus said the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea...

Hebrews 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Revelation 11:13,19 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell...

Revelation 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were on the earth...

hope. Heb. place of repair, or, harbour.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler...

Psalm 46:1-11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble...

Psalm 61:3 For you have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 91:1,2 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.

Isaiah 33:16,21 He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure...

Isaiah 51:5,6,16 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and my arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait on me...

and the strength.

1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Zechariah 10:6,12 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them...

Zechariah 12:5-8 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God...