Psa 80:8, Hos 10:1 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 8. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt ] This is a most elegant metaphor, and every where well supported. The same similitude is used by Isaiah, , &c.; by Jeremiah, ; by Ezekiel, ; by Hosea, ; by Joel, ; by Moses, ; and often by our Lord himself, , &c.; , &c.; , &c. And this was the ordinary figure to represent the Jewish Church. We may remark several analogies here:- 1. This vine was brought out of Egypt that it might be planted in a better and more favourable soil. The Israelites were brought out of their Egyptian bondage that they might be established in the land of Canaan, where they might grow and flourish, and worship the true God. 2. When the husbandman has marked out a proper place for his vineyard, he hews down and roots up all other trees; gathers out the stones, brambles, &c., that might choke the young vines, and prevent them from being fruitful. So God cast out the heathen nations from the land of Canaan, that his pure worship might be established, and that there might not remain there any incitements to idolatry.

‏ Psalms 80:8

Verse 8. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt] This is a most elegant metaphor, and every where well supported. The same similitude is used by Isaiah, Isa 5:1, &c.; by Jeremiah, Jer 2:21; by Ezekiel, Eze 17:5, 6; by Hosea, Ho 10:1; by Joel, Joe 1:7; by Moses, De 32:32, 33; and often by our Lord himself, Mt 20:1, &c.; Mt 21:33, &c.; Mr 12:1, &c. And this was the ordinary figure to represent the Jewish Church. We may remark several analogies here:-

1. This vine was brought out of Egypt that it might be planted in a better and more favourable soil. The Israelites were brought out of their Egyptian bondage that they might be established in the land of Canaan, where they might grow and flourish, and worship the true God.

2. When the husbandman has marked out a proper place for his vineyard, he hews down and roots up all other trees; gathers out the stones, brambles, &c., that might choke the young vines, and prevent them from being fruitful. So God cast out the heathen nations from the land of Canaan, that his pure worship might be established, and that there might not remain there any incitements to idolatry.

‏ Hosea 10:1

CHAPTER X

This chapter treats of the same subject, but elegantly varied. It begins with comparing Israel to a fruitful vine but corrupted by too much prosperity, 1.

It next reproves and threatens them for their idolatry, 2;

anarchy, 3;

and breach of covenant, 4.

Their idolatry is then enlarged on; and its fatal consequences declared in terms full of sublimity and pathos, 5-8.

God is now introduced complaining of their excessive guilt; and threatening them with captivity in terms that bear a manifest allusion to their favourite idolatry, the worshiping the similitude of a calf or heifer, 9-11.

Upon which the prophet, in a beautiful allegory suggested by the preceding metaphors, exhorts them to repentance; and warns them of the dreadful consequences of their evil courses, if obstinately persisted in, 12-15.

NOTES ON CHAP. X

Verse 1. Israel is an empty vine] Or, a vine that casteth its grapes.

He bringeth forth fruit] Or, he laid up fruit for himself. He abused the blessings of God to the purposes of idolatry. He was prosperous; but his prosperity corrupted his heart.

According to the multitude of his fruit] He became idolatrous in proportion to his prosperity; and in proportion to their wealth was the costliness of their images, and the expensiveness of their idol worship. True is the homely saying of old Quarles:-

"So God's best gifts, usurp'd by wicked ones,

To poison turn, by their con-ta-gi-ons."

Another poet, of a higher order, but worse school, says:-

Effodiuntur opes, irritamenta malorum.-OVID.

Of which the words of St. Paul are nearly a literal rendering,-

ριζαγαρπανθωντωνκακωνεστινηθιλαργυρια

"For the love of money is the root of all these evils" 1Ti 6:10. Pity that this beautiful metal, on which God has bestowed such a large portion of mineral perfection, and then hid in the earth, should, on its being digged up by man, become the incentive to so many vices, and draw away his heart from the Creator of all things, and the fountain of ineffable perfection and goodness.