5 I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
5 It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought;
5 I took care of you during the wilderness hard times, those years when you had nothing.
5 I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought.
5 I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land.
2 "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins."
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish
2 "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
2 "Out of all the families on earth, I picked you. Therefore, because of your special calling, I'm holding you responsible for all your sins."
2 "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."
2 "From among all the families on the earth, I have been intimate with you alone. That is why I must punish you for all your sins."
(Read Amos 3:1-8)
The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 13:5
Commentary on Hosea 13:1-8
(Read Hosea 13:1-8)
While Ephraim kept up a holy fear of God, and worshipped Him in that fear, so long he was very considerable. When Ephraim forsook God, and followed idolatry, he sunk. Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves, in token of their adoration of them, affection for them, and obedience to them; but the Lord will not give his glory to another, and therefore all that worship images shall be confounded. No solid, lasting comfort, is to be expected any where but in God. God not only took care of the Israelites in the wilderness, he put them in possession of Canaan, a good land; but worldly prosperity, when it feeds men's pride, makes them forgetful of God. Therefore the Lord would meet them in just vengeance, as the most terrible beast that inhabited their forests. Abused goodness calls for greater severity.