me, or with any other man." But the correct view is to refer both to
the intercourse with the lovers; and so, indeed, that the former
designates the giving of herself up, now to one, then to another;
while the latter points to her entering [Pg 280] into a firm relation
to a single individual; just as, in point of fact, the relation of
Israel to the idols hitherto was a whoring. According as it suited
their inclination, they made, now this, and then that, god of the
neighbouring nations an object of their worship; whilst a marriage
connection would have been formed, if they had entered with any one of
them into a permanent and exclusive connection, similar to that which
had heretofore existed between them and the Lord. This explanation is
required by the words, "And so I also to thee," at the close of the
verse. If the words, "Thou shalt not belong to any man," referred to
the prophet, then "thou shalt not have any intercourse with me" would
imply, "I shall not have any intercourse with thee;" and did not
require any new mention to be made.--The questions, however, now
arise:--By what means was the state of things corresponding to the
figure to be brought about? By what is adulterous Israel to be
prevented from whoring, and from belonging to any man? By what means is
idolatry to be extirpated from among the people? The answer has been
already given in our remarks on chap. ii. 8, 9. The idols manifest
themselves to Israel in their supposed gifts. If these were taken from
them,--if they were entirely stripped, and plunged into want and
misery, they could not fail to recognise the vanity of all their
previous efforts, along with the vanity of the object of their worship,
while their love to him could not but vanish. The absolute inability of
the idols to afford consolation and help to the people in their
sufferings must have put an end to their showing them allegiance.--The
last words, "And I also to thee," are explained by the greater number
of interpreters to mean, "I also will be thine." _Manger_ explains them
thus: "I will not altogether break the tie of our love, nor marry
another wife; but I will remain thine, will at last receive thee again
into my favour, and restore thee to the position of my wife." _De
Wette_ interprets them thus: "But then I will come to thee;" _Umbreit_:
"And I also only to thee;" _Ewald_: "And yet I am full of love towards
thee." But the words, "And I also to thee," are rather tantamount
to--"