n dead; but Hosea here represents, in
his person, his everlasting dominion, which the Jews knew would last as
long as the sun and moon." The expression, [Pg 290] "They tremble to
the Lord," graphically describes the disposition of heart in him, who,
trembling with terror and anxiety on account of the surrounding danger
and distress, flees to Him who can alone afford help and deliverance.
That we must thus explain it,--that we cannot entertain the idea of any
trembling which proceeds from the inconceivable greatness of the
blessing--a disposition of heart so graphically described by _Claudian_
in the words,

"Horret adhuc animus, manifestaque gaudia differt
Dum stupet et tanto cunctatur credere voto,"--

and that we can as little think of a fearing or trembling which is the
consequence of the knowledge of deep sinfulness and unworthiness, is
shown by the parallel passage in chap. xi. 11: "They tremble as a bird
out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria." The bird and
the dove are here an emblem of helplessness. Substantially parallel is
also chap. v. 15: "In their affliction they will seek Me." Their
trembling is not voluntary; it is forced upon them by the Lord. But
that they tremble _to the Lord_--that, through fear, they suffer
themselves to be led to the Lord--is their free act, although possible
only by the assistance of grace. The manner in which the words, "and to
His goodness," are to be understood, is most plainly shown by the
words, "I will return to my first husband, for it was _better_ with me
then than now," chap. ii. 9. Along with the Lord, they have lost His
goodness also, and the gifts flowing from it. But distress again drives
them to seek the Lord, and His goodness, which is inseparable from
Himself. This explanation is confirmed by other parallel passages also;
_e.g._, Jer. xxxi. 12: "And they come and exult on the height of Zion,
and flow together to the goodness of the Lord ([Hebrew: Tvb ihvh]), to
corn, and must, and oil, and lambs, and cattle;" ver. 14: "My people
shall be satisfied with My goodness." Compare also Ps. xxvii. 13, xxxi.
20; Zech. ix. 17. We would therefore object to the opinion of several
interpreters, who would explain [Hebrew: Tvb ihvh] as being equivalent
to [Hebrew: kbvd ihvh], to His manifestation in the Angel of the Lord,
the [Greek: Logos], by whom His glory and goodness are made known.

Footnote 1: It is quite impossible to refer [Heb