Ephraim also is like a silly dove without sense: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Read Chapter 7
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Decoyed. Hebrew, "stupid "chap. iv. 11. The dove is the only bird which is not grieved at the loss of its young. (St. Jerome)
It returns to the same nest, though repeatedly robbed, forgetting past dangers. (Theodoret)
Thus Israel is not reclaimed, though idolatry has so often proved its ruin.
Egypt. Jeroboam had returned thither, and at his return brought about a division of the kingdom, 3 Kings xi. 40. Osee, the last king, applied to Sua, and this provoked the Assyrians to destroy the kingdom. They pretended that it was tributary to them, after Phul had been invited to assist Mana hem for a thousand talents, 4 Kings xv. 19., and xvii. 4. Thus was a worldly policy confounded.
One may ask: Why was Ephraim compared with a dove and not with other birds? The other birds hurry to protect their offspring even at the risk of life, and when they see a bird of prey, snake, raven or crow approaching their nest, they fly to and fro, and attack with their beak, and wound with their claws, and with a crying voice show the parent’s suffering. Only the dove does not grieve for or miss [its] robbed offspring. Ephraim is rightly compared with this bird because he does not suffer for his devastated people but is indifferent to its salvation.
