Hosea 10:11

Heifer. Heb. ‘eglah (see on v. 5). Ephraim is here likened to a heifer trained to tread out corn. Oxen were employed in ancient (and modern) times in threshing grain, either by treading with their feet or by drawing a threshing sledge or cart over it. Also they were not muzzled (see Deut. 25:4), so were left free to snatch at times a mouthful of corn. Such was Israel’s history. She had been placed in the Promised Land in easy, comfortable circumstances, like a heifer threshing, that was allowed to eat at pleasure. Tragically, these material comforts that should have drawn her close to her Creator, made her sinfully self-sufficient and rebellious (see on Deut. 32:15). Fair neck. A change has come; the Assyrian yoke is about to be placed upon Israel’s fair neck. Make Ephraim to ride. That is, use Ephraim for riding or for pulling a vehicle. Plow. Burdensome and distasteful labor will now be imposed. Judah, because of her sins, also is to share the toil, having to do the heavy work of plowing; and Jacob, probably used here in the sense of the ten northern tribes, will break the clods. Once free, Ephraim is now subdued and made to wear the yoke of hard service.