Jezreel. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6) between Israel (Hosea 1:1) and Jezreel (Hebrew. Yisra'el and Yizr! eel). The name is prophetic of coming judgment (see Hosea 1:5) and future mercy. Jezreel is. Homonym, having two meanings: (1) may GOD scatter (Jeremiah 31:10); and (2) may GOD sow (Zechariah 10:9). These bind up the two prophetic announcements. Jezreel, the fruitful field, had been defiled with blood (2Ki 9:16, 2 Kings 9:25; 2 Kings 9:33; 2 Kings 10:11; 2 Kings 10:14), and Israel shall be scattered, and sown among the nations; but, when God's counsels are ripe, Israel shall be resown in their own land (See Hosea 2:22; Hosea 2:23).
a little while. See the fulfillment in Hosea 10:14.
will avenge. shall have visited.
blood. blood-guiltiness.
Jezreel. Here, it is used of the valley where the blood was shed.
the house of Jehu. Jehu had carried out the judgment of God on the house of Ahab, because it accorded with his own will; but he was guilty of murder, because it was not executed purely according to the will of God. He would have disobeyed if it had not served his own interest. This is seen from the fact that he practiced Jeroboam's idolatries, for which Ahab had been judged.
cause to cease, &c. This was fulfilled in 611 B.C. (App-50.) See 2 Kings 18:11.