In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
In the day of our king - his birthday, or day of inauguration. The weak and sottish King Zachariah is alluded to, according to Pusey, the last of Jehu's line, and who, as appointed by God, is recognized as lawful king by Hoses, who calls him therefore "our king," bad though he was.
The princes have made him sick - namely, the king. Zachariah was slain after a six months' reign, by Shallum, publicly "before the people," no one interposing to save him, so utterly despised he was (2 Kings 15:10). A debauch is probably described in which he took part during his short reign (Pusey). But see the note at Hosea 7:1 reasons for thinking the date is after Pekah's murder by Hoshea: so that Hoshea will thus be meant by "our king." In any case the words "whiles they lie in wait" refer to the plotters against the reigning king, whoever he was, and to their leading him into a drunken debauch for the purpose. Maurer translates, 'make themselves sick.'
With bottles of wine - drinking not merely glasses, but bottles. Maurer translates, as margin, 'owing to the heat of wine.'
He stretched out his hand with scorners - in token of good fellowship with them; the gesture of revellers in holding out the cup, and in drinking to one another's health. Scoffers were the king's boon companions.