Breaking Bounds
Jeremiah Burroughs. Hosea 5:10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath on them like water.… It was a custom among the heathen and the Romans, if any man removed the bound, the ancient landmark, to adjudge them, if poor, to slavery, to dig in deep pits; if rich, to banishment, and a forfeiture of the third part of their estates. The princes of Judah broke down the bounds in a fourfold manner. 1. They took away other men's estates, as Ahab did Naboth's. 2. They broke all bounds; all laws and liberties. They will not be bound by laws, saying thus, "Laws were made for subjects, not princes." 3. They broke the bonds of religion. This is the great breach of bonds, when people provoke God. 4. They broke the bonds of their own covenants, and regarded them not. The bounds of religion and laws, as they keep in obedience, so they keep out judgments. And we ought to look on laws in both these points of view, not only as means to keep us in order and duty, but also to keep out wrath. If we break our bounds, we must look that wrath should break in upon us; therefore we had need do as men that live near the sea, when the sea breaks in upon them, they presently leave all other businesses, to make up the breaches. (Jeremiah Burroughs.) Parallel Verses KJV: The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. WEB: The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.