Hosea 6:6

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice,.... That is, the one rather than the other, as the next clause explains it. Sacrifices were of early use, even before the law of Moses; they were of divine…

For I desired mercy and not sacrifice - God had said before, that they should “seek” Him “with their flocks and herds, and not find” Him. So here He anticipates their excuses with the same answer…

I desired mercy, and not sacrifice - I taught them righteousness by my prophets; for I desired mercy. I was more willing to save than to destroy; and would rather see them full of penitent and holy…

Two things, two evil things, both Judah and Ephraim are here charged with, and justly accused of: -

I. That they were not firm to their own convictions, but were unsteady, unstable as water, Hos 6:4,…

A further explanation of these severe judgments, the moral effect of which the prophet has been considering.

For I desired mercy and not sacrifice Rather, for I delight in piety and not in sacrifice.…