1 Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2 Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him. 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God. 4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us, 5 even Yahweh, the God of Armies; Yahweh is his name of renown! 6 Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. 7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud. 8 Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin." 9 "But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. 10 I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables. 11 If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field. 12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds. 13 By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.
The prophet, in very pointed terms, describes the unprofitableness and destruction attending vicious courses; particularly such as Ephraim pursued, who forsook God, and courted the alliance of idolatrous princes, Hosea 12:1. Judah is also reproved, Hosea 12:2. He is reminded of the extraordinary favor of God to his father Jacob, in giving him the birthright; and exhorted, after his example, to wrestle with God (the Angel of the covenant, the same unchangeable Jehovah) for a blessing; and to love mercy and execute justice, Hosea 12:3-4. Ephraim is accused of pursuing practices that are deceitful, although pretending to integrity, Hosea 12:7, Hosea 12:8. God then threatens to deprive this people of their possessions, Hosea 12:9, as they had rejected every means of reformation, Hosea 12:10, and given themselves up to gross impieties, Hosea 12:11. And, as an aggravation of their guilt, they are reminded from what humble beginnings they had been raised, Hosea 12:12, Hosea 12:13. The Divine judgments about to fall upon Israel are declared to be the result of great provocation, Hosea 12:14.
INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 12
This chapter contains complaints and charges both against Israel and Judah, and threatens them with punishment in case they repent not, which they are exhorted to: and first Ephraim is charged with idolatry, vain confidence in, and alliances with, foreign nations, Hosea 12:1; and then the Lord declares he has a controversy with Judah, and will punish the inhabitants of it for their sins, Hosea 12:2; which are aggravated by their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob, who got the advantage of his elder brother, had much power with God, and received favours from him, and they also, Hosea 12:3; and therefore are exhorted to turn to God, wait on him, and do that which is right and good, Hosea 12:6. Ephraim is again in his turn charged with fraudulent dealing in trade, and with oppression, and the love of it; and yet pretended he got riches by his own labour, without wronging any, Hosea 12:7; nevertheless, the Lord promises them public ordinances of worship, and joy in them, and the ministry of his prophets, Hosea 12:9; though for the present they were guilty of gross idolatry, Hosea 12:11; which is aggravated by the raising of Jacob their progenitor from a low estate, and the wonderful preservation of him, and the bringing of them out of Egypt, Hosea 12:12; and the chapter is closed with observing Ephraim's bitter provocation of God, for which his reproach should return unto him, and his blood be left upon him, Hosea 12:14.
(Hosea 12:1-6) Judah and Israel reminded of the Divine favours.
(Hosea 12:7-14) The provocations of Israel.
3. Israel's Apostasy and God's Fidelity - Hosea 12-14
For the purpose of proving that the predicted destruction of the kingdom is just and inevitable, the prophet now shows, in this last division, first that Israel has not kept the ways of its father Jacob, but has fallen into the ungodly practice of Canaan (Hosea 12:1-14); and secondly, that in spite of all the manifestations of love, and all the chastisements received from its God, it has continued its apostasy and idolatry, and therefore perfectly deserves the threatened judgment. Nevertheless the compassion of God will not permit it to be utterly destroyed, but will redeem it even from death and hell (ch. 13-14:1). To this there is appended, lastly, in Hosea 14:2-9, a call to conversion, and a promise from God of the forgiveness and abundant blessing of those who turn to the Lord. With this the book closes (Hosea 14:1-9 :10). Thus we find again, that the contents of this last division fall very evidently into three parts (Hosea 12:13, Hosea 12:14, and Hosea 14:2 -10), each of which is still further divisible into two strophes.
Israel's Degeneracy into Canaanitish Ways - Hosea 12:1-14 (Eng. V. 11:12-12:14).
The faithlessness of Israel and Judah's resistance to God bring righteous punishment upon the entire posterity of Jacob (11:12-12:2); whereas the example of their forefather ought to have led them to faithful attachment to their God (Hosea 12:3-6). But Israel has become Canaan, and seeks its advantage in deception and injustice, without hearkening to its God or to the voice of its prophets, and will be punished for its idolatry (Hosea 12:7-11). Whereas Jacob was obliged to flee, and to serve for a wife in Aram, Jehovah led Israel out of Egypt, and guarded it by prophets. Nevertheless this nation has excited His wrath, and will have to bear its guilt (vv.12-14). The two strophes of this chapter are 11:12-12:6 and 7-14.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.