12 He admonisheth by Jacob’s example to trust in God, and not in riches.
1 Ephraim is fed [a]with the wind, and followeth after the East wind: he increaseth daily lies and destruction, and they do make a covenant with Assyria, and [b]oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The Lord hath also a controversy with [c]Judah, and will visit Jacob, according to his ways: according to his works, will he recompense him.
3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had [d]power with God,
4 And had [e]power over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept and prayed unto him: [f]he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us.
5 Yea, the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is himself his memorial.
6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope still in thy God.
7 He is [g]Canaan: the balances of decree are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8 And Ephraim said, Notwithstanding I am rich, I have found me out riches in all my labors: they shall find none iniquity in me, [h]that were wickedness.
9 Though I am the Lord thy God, from the land of Egypt, yet will I make thee to dwell in the tabernacles, as in [i]the days of the solemn feast.
10 I have also spoken by the Prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the ministry of the Prophets.
11 Is there [j]iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, and their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 [k]And Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep,
13 And by a [l]Prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a Prophet was he reserved.
14 But Ephraim provoked him with high places: therefore shall his blood be poured upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord reward him.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:1 That is, flattereth himself with vain confidence.
- Hosea 12:1 Meaning, presents to get friendship.
- Hosea 12:2 Which in those points was like to Ephraim, but not in idolatries.
- Hosea 12:3 Seeing that God did thus prefer Jacob their father, Judah’s ingratitude was the more to be abhorred.
- Hosea 12:4 Read Gen. 32:24-32.
- Hosea 12:4 God found Jacob as he lay sleeping in Bethel, Gen. 28:12, and so spake with him there, that the fruit of that speech appertained to the whole body of the people, whereof we are.
- Hosea 12:7 As for Ephraim he is more like the wicked Canaanites, than godly Abraham or Jacob.
- Hosea 12:8 Thus the wicked measure God’s favor by outward prosperity and like hypocrites cannot abide that any should reprove their doings.
- Hosea 12:9 Seeing thou wilt not acknowledge my benefits, I will bring thee again to dwell in tents, as in the feast of the Tabernacles, which thou dost now contemn.
- Hosea 12:11 The people thought that no man durst have spoken against Gilead, that holy place, and yet the Prophet saith, that all their religion was but vanity.
- Hosea 12:12 If you boast of your riches and nobility, ye seem to reproach your father, who was a poor fugitive and servant.
- Hosea 12:13 Meaning, Moses, whereby appeareth, that whatsoever they have, it cometh of God’s free goodness.