Hos 12:1 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XII 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 , 1. Judah is also reproved , 2. He is reminded of the extraordinary favour 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 , 3-6. Ephraim is accused of pursuing practices that are deceitful, although pretending to integrity , 7, 8. God then threatens to deprive this people of their possessions , 9, as they had rejected every means of reformation , 10, and given themselves up to gross impieties , 11. And, as an aggravation of their guilt, they are reminded from what humble beginnings they had been raised , 12, 13. The Divine judgments about to fall upon Israel are declared to be the result of great provocation , 14. NOTES ON CHAP. XII Verse 1. Ephraim feedeth on wind ] He forms and follows empty and unstable counsels. Followeth after the east wind ] They are not only empty, but dangerous and destructive . The east wind was, and still is, in all countries, a parching, wasting, injurious wind. He daily increaseth lies ] He promises himself safety from foreign alliances. He "made a covenant with the Assyrians," and sent a subsidy of "oil to Egypt." The latter abandoned him; the former oppressed him.

‏ Hosea 12:1

CHAPTER XII

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, 1.

Judah is also reproved, 2.

He is reminded of the extraordinary favour 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, 3-6.

Ephraim is accused of pursuing practices that are deceitful, although pretending to integrity, 7, 8.

God then threatens to deprive this people of their possessions,

as they had rejected every means of reformation, 10,

and given themselves up to gross impieties, 11.

And, as an aggravation of their guilt, they are reminded from what humble beginnings they had been raised, 12, 13.

The Divine judgments about to fall upon Israel are declared to be the result of great provocation, 14.

NOTES ON CHAP. XII

Verse 1. Ephraim feedeth on wind] He forms and follows empty and unstable counsels.

Followeth after the east wind] They are not only empty, but dangerous and destructive. The east wind was, and still is, in all countries, a parching, wasting, injurious wind.

He daily increaseth lies] He promises himself safety from foreign alliances. He "made a covenant with the Assyrians," and sent a subsidy of "oil to Egypt." The latter abandoned him; the former oppressed him.