Hosea 12:2-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 12:1-6

In these verses, I. Ephraim is convicted of folly, in staying himself upon Egypt and Assyria, when he was in straits (Hos. 12:1): Ephraim feeds on wind, that is, feeds himself with vain hopes of assistance from man, when he is at variance with God; and, when he meets with disappointments, he still pursues the same game, and greedily pants and follows after the east wind, which he cannot catch holy of, nor, if he could, would it be nourishing, nay, would be noxious. We say of the wind in the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 12:7-14

Here are intermixed, in these verses, I. Reproofs for sin. When God is coming forth to contend with a people, that he may demonstrate his own righteousness, he will demonstrate their unrighteousness. Ephraim was called to turn to his God and keep judgment (Hos. 12:6); now, to show that he had need of that call, he is charged with turning from his God by idolatry, and breaking the laws of justice and judgment. 1. He is here charged with injustice against the precepts of the second table, Hos.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:2

The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah ,.... The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, as well as the ten tribes; for though they had ruled with God, and had been faithful with the saints in the first times of the apostasy of Israel; yet afterwards they sadly degenerated, and fell into idolatry likewise, particularly in the time of Ahaz, in which Hosea prophesied; and therefore the Lord had somewhat against them; nor would he spare them, but reprove them by the prophets, and rebuke them in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:3

He took his brother by the heel in the womb ,.... That is, Jacob took his brother Esau by the heel, as he came forth from his mother's womb; the history of it is in Genesis 25:25 . It is here observed, upon mentioning the name of Jacob in Hosea 12:2 , meaning the posterity, of the patriarch; but here he himself is intended, and occasionally taken notice of, to show how very different his posterity were from him, and how sadly degenerated; as well as to upbraid them with ingratitude,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:4

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed ,.... This is repeated in different words, not only for the confirmation of it, it being a very extraordinary thing, and difficult of belief; but to direct to the history here referred to, where the person Jacob prevailed over is called a man, and here the angel; and so Josephus F21 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 2.) calls him a divine Person; not a created angel, not Michael, as the Rabbins say, unless the Messiah is meant by him;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:5

Even the Lord God of hosts ,.... The God Jacob had power over, the Angel he prevailed with, to whom he made supplication with weeping, and who spake with him and his in Bethel, is he whose name is Jehovah; who is the true and living God, the Lord of hosts and armies both in heaven and in earth; of all the angels in heaven, and the legions of them; and of the church militant, and all the saints, who are the good soldiers of Christ, his spiritual militia; and he is the Captain of the Lord's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:6

Therefore turn thou to thy God ,.... Judah, with whom the Lord had a controversy, is here addressed and exhorted to return to the Lord, from whom they had backslidden; and this is urged, from the consideration of their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob; whose example they should follow, and make supplication to the Lord as he did; and from this instance of their progenitor might encourage themselves, that God, who was his God, and their God, would be gracious and merciful to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:7

He is a merchant ,.... Here is a change of person from "thou" to "he", from Judah to Ephraim, who is said to be a "merchant"; and if that was all, there is nothing worthy of dispraise in it; but he was a cheating merchant, a fraudulent dealer, as appears by what follows: or he is Canaan, or a Canaanite F25 כנען χανααν , Sept. "Chanaan", V. L. Tigurine version; "Chanauaeum" refers, Munster. ; more like a descendant of Canaan, by his manners, than a descendant of Jacob. But the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:8

And Ephraim said, yet I am become rich ,.... Notwithstanding they took such unjust methods, as to use deceitful balances, they prospered in the world, got abundance of riches; and therefore concluded from thence that their manner of dealing was not criminal, at least not so bad as the prophets represented to them; and so promised themselves impunity, and that what they were threatened with would not come upon them; and, as long as they got riches, they cared not in what manner; and inasmuch... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:9

And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt ,.... Ephraim being so very corrupt in things, both religious and civil, and so very impenitent and impudent, is let alone to suffer the just punishment of his sins; but Judah being called to repentance, and brought unto it, gracious promises are here made unto him, to be fulfilled in the times of the Messiah, either at the first or latter part of them; especially the last is to be understood, when indeed all Israel shall return to the... read more

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