‘Ephraim feeds on wind, and pursues the east wind, he continually multiplies lies and desolation, and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.' To feed on wind is to feed on what is insubstantial. The idea is that Ephraim, instead of feeding on the Law of God, had rather ch... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH MAKES A FURTHER APPEAL TO EPHRAIM AND JUDAH ON THE BASIS OF WHAT THEIR ANCESTOR JACOB DID (HOSEA 12:1). Having first stressed Ephraim's total folly and unacceptable deceitfulness, and the fact that they will be punished if they do not mend their ways, Hosea calls on them to remember their ances... [ Continue Reading ]
AN APPEAL IS MADE TO JACOB'S EXAMPLE WHICH SIMPLY SERVES TO REVEAL ISRAEL'S PARLOUS STATE AND GUARANTEES THE COMING JUDGMENT OF DESTRUCTION AND THE EXILE BUT IT IS WITH THE PROMISE OF FINAL RESTORATION AND FRUITFULNESS IN VIEW (HOSEA 12:1 TO HOSEA 14:9). These words were probably mainly spoken duri... [ Continue Reading ]
‘YHWH has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob in accordance with his ways, according to his doings will he recompense him.' But as ever Hosea also remembers the visits by men of Judah to the Israelite feasts and therefore brings Judah into the sphere of his prophecies. YHWH also ha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he had power with God, yes, he had power over the angel, and prevailed. He wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Beth-el, and there he spoke with us, even YHWH, the God of hosts. YHWH is his memorial name.' But it need n... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Therefore turn you to your God, maintain covenant love and justice, and wait for your God continually.' He calls on Israel to turn themselves to their God in repentance and submission (compare Paul's to the Thessalonians, ‘you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God' - 1 Thessalo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘A trafficker (a Canaanite), the balances of deceit are in his hand, he loves to oppress.' But Hosea had no illusions about what Israel really were at that time, and he adds the terse comment above, which was a reminder to them of the sins that they must deal with. It indicated that they were unscru... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, in all my labours they will find in me no iniquity that was sin.” In total contrast with Hosea's accusation in Hosea 12:7 we have Ephraim's opinion of themselves, describing themselves as totally honest traders who cannot... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING MADE HIS APPEAL FOR REPENTANCE HOSEA NOW INDICATES THAT EPHRAIM ARE SO CONFIDENT IN THEMSELVES THAT THEIR ONLY HOPE WILL BE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN ‘BROUGHT DOWN A PEG OR TWO' (HOSEA 12:8). This passage opens with Ephraim's boast about their own righteousness. The whole attitude is in contrast w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But I am YHWH your God from the land of Egypt, I will yet again make you to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.' In reply YHWH reminded them of Who He was. He was not a comfortable Canaanite god. He was a wandering God and a tent-dweller (compare 2 Samuel 7:6). He was YHWH their God... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by the ministry of the prophets have I used illustrations.' He reminded them also that their situation did not arise out of the fact that He had failed to warn them previously. He had spoken to their prophets, He had multiplied... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Is Gilead wicked? They are altogether false. In Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks, Yes, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.' His indictment of Israel continues. Is Gilead (representing the east of Jordan) wicked? The answer is ‘yes, they are altogether false'. In Hosea 6:8 Gilead... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.' He reminds them that just as Israel had gone into Egypt, and had been delivered by redemption so as to be YHWH's wife, so had Jacob fled to the countryside of Aram and had made a marriage payment fo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And by a prophet YHWH brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he shepherded.' The close connection of this verse with Hosea 12:12 demonstrates that Hosea intended the two descriptions to be seen as connected in their significance, confirming what we have said in Hosea 12:11. But as Jac... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Ephraim has provoked to anger most bitterly, therefore will his blood be left on him, and his reproach will his Lord return to him.' Once again Hosea ends a passage with a judgment on Israel. He had commenced it with a description of Ephraim's view of themselves (Hosea 12:8), had centred on YHWH's... [ Continue Reading ]