Feedeth on wind — It is a proverbial speech; denoting his supporting himself with hopes, as unfit to sustain him as the wind is to feed us. Increaseth lies — By making new leagues, and fortifying himself with them, against the menaces of God by his prophets. Desolation — Which will only hasten and i... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob — Ephraim and Judah are of Jacob, both have corrupted themselves, and therefore I will proceed against both.... [ Continue Reading ]
He — Jacob. Took his brother — The design of mentioning this is to mind them of that goodness which God shewed them in their father Jacob. His strength — This strength was not of nature, but of grace. Strength received of God was well employed betimes; in it he wrestled for and obtained the blessing... [ Continue Reading ]
The angel — Called Hosea 12:3, God; and Hosea 12:5, Jehovah, Lord of hosts. He was no created angel, but the Messiah; eternal God by nature and essence, angel by office, and voluntary undertaking. He wept — He prayed with tears from a sense of his own unworthiness, and with earnestness for the mercy... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord God of hosts — He that appeared and spake, who promised the blessing and commanded the reformation at Beth — el was Jehovah, the eternal and unchangeable God; who can perform his promise, and execute his threat, who is a most terrible enemy, and most desirable friend. The Lord — Jehovah, re... [ Continue Reading ]
Turn — Repent, leave idols and all sins. He worshipped God alone, do you so; he cast idols out of his family, do you so too; be Jacob's children herein. Mercy — Shew kindness to all who need it. Judgment — Wrong none; but with justice in dealings, in judicatures; and public offices, render to every... [ Continue Reading ]
A merchant — Ephraim is so far from being as Jacob, that you may account him a Canaanite, a subtle merchant.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am rich — Whatever is said, yet I get what I aim at. They shall find — Yet he hugs himself in the apprehension of close carriage of his affairs, so that no great crime can be found in him: none, that is sin, that is any great enormity.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Egypt — From the time I brought thee out of it. In tabernacles — I have given thee all these blessings and comforts, expressed proverbially in allusion to the joy which they had at the feast of tabernacles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Spoken — To warn them of their danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
In Gilead — Tiglah Pileser had formerly took Gilead among other towns, leading the inhabitants captive. By this the prophet minds the Ephraimites what they must expect, and doth it in this pungent question, Is there iniquity in Gilead? Is it there only? Be it, Gilead was all iniquity; Gilgal is no b... [ Continue Reading ]
Fled — For fear of Esau.... [ Continue Reading ]
A prophet — By Moses. Israel — Your forefathers. Preserved — In the wilderness. The aim of the prophet seems to be this, to prevent their vain pride, and boasting of their ancestors.... [ Continue Reading ]
His blood — He shall bear the punishment of all his blood; his murders of the innocent, and his own guilt too. His reproach — Which Ephraim hath cast upon the prophets, the worshippers of God, and on God; preferring idols before him. His Lord — God who is Lord of all.... [ Continue Reading ]