Héxīāshū 12

1 Yǐfǎlián chī fēng , qiĕ zhuīgǎn dōng fēng . shícháng zēngtiān xū huǎng hé qiángbào . yǔ Yàshù lì yuē , bǎ yóu sòng dào Āijí .

2 Yēhéhuá yǔ Yóudà zhēng biàn , bì zhào Yǎgè suǒ xíng de chéngfá tā , àn tā suǒ zuò de bàoyìng tā .

3 Tā zaì fù zhōng zhuāzhù gēge de jiǎogēn , zhuàng nián de shíhou yǔ shén jiào lì .

4 Yǔ tiānshǐ jiào lì , bìngqiĕ déshèng , kūqì kĕnqiú , zaì Bótèlì yùjiàn Yēhéhuá .

5 Yēhéhuá wàn jūn zhī shén zaì nàli xiǎoyù wǒmen Yǐsèliè rén , Yēhéhuá shì tā kĕ jìniàn de míng .

6 Suǒyǐ nǐ dāng guī xiàng nǐde shén , jǐn shǒu rénaì , gōngping , chángcháng dĕnghòu nǐde shén .

7 Yǐfǎlián shì shāng rén , shǒu lǐ yǒu guǐzhà de tiān píng , aì xíng qīpiàn .

8 Yǐfǎlián shuō , wǒ guǒrán chéng le fùzú , dé le cáibǎo , wǒ suǒ laólù dé lái de , rén bì bú jiàn yǒu shénme bù yì , kĕ suàn wèi zuì de .

9 Zì cóng nǐ chū Āijí dì yǐlái , wǒ jiù shì Yēhéhuá nǐde shén , wǒ bì shǐ nǐ zaì zhù zhàngpéng , rú zaì dà huì/kuaì de rìzi yíyàng .

10 Wǒ yǐ xiǎoyù zhòng xiānzhī , bìngqiĕ jiā zēng mò shì , jiè xiānzhī shèlì bǐyù .

11 Jīliè rén méiyǒu zuìniè ma . tāmen quán rán shì xūjiǎ de . rén zaì Jíjiǎ xiàn niúdú wèi jì , tāmende jìtán , hǎoxiàng tiánjiān lí gōu zhōng de luàn duī .

12 Cóng qián Yǎgè taó dào Yàlán dì , Yǐsèliè wèi dé qī fúshì rén , wèi dé qī yǔ rén fàng yáng .

13 Yēhéhuá jiè xiānzhī lǐng Yǐsèliè cóng Āijí shang lái , Yǐsèliè yĕ jiè xiānzhī ér dé bǎo cún .

14 Yǐfǎlián dàdà rĕ dòng zhǔ nù , suǒyǐ tā liúxuè de zuì , bì guī zaì tā shēnshang , zhǔ bìjiāng nà yīn Yǐfǎlián suǒ shòu de xiūrǔ guī huán tā .

Héxīāshū 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Judah and Israel reminded of the Divine favours. (1-6) The provocations of Israel. (7-14)

Verses 1-6 Ephraim feeds himself with vain hopes of help from man, when he is at enmity with God. The Jews vainly thought to secure the Egyptians by a present of the produce of their country. Judah is contended with also. God sees the sin of his own people, and will reckon with them for it. They are put in mind of what Jacob did, and what God did for him. When his faith upon the Divine promise prevailed above his fears, then by his strength he had power with God. He is Jehovah, the same that was, and is, and is to come. What was a revelation of God to one, is his memorial to many, to all generations. Then let those who have gone from God, be turned to him. Turn thou to the Lord, by repentance and faith, as thy God. Let those that are converted to him, walk with him in all holy conversation and godliness. Let us wrestle with Him for promised blessings, determined not to give over till we prevail; and let us seek Him in his ordinances.

Verses 7-14 Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies a Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles, covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, and falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shall have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a mighty prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and folly the worse, if we put any slight upon that word. We had better follow the hardest labour in poverty, than grow rich by sin. We may form a judgment of our own conduct, by comparing it with that of ancient believers in the like circumstances. Whoever despises the message of God, will perish. May we all hear his word with humble, obedient faith.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 12

This chapter contains complaints and charges both against Israel and Judah, and threatens them with punishment in case they repent not, which they are exhorted to: and first Ephraim is charged with idolatry, vain confidence in, and alliances with, foreign nations, Ho 12:1; and then the Lord declares he has a controversy with Judah, and will punish the inhabitants of it for their sins, Ho 12:2; which are aggravated by their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob, who got the advantage of his elder brother, had much power with God, and received favours from him, and they also, Ho 12:3-5; and therefore are exhorted to turn to God, wait on him, and do that which is right and good, Ho 12:6. Ephraim is again in his turn charged with fraudulent dealing in trade, and with oppression, and the love of it; and yet pretended he got riches by his own labour, without wronging any, Ho 12:7,8; nevertheless, the Lord promises them public ordinances of worship, and joy in them, and the ministry of his prophets, Ho 12:9,10; though for the present they were guilty of gross idolatry, Ho 12:11; which is aggravated by the raising of Jacob their progenitor from a low estate, and the wonderful preservation of him, and the bringing of them out of Egypt, Ho 12:12,13; and the chapter is closed with observing Ephraim's bitter provocation of God, for which his reproach should return unto him, and his blood be left upon him, Ho 12:14.