Hosea 12

1 Die van Efraim hebben Mij omsingeld met leugen, en het huis Israels met bedrog; maar Juda heerste nog met God, en was met de heiligen getrouw.

2 Efraim weidt zich met wind, en jaagt den oostenwind na; den gansen dag vermenigvuldigt hij leugen en verwoesting; en zij maken verbond met Assur, en de olie wordt naar Egypte gevoerd.

3 Ook heeft de HEERE een twist met Juda, en Hij zal bezoeking doen over Jakob naar zijn wegen, naar zijn handelingen zal Hij hem vergelden.

4 In moeders buik hield hij zijn broeder bij de verzenen; en in zijn kracht gedroeg hij zich vorstelijk met God.

5 Ja, hij gedroeg zich vorstelijk tegen den Engel, en overmocht Hem; hij weende en smeekte Hem. Te Beth-El vond hij Hem, en aldaar sprak Hij met ons;

6 Namelijk, de HEERE, de God der heirscharen; HEERE is Zijn gedenknaam.

7 Gij dan, bekeer u tot uw God, bewaar weldadigheid en recht, en wacht geduriglijk op uw God.

8 In des koopmans hand is een bedriegelijke weegschaal, hij bemint te verdrukken;

9 Nog zegt Efraim: Evenwel ben ik rijk geworden, ik heb mij groot goed verkregen; in al mijn arbeid zullen zij mij geen ongerechtigheid vinden, die zonde zij.

10 Maar Ik ben de HEERE, uw God, van Egypteland af; Ik zal u nog in tenten doen wonen, als in de dagen der samenkomst;

11 En Ik zal spreken tot de profeten, en Ik zal het gezicht vermenigvuldigen; en door den dienst der profeten zal Ik gelijkenissen voorstellen.

12 Zekerlijk is Gilead ongerechtigheid, zij zijn enkel ijdelheid; te Gilgal offeren zij ossen, ja, hun altaren zijn als steen hopen op de voren der velden.

13 Jakob vlood toch naar het veld van Syrie, en Israel diende om een vrouw, en hoedde om een vrouw.

14 Maar de HEERE voerde Israel op uit Egypte door een profeet, en door een profeet werd hij gehoed. [ (Hosea 12:15) Efraim daarentegen heeft Hen zeer bitterlijk vertoornd; daarom zal Hij zijn bloed op hem laten, en zijn Heere zal hem zijn smaad vergelden. ]

Hosea 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.