The Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

EXPOSITION

In Hosea 12:1-6 God continues his complaint against Ephraim, charging them specially with the pursuit of vain and futile courses to their great detriment. Instead of repairing to the true and everlasting source of safety and salvation, they had recourse to foreign alliances to support and strengthen their decaying state and sinking interests. And yet the only staying power was Jehovah. The controversy now embraces Judah also; and thus Jacob—both Israel and Judah—is threatened with such punishment as their doings deserved. The mention of their great ancestor Jacob naturally suggests a contrast; while his conduct is proposed to them for an example. They are accordingly invited to follow in his footsteps, imitate the piety and wisdom of his course, and so entertain good hope of similar success from the unchanging and unchangeable God of their pious ancestor.

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Hosea 12:1-6Ephraim 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…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Crimes of Israel and Judah; Expostulations with Israel. (b. c. 723.)THE CRIMES OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH; EXPOSTULATIONS WITH ISRAEL. (B. C. 723.) In these verses, I. Ephraim is convicted of folly, in staying himself upon Egypt and Assyria, when he was in straits (Hosea 12:1): Ephraim feeds o…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:1Worthless soul-food. "Ephraim feedeth on wind." Delitzsch renders this clause, "Ephraim grazeth wind." The idea is that it sought for support and satisfaction in those things that were utterly unsubstantial and worthles…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind. "Wind" is employed figuratively to denote what is empty and vain, of no real worth or practical benefit. 1. To feed on wind is to take pleasure in or draw sust…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:1-6Reproof, retrospect, and exhortation. Ephraim is reproved for the pursuit of empty and vain courses, and courses detrimental to their best and real interests. Judah is included in the threatening which follows. They are…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:1Feeding on wind. The conduct of Ephraim is in many respects very instructive to all readers of Scripture. There is nothing in that conduct upon which Hosea lays greater stress than the extreme folly, unreasonableness, f…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:2The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah; and will punish (margin, visit upon) Jacob according to his ways. God here presents himself at once as plaintiff and judge, widening the range of his pleadings. The controver…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Hosea 12:3Power with God. The prophet here introduced a reference to Jacob, one of the ancestors of the chosen people, in order to encourage his descendants to apply for mercy to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. The Et…Joseph S. Exell and contributors