rd

Hosea 12

He admonisheth by Jaakób’s example to trust in God, and not in man.
1.Ephráim is fed awith the wind, and followeth after the Eastwind: he increaseth daily lies and destruction, & they do make a covenant with Asshúr, and boil is carried into Egypt.
2.The Lord hath also a controversy with cJudáh, and will visit Jaakób, according to his ways: according to his works, will he recompense him.
3.He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had dpower with God,
4.And had epower over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept and prayed unto him: fhe found him in Beth-él, and there he spake with us.
5.Yea, the Lord God of hostes, the Lord is him self his memorial.
6.Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgement, and hope still in thy God.
7.He is gCanáan: the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8.And Ephráim said, Notwithstanding I am rich, I have found me out riches in all my labours: they shal find none iniquity in me, hthat were wickedness.
9.Though I am the Lord thy God, from the land of Egypt, yet will I make thee to dwell in the tabernacles, as in ithe days of the solemn feast.
10.I have also spoken by the Prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the ministry of the Prophets.
11.Is there kiniquity in Gileád? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgál, and their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
12.lAnd Jaakób fled into the country of Arám, and Israél served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13.And by a mProphet the Lord brought Israél out of Egypt, and by a Prophet was he reserved.
14.But Ephráim provoked him with hie places: therefore shal his blood be poured upon him, and his reproach shal his Lord reward him.

Notes

1-a.
That is, flatters himself with vain confidence.
1-b.
Meaning, presents to get friendship.
2-c.
Which in these points was like to Ephraim, but not in idolatries.
3-d.
Seeing that God did thus prefer Jacob, their father, Judah’s ingrati- tude was the more to be abhorred.
4-e.
Read Gen. 32.26.
4-f.
God found Jacob as he lay sleeping in Bethel, Gen. 28.12, and so spoke with him there, that the fruit of that speech appertained to the whole body of the people, wereof we are.
7-g.
As for Ephraim he is more like the wicked Canaanites then godly Abraham or Jacob.
8-h.
Thus the wicked measure God’s favour by outward prosperity, and like hypocrites can not abide that any should reprove their doings.
9-i.
Seeing you will not acknowledge my benefits, I will bring you again to dwell in tents as in the feast of Tabernacles, which you do now contemn.
11-k.
The people thought that no man durst have spoken against Gilead, that holy place, and yet the Prophet says, that all their religion was but vanity.
12-l.
If you boast of your riches and nobility, you seem to reproach your father who was a poor fugitive and servant.
13-m.
Meaning, Moses. Whereby appears, that whatsoever they have, it comes of God’s free goodness.