Hosea 12

Chap. XII. Ver. 1—14. Israel and Judah reproved, and exhorted to repentance, by a recollection of God’s special mercies when “‘as a prince” he had power over the angel of the covenant at Peniel. This, says Bishop Horsley, is “no other than he whom the patriarch found at Bethel, who there spake with the Israelites in the loins of their progenitor. He, whom the Patriarch found at Bethel,…. was, by the tenor of the context, the antagonist with whom he was matched at Peniel; r…. and who wrestled with the patriarch in the human form. The conflict was no sooner ended, than the patriarch acknowledged his antagonist as God…. And to make the assertion of this person’s Godhead, if possible, still more unequivocal, he adds, that to him belonged, as his appropriate memorial, that name which is declarative of the very essence of the Godhead—Jehovah is his Memorial.”

(See (Genesis 32:24-30).)

Notes on the verses

Chap. XII. Ver. 1. Ephraim feedeth on…. the east wind.—To feed on the wind, is to feed on that which is unsubstantial; to feed on the east wind, is to feed on what is noxious and rare; see note on (Job 15:2).— Oil is carried into Egypt.—To assist in the idolatrous illuminations of the Nile.—Harmer. < Ver. 3. He had power with God.—See note on (Genesis 32:28).: Ver. 5. The Lord is his memorial.—(Exodus 3:15); i.e. “God’s memorial; his appropriate, perpetual, incommunicable name, expressing his essence.” Bishop Horsley. Compare exposition and note, Gen. xxxii. Ver. 7. He is a merchant—Or Canaanite, or trafficker——The balances.—Compare ver. 3. Ver. 10. ‘And used similitudes.—By the ministry (“hand") of the prophets.

“In other words, I have employed types, or parables, to convey, in a sensible manner to their thoughts, my purposes toward them.” Bishop Chandler, who quotes the Rabbins Jarchi and Kimchi, to the same effect. Ver. 11. As heaps in the furrows—That is, so numerous. oe; y