Hosea 12

1 feedeth on wind, etc. An unprofitable task. He will obtain no real help from Egypt or Assyria. desolation. Rather, “violence.”

oil is carried into Egypt. As a present, to obtain the aid of the Egyptians. Oil was one of the most valuable products of Canaan.

3. He took his brother by the heel. This incident seems to be alluded to as showing, before the birth of their ancestor, God’s purpose to give the nation superior power: cp. Rom. ix. 11-13. God’s special love to His chosen people, and His readiness to hear and answer their humble and penitent prayers, are here connected with the sacred associations of the four names, “Jacob,” “Israel,” “Bethel,” and “Jahveh.”

4 he had power over the angel. See note, Gen. xxxii. 24. The “weeping and supplication” no doubt refer to Jacob’s prayers in Gen. xxxii. 9-11, 24-30.

He found him in Beth-el. This refers to the promises both in Gen. xxviii. 10-22, and in Gen. xxxv. 9, 14; which were given, says the prophet, not only to Jacob, but to “us.”

5 the Lord. Rather, “Jahveh”: see Exod. vi. 3, and note.

7 [He is] a merchant. He is not Israel, a successful wrestler with God; but Canaan, a deceitful trafficker, like those whom he was commissioned to expel from the land.

to oppress. i.e., by extortion.

8 none iniquity in me that were sin. That is, “none that involves me in guilt”: see Zech. xi. 5. Men are prone to harden themselves in impenitence by the false notion that God regards them with favour because they are successful in their sinful courses: cp. Deut. xxix. 19.

9. And I [that] am the Lord, etc. This is better translated, “And yet,” etc. The meaning is: Sinful as thou hast been, yet, if thou wilt repent and listen to the teachings and warnings of My prophets, I will repeat the deliverance which thy festival commemorates.

11 [Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? “Gilead” and “Gilgal” probably represent all the tribes on the two sides of the Jordan, and are particularly specified with reference to iv. 15; vi. 8.

12. And Jacob fled. Vers. 12, 13 show how God had raised the Hebrew nation from a low condition to great prosperity, and had faithfully kept His promises to them; thus making their ingratitude the more sinful.

14 his blood. That is, the guilt of bloodshed.