Hosea 12

Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. Hosea 12:1

The climate in Israel is very pleasant for most of the year. However, in the spring and fall, there can be periods when the hot, dry, desert air covers the country. In Arabic, this east wind is called the hamsin, but the official Hebrew name is the sharav. The desert wind blows in and simply stays around, sometimes for two or three days. The temperatures can be oppressively hot with fine dust settling on the cars and everything else. The tourists who have paid a good price to see Israel are disappointed with their view until the sharav blows out.

Likely, it is the sharav that Hosea is describing here since he speaks of the east wind. No one in their right mind would wish for this hot wind or seek it. Certainly, it is an illusion to think this east wind is something good or to be desired. That wind like a lie is something evil. The writer of Ecclesiastes compares many of Earth’s activities to chasing after the wind. He says, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Eccl. 1:14). Isaiah adds, “See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion” (Isa. 41:29).

Apparently, King Hoshea of Ephraim had made a peace agreement with the king of Assyria. Then he made an agreement with the King of Egypt by supplying him with olive oil. This duplicity was discovered. “But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore, Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison” (2 Ki. 17:4).

Instead of turning to the Lord Jehovah, he made an agreement with the wind. Feinberg says, “Feeding on wind is a vivid description for the pursuit of empty and vain things which are without profit.” [1]

“The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds” (12:2). God has a charge against both Israel and Judah. Because Judah had some good kings, her nation would continue for several generations. For Israel, the time was up. Israel had truly lived according to Jacob’s early principles. Boice deals with Jacob and helps us understand his significance. He says, “Jacob was a common ancestor, and his association with the northern site of Bethel makes him a basis on which to appeal to Israel also.” [2]

“In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God” (12:3). The story of Jacob is one of the most unusual stories in the Bible. From birth, Jacob was a “heel catcher,” “supplanter,” “usurper,” and “deceiver.” He stole his brother’s birthright as well as his blessing. At Bethel, he made a one-sided deal with God. If God would bless him, then he would serve the Lord. He finally met his match in Uncle Laban. He worked seven years for his wife Rachel, but Laban tricked him into first marrying Leah and working for another seven years. Finally, he took his family and belongings and fled back to the Land of Israel.

“He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there – the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name! (12:4-5). At last, Jacob had to face himself as he returned to his father and to his cheated brother. We are told that he wept, and that is not mentioned in Genesis 32:25. [3] He wrestled all night with an angel at Peniel and finally got the victory. In the process, his name was changed to Israel. (Gen. 32:28). Then he renewed his covenant with God at Bethel. Pfeiffer & Harrison say, “He came face to face with God at Bethel.” [4] Jacob had finally overcome his wicked self. Jacob received a new name and also received the eternal promise of the Holy Land. Unfortunately, both Judah and Israel had followed in Jacob’s deceiving footsteps before Peniel and Bethel.

“But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always” (12:6). This is a call for repentance to both Ephraim and Judah. They both needed to turn from the deceitful ways of Jacob, which were also the ways of the Canaanites around them. What could be more deceitful than the worship of golden calves? Israel was living just like the Canaanites (i.e., Prov. 11:1; 20:23; Amos 8:5). [5]

Turning From Canaanite Practices

The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Hosea 12:7

Feinberg says, “The Canaanites or Phoenicians were the great merchants of the time (Isa. 23:1 and Eze. 17:4).” [6] The sailors at Tyre and Sidon were the first people who learned to travel by celestial navigation. Therefore, they could go places that others could not handily go, even crossing the great Mediterranean or going to the Atlantic Ocean. Because of their wide travels all over the area, they became great merchants. Unfortunately, merchandising can be carried on in a dishonest manner. The Bible gives us an example of this in Proverbs 20:14: “‘It’s no good, it’s no good!’ says the buyer – then goes off and boasts about the purchase.”

In their greed for money, the Canaanites had become crooked and unscrupulous. Some of the merchants had dishonest scales. As a child, I remember a merchant who would slip his thumb on the scale while weighing the purchase. God watches such little things, and it makes him angry when the poor family is cheated out of their food.

Homer, the great Greek poet, designated the Phoenicians as money-lovers. Ephraim is now likened to them. [7] Boice says, ‘Canaan’ or ‘Canaanite,’ is actually translated ‘merchant’ in verse 7, with the emphasis on dishonesty in trade. [8] Guzik calls them “cunning Canaanites.” [9] Pfeiffer & Harrison say, “Israel had not only followed the Canaanite in his licentious religion, but had adopted his wicked business practices…‘Canaanite’ thus became a synonym for merchant (Prov. 31:24; Zeph 1:11.” [10]

“Ephraim boasts, ‘I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin’” (12:8). Whether it is nations or individuals, the seeking of wealth is always a vain thing. Thomas Gray penned his famous “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” saying:

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,

And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave,

Awaits alike the inevitable hour,

The paths of glory lead but to the grave. [11]

Israel was living like their Canaanite neighbors. They had become proud and arrogant. Dummelow says of them, “The Israelites had only too readily learnt the tricks of cheating from the Canaanites.” [12] It would not end well for Ephraim.

We see how it will end in Zechariah the prophet: “Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 14:21). As we can see, the Jerusalem to come will be one very holy place.

Unfortunately, we still have a lot of Canaanites in the house of the Lord. We have a lot of merchants in the churches, all wishing to profit from the things of God. I think of all the Christian books that are written to make money from the word of God. I have tried to avoid that. While my commentaries are published on Amazon for those who wish to hold the book in their hands and mark it up, the books are completely free on my websites. I also think of the Christian music that is a profit-making business. I long for the days when unknown writers gave beautiful and inspired Scripture songs to the Body of Christ with no charge and not even with the acknowledgement of the author’s name. Jesus instructed his disciples, “…Freely you have received; freely give” (Matt. 10:8).

“I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them” (12:9-10). Coffman comments: “What is promised here is that Israel shall again dwell in tents, not for a few days, as in the feast, but permanently. God will again reduce the nation to poverty, slavery, and deprivation, because they forgot the Lord and walked in wicked ways.” [13] Israel would have to go back into captivity and learn basic lessons all over again. That captivity of Israel has been a long one of 2,700 years. Israel cannot say that she was not warned. All through the years, the prophets had cried out to them, but they did not have ears to hear.

Worthless People

Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. Hosea 12:11

Gilead was wicked and would soon be captured by Assyria. However, Gilgal was also wicked. There was wickedness on both sides of the Jordan River. Coffman says, “All of those altars upon which Israel had lavished wealth and adoration would finally be nothing more than rubble that a farmer had to plow around when working his field.” [14]

“Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him” (12:12-13). Clarke asks: “Why is this isolated fact predicted? Thus, in a detached sentence, the prophet speaks of the low estate of their ancestors, and how amply the providence of God had preserved and provided for them….” [15] God is merciful and kind to his people then and now, yet he does have limits.

“But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt” (12:14). They have sought help where it was not to be found, and neglected God, the only source of help, in forgetfulness of the example of their ancestor Jacob. [16]

Footnotes

1. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, p. 59.

2. Boice, The Minor Prophets, Vol. 1, p. 94.

3. Dummelow, Dummelow on the Bible, v. 12:4.

4. Pfeiffer & Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 814.

5. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, v. 12:6.

6. Feinberg, The Minor Prophets, p. 60.

7. Ibid.

8. Boice, The Minor Prophets, Vol. 1, p. 98.

9. Guzik, The Enduring Word Bible Commentary, Hosea, vs. 12:7-11.

10. Pfeiffer & Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, pp. 814-815.

11. Quoted in Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersby Bible Commentary, NT (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 894.

12. Dummelow, Dummelow on the Bible, v. 12:8.

13. Coffman, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, Hosea. v. 12:9.

14. Coffman, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, Hosea. v. 12:11.

15. Clarke, Clarke Commentary, Hosea. v. 12:12.

16. Dummelow, Dummelow on the Bible, vs. 12:12-14.