Bible Commentaries
Hosea 12

Verses 1-14

Turning from this main line of the divine message, we now examine the prophet's interpolations. These set forth the history of Israel indicating their relation to Jehovah, and pronounce judgment. They form a remarkable obligato accompaniment in a minor key to the majestic love song of Jehovah, and constitute a contrast ing introduction to the final message of the prophet.

The first of them reveals the prophet's sense of Jehovah's controversy with Judah, and his just dealings with Jacob.

The second was reminiscent of Jacob's history, and made a deduction and an appeal.

The third traced the progress of Israel to death, beginning with the flight to the field of Aram, through the exodus from Egypt and preservation to the present, in which Ephraim was exalted in Israel, offended in Baal, and died.

The last declared the doom. It was indeed the Iast word of man, the pronouncement of awful judgment, and constituted the plea of "guilty," to which the answer of Jehovah as revealed in His message was of the victory of love.