SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:1
¶ Efraín es apacentado del viento, y sigue al solano; mentira y destrucción aumentan continuamente ; porque hicieron alianza con los asirios, y el aceite se lleva a Egipto.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:1
Verse 1. Ephraim feedeth on wind] He forms and follows empty and unstable counsels. Followeth after the east wind] They are not only empty, but dangerous and destructive. The east wind was, and still is, in all countries, a parching, wasting, injurious wind.
He daily increaseth lies] He promises himself safety from foreign alliances. He "made a covenant with the Assyrians," and sent a subsidy of "oil to Egypt." The latter abandoned him; the former oppressed him.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Ephraim feedeth on wind , etc.] Which will be no more profitable and beneficial to him than wind is to a man that opens his mouth, and fills himself with it: the phrase is expressive of labour in vain, and of a man’s getting nothing by all the pains he takes; the same with sowing the wind, and reaping the whirlwind, ( Hosea 8:7); and so the Targum has it here, “the house of Israel are like to one that sows the wind, and reaps the whirlwind all the day;” and this refers either to the worship of idols, and the calves in particular, and the vain hope of good things promised to themselves from thence; or to their vain confidence in the alliances and confederacies they entered into with neighbouring nations; from which they expected much, but found little: and followed after the east wind ; a wind strong and vehement, burning and blasting, very noxious and harmful; so that, instead of receiving any profit and advantage either by their idolatry or their covenants with other nations, they were only in these things pursuing what would be greatly to their detriment: or they would be no more able to attain by such methods what they sought for, than they would be able to overtake the east wind, which is a very swift and fleeting one; so that this clause exposes their folly, in expecting good things from their idols, or help from their neighbours; he daily increaseth lies and desolation ; while they multiplied idols, which are lies fallacious and deceitful, and idolatrous rites and acts of worship, they do but increase their desolation and ruin, which such things are the cause of, and will certainly bring them unto; or, not content with the daily increase of their idolatries among themselves, they continually persecute, spoil, and plunder those who do not give into their false worship: so the Targum, “lies and spoil they multiply;” idolaters are generally persecutors: and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians : and gave tribute and presents to their kings, as Menahem did to Pul, and Hoshea to Shalmaneser, not to hurt them, and to help and assist them against their enemies, and to strengthen their kingdom; (see 2 Kings 15:19,20 17:3,4); and oil is carried into Egypt : one while they sent presents to the Assyrians, to obtain their favour and friendship: and at another time to the Egyptians; nay, they sent to So king of Egypt, at the same time they were tributary to Assyria, and, conspiring against him, brought on their ruin; and oil was a principal part of the present sent; for this was carried not by way of traffic, but as a present: so the Targum, “and they carried gifts to Egypt;” (see Isaiah 57:9). The land of Israel, being a land of oil olive, was famous for the best oil, of which there was a scarcity in Egypt, and therefore a welcome present there, as balsam also was; (see Genesis 37:25 43:11 Ezekiel 27:17).
Matthew Henry Commentary
God's regard for Israel; their ingratitude. (Hos. 11:1-7) The Divin mercy yet in store. (Hos. 11:8-12)
Hos. 11:1-7 When Israel were weak and helpless as children, foolish an froward as children, then God loved them; he bore them as the nurs does the sucking child, nourished them, and suffered their manners. All who are grown up, ought often to reflect upon the goodness of God to them in their childhood. He took care of them, took pains with them not only as a father, or a tutor, but as a mother, or nurse. When the were in the wilderness, God showed them the way in which they shoul go, and bore them up, taking them by the arms. He taught them the way of his commandments by the ceremonial law given by Moses. He took the by the arms, to guide them, that they might not stray, and to hold the up, that they might not stumble and fall. God's spiritual Israel ar all thus supported. It is God's work to draw poor souls to himself; an none can come to him except he draw them. With bands of love; this wor signifies stronger cords than the former. He eased them of the burden they had long groaned under. Israel is very ungrateful to God. God' counsels would have saved them, but their own counsels ruined them They backslide; there is no hold of them, no stedfastness in them. The backslide from me, from God, the chief good. They are bent to backslide; they are ready to sin; they are forward to close with ever temptation. Their hearts are fully set in them to do evil. Those onl are truly happy, whom the Lord teaches by his Spirit, upholds by his power, and causes to walk in his ways. By his grace he takes away the love and dominion of sin, and creates a desire for the blessed feast of the gospel, that they may feed thereon, and live for ever.
Hos. 11:8-12 God is slow to anger, and is loth to abandon a people to utter ruin, who have been called by his name. When God was to give sacrifice for sin, and a Saviour for sinners, he spared not his ow Son, that he might spare us. This is the language of the day of his patience; but when men sin that away, then the great day of his wrat comes. Man's compassions are nothing in comparison with the tende mercies of our God, whose thoughts and ways, in receiving returnin sinners, are as much above ours as heaven is above the earth. God know how to pardon poor sinners. He is faithful and just to forgive us ou sins, and therein declares his righteousness, now Christ has purchase the pardon, and he has promised it. Holy trembling at the word of Christ will draw us to him, not drive us from him, the children tremble, and flee to him. And all that come at the gospel call, shal have a place and a name in the gospel church. The religious service of Israel were mere hypocrisy, but in Judah regard was had to God's laws and the people followed their pious forefathers. Let us be faithful those who thus honour God, he will honour, but such us despise Hi shall be lightly esteemed __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
אפרים 669 רעה 7462 רוח 7307 ורדף 7291 קדים 6921 כל 3605 היום 3117 כזב 3577 ושׁד 7701 ירבה 7235 וברית 1285 עם 5973 אשׁור 804 יכרתו 3772 ושׁמן 8081 למצרים 4714 יובל׃ 2986
