---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Hosea 12:1. Ephraim feedeth on wind — He forms and follows empty and unstable counsels. Followeth after the east wind — They are not only empty, but"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/hosea/12"
---

Verse [Hosea 12:1](../../../kjv/hosea/12/1). ***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.

Verse [Hosea 12:2](../../../kjv/hosea/12/2). ***The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah*** — The rest of the prophecy belongs both to Judah and Israel. He reproaches both with their ingratitude, and threatens them with God's anger. In order to make their infidelity the more hateful, and their malice the more sensible, he opposes to them the righteousness, obedience, and piety of their father Jacob. He recalls to their minds the benefits they had received since they returned from Egypt. He speaks afterwards of their kings; and how, in their ingratitude, they refused to have him for their monarch. Having mentioned this fact, he subjoins reflections, exhortations, invectives, and threatenings, and continues this subject in *this* and the *two* following *chapters*.-*Calmet*.

Verse [Hosea 12:3](../../../kjv/hosea/12/3). ***He took his brother by the heel*** — See on [Genesis 25:26](../../../kjv/genesis/25/26); [Genesis 32:24](../../../kjv/genesis/32/24), &c.

Verse [Hosea 12:4](../../../kjv/hosea/12/4). ***He had power over the Angel*** — Who represented the invisible Jehovah.
***He wept, and made supplication*** — He entreated with tears that God would bless him; and he *prevailed*. The circumstance of his *weeping* is not mentioned in *Genesis*.
***He found him*****in*****Beth-el*** — It was there that God made those glorious promises to Jacob relative to his posterity. See [Genesis 28:13-15](../../../kjv/genesis/28/13-15).

Verse [Hosea 12:5](../../../kjv/hosea/12/5). ***The Lord*****is*****his memorial.*** — He is the same God as when Jacob so successfully wrestled with him.

Verse [Hosea 12:6](../../../kjv/hosea/12/6). ***Therefore turn thou to thy God*** — Because he is the same, and cannot change. Seek him as faithfully and as fervently as Jacob did, and you will find him the same merciful and compassionate Being.

Verse [Hosea 12:7](../../../kjv/hosea/12/7). **He is*****a merchant*** — Or a *Canaanite*; referring to the *Phoenicians*, famous for their traffic. Ephraim is as corrupt as those heathenish traffickers were. He kept, as many in all ages have done, a *weight* and a *weight*; a *heavy* one to *buy* with and a *light* one to *sell* by.

Verse [Hosea 12:8](../../../kjv/hosea/12/8). ***I am become rich*** — They boasted in their riches, notwithstanding the *unjust manner* in which they were acquired.
**In*****all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me*** — This is frequently the language of merchants, tradesmen, c. None are so full of professions of equity and justice, while all the time they are endeavouring to overreach, both in buying and selling. "Sir, I cannot afford it at that price." "It is not *mine* for that money." "I assure you that it cost me more than you offer." "I am sorry I cannot take your money but if I did, I should lose by the article," c., &c., &c. I have heard such language over and over, when I knew every word was false. *Truth* is a sacred thing in the sight of God but who regards it as he should? There are, however, many noble exceptions among merchants and tradesmen. Bp. *Newcome* gives another turn to the subject, by translating: -
"All his labours shall not be found *profitable* unto him,
*For* the iniquity wherewith he hath sinned."

Verse [Hosea 12:9](../../../kjv/hosea/12/9). ***And I - the Lord thy God*** — I who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, will again make thee to dwell in tabernacles. This appears to be a *threatening*. I will reduce you to as miserable a state in the land of your captivity, as you often were through your transgressions in the wilderness. This was the opinion of some of the ancients on this verse; and the *context* requires it to be understood in this way. I do not think that the *feast of* *tabernacles* is referred to.

Verse [Hosea 12:10](../../../kjv/hosea/12/10). ***I have also spoken*** — I have used every means, and employed every method, to instruct and save you. I have sent *prophets*, who spake *plainly*, exhorting, warning, and beseeching you to return to me. They have had *Divine visions*, which they have declared and *interpreted*. They have used *similitudes, symbols,* *metaphors, allegories*, c., in order to fix your attention, and bring you back to your duty and interest. And, alas! all is in vain you have not profited by my condescension. This text *St.* *Paul* seems to have had full in view, when he wrote, [Hebrews 1:1](../../../kjv/hebrews/1/1): "God who, at SUNDRY TIMES and in DIVERS MANNERS, spake in *time past* unto the FATHERS by the PROPHETS." See the note on the above.
Dr. *Dodd* supposes that there are *three* distinct kinds of prophecy mentioned here:
1. Immediate inspiration, when God declares the very words.
2. Vision; a representation of *external* *objects* to the *mind*, in as lively a manner as if they were conveyed by the *senses*.
3. Parables and apt resemblances.

Verse [Hosea 12:11](../../../kjv/hosea/12/11). ***Iniquity*****in*****Gilead*** — Gilgal and Gilead are equally iniquitous, and equally idolatrous. Gilead, which was beyond Jordan, had already been brought under subjection by Tiglath-Pileser. Gilgal, which was on this side Jordan, shall share the same fate; because it is now as idolatrous as the other.
***Their altars*****are*****as heaps*** — They occur everywhere. The whole land is given to idolatry.

Verse [Hosea 12:12](../../../kjv/hosea/12/12). ***Served for a wife*** — Seven years for *Rachel*.
***For a wife he kept*****sheep.**] Seven years for *Leah*; having been cheated by Laban, who gave him first *Leah*, instead of *Rachel*; and afterwards made him serve seven years more before he would confirm his first engagement. Critics complain of want of connection here. 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. This is all the connection the place requires.

Verse [Hosea 12:13](../../../kjv/hosea/12/13). ***By a prophet*** (Moses)*******the Lord brought Israel out of**********Egypt, and by a prophet*** (Joshua) ***was he preserved****.*] Joshua succeeded Moses, and brought the Israelites into the promised land; and when they passed the Jordan at Gilgal, he received the covenant of circumcision; and yet this same place was now made by them the seat of idolatry! How blind and how ungrateful!

Verse [Hosea 12:14](../../../kjv/hosea/12/14). ***Therefore shall he leave his blood upon him*** — He will not remove his guilt. These are similar to our Lord's words, [John 3:36](../../../kjv/john/3/36); [John 9:41](../../../kjv/john/9/41): "He that believeth not on the Son of God, shall not see life, for the wrath of God ABIDETH ON HIM" - shall not be removed by any remission, as he rejects the only way in which he can be saved. *Because ye say, We see; therefore, YOUR SIN* *REMAINETH*, i.e., it still stands charged against you. Your miseries and destruction are of your own procuring; your perdition is of yourselves. God is as *merciful* as he is *just*.

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