Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 12:1-6
In these verses, I. Ephraim is convicted of folly, in staying himself upon Egypt and Assyria, when he was in straits (Hos. 12:1): Ephraim feeds on wind, that is, feeds himself with vain hopes of assistance from man, when he is at variance with God; and, when he meets with disappointments, he still pursues the same game, and greedily pants and follows after the east wind, which he cannot catch holy of, nor, if he could, would it be nourishing, nay, would be noxious. We say of the wind in the... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 12
In this chapter we have, I. A high charge drawn up against both Israel and Judah for their sins, which were the ground of God's controversy with them, Hos. 12:1, 2. Particularly the sin of fraud and injustice, which Ephraim is charged with (Hos. 12:7), and justifies himself in, Hos. 12:8. And the sin of idolatry (Hos. 12:11), by which God is provoked to contend with them, Hos. 12:14. II. The aggravations of the sins they are charged with, taken from the honour God put upon their father Jacob... read more