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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 12:7-14

Here are intermixed, in these verses, I. Reproofs for sin. When God is coming forth to contend with a people, that he may demonstrate his own righteousness, he will demonstrate their unrighteousness. Ephraim was called to turn to his God and keep judgment (Hos. 12:6); now, to show that he had need of that call, he is charged with turning from his God by idolatry, and breaking the laws of justice and judgment. 1. He is here charged with injustice against the precepts of the second table, Hos.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 12:11

Is there iniquity in Gilead ?.... Idolatry there? strange that there should be, seeing it was a city of the priests; a city of refuge; or there is none there, say the priests, who pretended they did not worship idols, but the true Jehovah in them: or, "is there not iniquity", or idolatry, "in Gilead" F5 אם גלעד און "an non in Galaad iniquitas?" Vatablus. ? verily there is, let them pretend to what they will: or, "is there only iniquity in it" F6 "En in Gileade ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 12:11

Verse 11 It is an ironical question, when the Prophet says, Is there iniquity in Gilead ? and he laughs to scorn their madness who delighted themselves in vices so gross, when their worship was wholly spurious and degenerated. When they knew that they were perfidious towards God, and followed a worship alienated from his law, they yet were so perverse, that they proudly refused all admonitions. Since then they were blinded in their vices, the Prophet asks them ironically, Is there iniquity in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:7-11

Balances of deceit. In the manner of his acquisition of wealth, Ephraim conjoined deceit and oppression. He was dishonest in trade. He oppressed the poor. He was a better imitator of Jacob in his act of laying hold of his brother's heel than in his earnestness in wrestling with the angel. He inherited the evil, not the good, traits in the character of his progenitor He was a "Jacob," not an "Israel." Yet he plumed himself on his success. I. EPHRAIM 'S SAY IN THE MATTER . ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:7-14

Contain a fresh description of Israel's apostasy. To this the prophet is led by the preceding train of thought. When he called to mind the earnestness of the patriarch to obtain the blessing, the sincerity of his repentance, and the evidences of conversion, consisting in mercy and judgment and constant waiting on God, he looks around on Israel, and finding those virtues conspicuous by their absence; he repeats the story of their degeneracy. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:7-14

Three painful contrasts. In this strophe the threatening of punishment is again repeated ( Hosea 12:14 ). Ephraim's blood-guiltiness is to be left upon him; i.e. his sin is not to be pardoned. The "reproach" or dishonor which he has done to God by his idolatry, and iniquity God will repay him. But the denunciation is mixed with mercy. "I will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles" ( Hosea 12:9 ) seems to include, not only a threatening of banishment from "the Lord's land," but a new... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:10-11

Hosea 12:10 and Hosea 12:11 prove God's continual care for the spiritual welfare and best interests of Israel all along, and, at the same time, the inexcusableness of Israel in forgetting God and in arrogating to themselves the power of controlling their own destinies in the matter of wealth and prosperity; while multiplied prophecies and visions testified to both, viz. to God's care and Israel's recklessness of warnings. Moreover, their persistence in sin prepared them for and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:11

Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity. In reference to hypotheticals, Driver remarks, "With an imperfect in protasis. The apodosis may then begin (a) hath vav con. and the perfect; (b) with the infinitive (without vav ) ; (c) with perfect alone (expressing the certainty and suddenness with which the result immediately accomplishes the occurrence of the promise. Hosea 12:12 ( היו in apodesis, 'of the certain future')." The first part of this clause has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 12:11-14

Reproofs and remembrancers. Reproofs for sin, and remembrancers of mercy. I. REBUKES FOR SIN . 1. The richest temporal blessings are blighted by sin . Gilead was a fruitful and pleasant region, as may be inferred from references to it in Scripture, as when God says, "Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness," and when its productions are spoken of, and its pasturages celebrated. It is still a beautiful district, with its... read more

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