Hosea 7:12

12. Such policy is contrary to the will of Jehovah, therefore he will make it of no effect; yea, he will severely punish them for it. As they go to Egypt or Assyria, thinking to find relief, Jehovah will bring upon them sudden ruin.

Net The figure of the dove is continued. The silly dove, Israel, will be entangled in the net of calamity and ruin.

I will bring them down A poetic parallel to the preceding. Just as the birds of the air are brought down and captured by the fowler, so Jehovah will bring down Israel from the air of freedom into the net of exile. The latter part of Hosea 7:12 is obscure.

As their congregation hath heard As has been publicly proclaimed by the prophets, for example, Amos and Hosea. The ancient versions reproduce a different text, and various emendations have been proposed: Marti, “on account of their sins,” Harper, “by the abundance of their afflictions.” The Hebrew is peculiar, but certainty as to the original is impossible. Harper’s transposition of “I will chastise” so that it follows Hosea 7:10 does not improve the text. That the words might be omitted from their present place is true; that they “furnish just the required completion for the thought of Hosea 7:10 ” is, to say the least, doubtful, since Hosea 7:11 furnishes a proper continuation of Hosea 7:10.

The announcement of judgment in Hosea 7:12 is continued in Hosea 7:13 in the form of a “Woe,” which is in turn explained by the exclamation, “destruction unto them!” There is, indeed, no escape; their rebellion has been too persistent.

They have fled [“wandered”] from me The special sin condemned is not spiritual or moral, but political, apostasy; instead of seeking help from Jehovah they have sought it from Assyria and Egypt. As the second exclamation is an explanation of the first, so the second causal clause is an expansion of the first. The wandering away involved rebellion against the rightful master.

Transgressed Better, rebelled, or, apostatized. The exact rendering and interpretation of 13b are uncertain.

Though I have redeemed… they have spoken lies. Refers to actual past deliverances and expressions of ingratitude. R.V., “though I would redeem… they have spoken lies,” emphasizes the willingness or desire of Jehovah to redeem, which is met by defiance. Others take the sentence conditionally, “If I should redeem… they would only speak lies,” or as a question of astonishment, “And I, should I redeem them, and they spoke only lies,” or, “when they have spoken only lies!” A still different though similar rendering makes it an exclamation of astonishment, “And I redeem them when they have spoken only lies!” The Hebrew permits any one of these renderings; the context must determine the correct one. Hosea 7:14 makes it probable that “they have spoken lies” refers to an act of the past. As to the preceding clause it would seem, in view of the apparently unconditional announcement of judgment, that one of the last two interpretations must be accepted. Between the two there is little to choose. The words are a reply to a possible objection on the part of the people that destruction would be unjust; they set forth the truth that divine displeasure is well deserved. Additional justification is offered in Hosea 7:14 they have never sought Jehovah in sincerity.

Spoken lies In saying by word or deed that Jehovah was unwilling or unable to help (Isaiah 44:8); they surely did not know God (compare Hosea 4:6).

Not cried unto me with their heart The people had not ceased entirely to worship Jehovah, or to call upon him, but their petitions were insincere; they did not come from the heart (Isaiah 29:13).

Howled upon their beds In distress and despair they roll upon their beds unable to sleep. Since 14b refers to attempts to secure the favor and good will of Jehovah by acts of worship, the howling would better be connected with religious celebrations, perhaps the howling connected with sacrificial feasts (Amos 5:23); for “bed” we must then read “divans,” or “couches,” upon which they reclined during their meals. A simple emendation would give “beside their altars,” which is accepted by some commentators. Other emendations are less satisfactory.

Assemble themselves The derivation, and therefore also the meaning of the Hebrew verb form, is uncertain. The English translation suggests a gathering together in solemn assembly at the sanctuary for the purpose of imploring Jehovah for a rich harvest. Another possible rendering is, they excite themselves, that is, in connection with the worship. LXX. presents a different text; changing one consonant, ר , into another, ד , it reads, “they cut themselves” (compare 1 Kings 18:28; Deuteronomy 14:1; Jeremiah 16:6, etc.). In some way this self-mutilation, condemned by the religious leaders of Israel, was thought to secure the divine favor. Whatever the exact meaning of the word, the prophet evidently speaks of some selfish efforts connected with the heartless worship to secure material blessings from Jehovah.

They rebel against me Notwithstanding their religious zeal, they are rebels against Jehovah’s majesty.