Hosea 12

Hosea 12:1

FEedeth] He builds upon vaine means, and feeds himselfe with frivolous and ruinous hopes (the Easterne wind being very tempestuous in those countreys) continuing in his sinnes; and thinking to escape God judgements by strange and unlawfull covenants Oyle] the Italian, sweet smelling oyles] Whereof there was great plenty in Judea: 2 Kings 20:13.

Hosea 12:2

The Lord] That which I have spoken in praise of Judah, is not to free him from all defects; for he hath also his grievous faults; but because Gods true service is yet remaining there: God wil yet reprove and redargue him with words; but as for the ten tribes, he will judge them with deeds; seeing they are almost become incapable of all correction.

Hosea 12:3

In the wombe] These histories seeme to be alledged here, to reprove Israel for their ingratitude, after so many great benefits of God towards their forefathers: which he reduces to two heads, figured here in these two histories: One is Jacobs election before Esau his brother: the Other his deliverance from all those evills wherewith God had tried and exercised him By his strength] Which was given him by Gods grace. A figure of the spirituall strength of the faith and spirit With God] With the Son of God, who appeared to Jacob in humane shape; who also by reason of his office of Mediator; is afterwards called Angel.

Hosea 12:4

He wept] This weeping may be referred to that which is said: Genesis 35:8. And it seemes, it was a weeping upon some solemne time of supplication With us] namely; With Jacob our father, confirming Gods promises to him and all his Posterity: Genesis 35:11.

Hosea 12:5

The Lord is] He hath take this name of Eternall with his people: Exodus 3:14-15. for a pledge of the truth of his promises; and therefore he will without faile performe them, if we doe turne to him.

Hosea 12:7

He is] namely; Ephraim is degenerate, and hath taken upon him the customes and manners of a Canaanite, being wholly addicted to dishonest gaine; to deceits and avarice: see Ezekiel 16:3 Is a Merchant] the Italian, A Canaanite] A Nation whose ordinary exercise was merchandizing, with all the vices which were annexed unto it: and therefore that Name is taken for a Merchant, and very often also for a deceiver.

Hosea 12:8

My labours] I have not stained my trading with any great misdeed; onely I have used certaine subtilties and crafts therein, as were not subject to the Law: words of a prophane and cauerized conscience.

Hosea 12:9

I that am] Although thou beest so corrupt; yet will I observe mine ancient covenant which I made, even in the land of Egypt, towards my true Israel in spirit. An Evangelicall promise Will yet make thee] I will deliver my Church from the spirituall Egypt; and will make her passe through the wildernesse of the world, in particular Churches, aspiring towards the heavenly Canaan: even as my people dwelt in Tents in the Wildernesse; the remembrance whereof is celebrated in the feast of the Tabernacles: Leviticus 23:43. See Zechariah 14:16.

Hosea 12:10

Spoken] the Italian, I will speake] I will largely manifest my selfe by my Word: ee Joe 2:28 Similitudes] grave sentences and doctines, illustrated with similitudes, according to the Holy Ghosts stile.

Hosea 12:11

Vanity] They are altogether drowned in Idolatry They sacrifice] To Idols: or, peradventure, also to the true God; but, beyond his command; wherefore it is all Idolatry As heaps]that is to say; They are innumerable, and at the end of every field: see Hos. 8. 11. and 10. 1.

Hosea 12:12

Fled] The meaning seemes to be: Remember the first voyage, which was Jacobs, in extreme misery and servitude; and the second, which was your comming out of Egypt in a glorious deliverance by the hands of Moses: that you may be afraid; left I cause you to make a third, into wretched captivity.

Hosea 12:13

Preserved] Even like unto a flocke of sheep: Psal. 77. 20. Isaiah 63:11.

Hosea 12:14

His blood] He will not pardon him his sinne, nor cleanse him from it; but will keepe it still in remembrance, to punish him for it at his appointed time: See Ezekiel 24:7-8.