Hosea 12
12:1 a alliance with Assyria: In order to save his land, Hoshea became a vassal of King Shalmaneser of Assyria (2 Kgs 17:3 b). Hoshea soon rebelled against Shalmaneser by withholding tribute and turned to King So of Egypt for support (2 Kgs 17:4 c).• east wind: See study note on Job 38:24-27.
12:3 d Jacob struggled with his brother (literally he supplanted his brother): This verb (Hebrew ‘aqab) forms the root of Jacob’s name. Even before he was born, Jacob acted out the meaning of his name by supplanting his brother Esau (Gen 25:26 e).
• As an adult, Jacob even fought with God (see Gen 32:22-30 f) and was renamed “Israel,” meaning “God fights.”
12:4 g at Bethel he met God: See Gen 28:11-22 h.
12:6 i The Lord admonished Israel to live no longer as Jacob did, but to return to God and act with love and justice.
Summary for Hos 12:7-8: 12:7-8 j During the reign of Jeroboam II (793–753 BC), Israelite merchants became fabulously wealthy, often by using deceitful business practices like dishonest scales (see Amos 8:5-6 k).
• The Hebrew term translated merchants is kena‘an (“Canaan”). Canaanite traders were notorious in the ancient world for their crafty dealings. The Israelites had imitated their pagan neighbors not only in religion but also in commerce.
12:9 l I will make you live in tents again: God’s judgment on the wealthy Israelite merchants was for them to return to the humble dwellings of the Exodus. There is also a word of hope here: God’s plan of salvation for Israel would begin anew in the wilderness (see 2:14-15 m).
12:11 n Gilead and Gilgal were Israelite cities in which Baal was worshiped instead of the Lord (see 4:15 o; 6:8 p; 9:15 q).
12:13 r by a prophet: Moses’ faithful obedience to God contrasts with Israel’s disobedience.
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