7 A merchant , in whose hands are false balances , He loves to oppress . 8 And Ephraim said , "Surely I have become rich , I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors they will find in me No iniquity , which would be sin ." 9 But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt ; I will make you live in tents again , As in the days of the appointed festival . 10 I have also spoken to the prophets , And I gave numerous visions , And through the prophets I gave parables . 11 Is there iniquity in Gilead ? Surely they are worthless . In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls , Yes , their altars are like the stone heaps Beside the furrows of the field . 12 Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram , And Israel worked for a wife , And for a wife he kept sheep. 13 But by a prophet the Lord brought Israel from Egypt , And by a prophet he was kept . 14 Ephraim has provoked to bitter anger ; So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him And bring back his reproach to him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 12:7-14
Commentary on Hosea 12:7-14
(Read Hosea 12:7-14)
Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies a Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles, covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, and falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shall have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a mighty prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and folly the worse, if we put any slight upon that word. We had better follow the hardest labour in poverty, than grow rich by sin. We may form a judgment of our own conduct, by comparing it with that of ancient believers in the like circumstances. Whoever despises the message of God, will perish. May we all hear his word with humble, obedient faith.