12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep.
12 Are you going to repeat the life of your ancestor Jacob? He ran off guilty to Aram, Then sold his soul to get ahead, and made it big through treachery and deceit.
12 Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and there he earned a wife by tending sheep.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 12:12
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.