USB ~ Hosea 12

Infidelity of Israel†

1 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, the house of Israel, with deceit; Judah still wanders about with gods, and is faithful to holy ones.†

2 † Ephraim shepherds the wind, and pursues the east wind all day long. He multiplies lies and violence: They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.

3 The LORD has a dispute with Judah, and will punish Jacob† for his conduct, and repay him for his deeds.

4 In the womb he supplanted his brother, a and in his vigor he contended with a divine being;

5 He contended with an angel and prevailed, b he wept and entreated him. At Bethel he met with him, and there he spoke with him. c

6 The LORD is the God of hosts, the LORD is his name! d

7 You must return to your God. Maintain loyalty and justice and always hope in your God.

8 A merchant who holds a false balance, he loves to extort!

9 Ephraim has said, “How rich I have become; I have made a fortune!” e All his gain will not suffice for the guilt of his sin.

10 I the LORD have been your God, since the land of Egypt; f I will again have you live in tents, as on feast days.

11 I spoke to the prophets, I granted many visions, g and through the prophets I told parables.

12 In Gilead is falsehood, they have come to nothing; in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, But their altars are like heaps of stonesh in the furrows of the field.

13 Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and Israel served for a wife; for a wife he tended sheep. i

14 But by a prophet† the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet Israel was tended. j

15 Ephraim has aroused bitter anger, so his Lord shall cast his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his scorn.

Footnotes

†. 12:1-15 This chapter draws a parallel between the history of Israel and events in the life of Jacob-Israel, the ancestor.

†. 12:1 An attack on the idolatry of both kingdoms, Israel and Judah. Holy ones: subordinate gods, members of the divine council.

†. 12:2 Hosea frequently condemns the alliances with Assyria and Egypt, the two world powers (7:8-16).

†. 12:3 Jacob: whose name was changed to Israel (Gn 35:10).

†. 12:14 A prophet: Moses.

12:4 Gn 25:26; 27:35-36.
12:5 Gn 32:25-30.
12:5 Gn 28:12-19; 35:15.
12:6 Ex 3:15; Am 4:13.
12:9 Rev 3:17.
12:10 Ex 20:2.
12:11 Ps 74:9.
12:12 Gn 31:45-54; Jos 4-5.
12:13 Gn 28:5; 29:15-30; 30:31.
12:14 Ex 3:7-10; Dt 18:18.