βEphraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.β
On. Literally, the wind. (Haydock) β To trust in men is no less vain. (Worthington) β Septuagint, βEphraim is an evil spirit,β &c. β Heat. Hebrew, βeastern or burning wind.β (Haydock) β Manahem attempted to engage Egypt on his side, but he was frustrated in his hopes, (4 Kings xv.; St. Jerome) as Osee was likewise; to which king the sense conducts us better, chap. xiii. 15. β Oil. That of Palestine was very excellent, Ezechiel xxvii. 17.
βThe LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. punish: Heb. visit uponβ
Judgment. Hebrew, βtrial.β What follows refers to all the people, whose impiety is contrasted with Jacobβs virtue.
βHe took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princelyβ
Brother Esau, thus foreshewing what would happen, Genesis xxv. β Angel. Septuagint, βGod,β whose place this angel held. Elohim implies both, ver. 4., and Genesis xxxii. 24.
βYea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;β
Wept. Septuagint, βthey wept, and besought me.β Other interpreters agree with the Vulgate. β Us. By changing a vowel point, in Hebrew, it might be, βHe spoke to him.β (Cap.[Cappel?;] Grotius) β The most magnificent promises were made, at Bethel, regarding the Israelites: this made the profanation of the place more horrible. (Calmet) β Septuagint, βThey found me in the house of On, and there the word was addressed to them.β β Bethaven was the name of Bethel, among the pious Jews, in the days of Osee. (Haydock)
βEven the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.β
Memorial, and the object of worship; or this great Jehovah spoke to Jacob.
βHe is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. a merchant: or, Canaan oppress: or, deceiveβ
Chanaan. The PhΕnicians were so called, and all merchants. Here the title is given reproachfully (Calmet) to all the posterity of Jacob. (Haydock) β None more ignominious could be used, Daniel xiii. 56. Thus Rome is styled Babylon.
βAnd Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. in all: or, all my labours suffice me not: he shall have punishment of iniquity in whom is sin that: Heb. whichβ
Idol. Hebrew also, βvanity.β Riches are vain, and lead to idolatry when people place their affections on them, Matthew xiii. 22., and Ephesians v. 5. β Committed. I am conscious of no injustice. (Calmet) β Yet he had used a deceitful balance, and his judgment is equally perverse. (Haydock) β βWhat rich man shall be saved?β (Clement of Alexandria)
βAnd I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.β
Egypt. At Sinai the covenant between God and Israel was chiefly ratified. The former ceased not to perform the conditions, but the latter repaid him with ingratitude. β Feast. The people shall be brought back, (Calmet) or they shall again be forced to dwell under tents. (Theodoret) β βShall I still cause?β &c. (Tournemine)
βI have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. ministry: Heb. handβ
Prophets. They have represented me as it were under visible forms, that you cannot plead ignorance. The prophets prefigured Christ, the end of the law, &c. (Calmet)
βIs there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.β
Idol. That is, if Galaad, with all its idols and sacrifices, be like a mere idol itself, being brought to nothing by Theglathphalassar, how vain is it to expect that the idols worshipped in Galgal shall be of any service to the tribes that remain. (Challoner) β Will these idols be more powerful? Septuagint copies vary. Roman edition has Galaad, and Comp. Galgal in both places. But that of St. Jerome and of Theodoret is better. β Heaps of stones. They are in ruins, or very numerous: (Calmet) yet have not secured the country. (Haydock)
βAnd Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.β
Jacob. The history of the patriarch, and of his posterity, serves to place the ingratitude of the people in the clearest light. (Worthington) β The prophet had interrupted the account of Jacob, (ver. 4.) who had signalized his piety in Galaad, Genesis xxxi. 46.
βAnd by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.β
Prophet. Josue put the people in possession of the country, and offered sacrifice at Galgal, where the rite of circumcision was performed. This place is now defiled. What perfidy (Haydock) and ingratitude. (Calmet)
βEphraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him. most: Heb. with bitternesses blood: Heb. bloodsβ
Him. He shall suffer for his crimes. (Menochius) β He can blame only himself. (Calmet)