1) The passage compares Israel to Jacob, who gained prosperity through deceit but later returned to God. 2) It warns Israel that if they do not also return to God and uphold justice, they will face destruction, just as Jacob initially faced struggles before finding favor with God. 3) God reminds Israel that their wealth and prosperity come from divine grace, not their own merit, and if they do not abandon arrogance God will force them back into the wilderness through prophets bringing destruction.

1. Hosea 12:3-11
3 In the womb he tried to 8th Century Israel must right itself just as
supplant his brother, Jacob—their founder—did. 3-5: 3 Jacob is
well known for using willful trickery to
and in his manhood he strove achieve his self interest. Yet after deceiving
with God. his brother, he came to know God in the
4 He strove with the angel and wilderness. After coming to know God by
prevailed, name, Jacob was given a promise from God
that Israel would be prosperous.
he wept and sought his favor;
He met with him at Bethel,
Prosperity gained through Deceit 6-8: 6 Just
and there he spoke with him. as Jacob found favor by returning to God and
5 The Lord the God of hosts, justice, Hosea pleads with Israel to do the
the Lord is his name! same.
6 But as for you, return to your 7-8 Trader—can also mean Canaanite—non-
God, hold fast to love and justice Israelite inhabitants of the land (a putdown).
Israel has gained prosperity by the same sort
and wait continually for your God. 10 I spoke to the prophets; of deceit that Jacob used to steal his
brother’s birthright. Ephraim, equivalent
7 A trader, in whose hands are false it was I who multiplied their here to Israel, believes that its wealth is a
balances, visions product of their own merit, not God’s grace.
he loves to oppress and through the prophets I will
8Ephraim has said, “Ah, I am rich, bring destruction. God reasserts Her dominance 9-11 9 God
I have gained wealth for myself; 11 In Gilead there is iniquity, reminds Israel that their riches are not
In all of my gain they shall surely come to derived from their own merit but from God’s
saving Grace that brought them from Egypt.
no offense has been found in me nothing Due to their arrogance, God will force them
that would be sin.” In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, back into the wilderness (signified by tents).
9 I am the Lord your God so their altars shall be like 10 God wages purifying destruction via the
from the land of Egypt; stone heaps prophets in order to remedy Israel’s
arrogance
I will make you live in tents again, on the furrows of the field
as in the days of the appointed festival