1 Ephraim feedeth on winde, and followeth after the East winde: hee daily increaseth lies and desolation, and they doe make a couenant with the Assyrians, and oyle is caried into Egypt.
2 The Lord hath also a controuersie with Iudah, and will punish Iacob according to his wayes, according to his doings will he recompense him.
3 ¶ Hee tooke his brother by the heele in the wombe, and by his strength he had power with God.
4 Yea, he had power ouer the Angel and preuailed: hee wept and made supplication vnto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with vs.
5 Euen the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memoriall.
6 Therefore turne thou to thy God: keepe mercie and iudgement, and wait on thy God continually.
7 ¶ He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: hee loueth to oppresse.
8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I haue found mee out substance: in all my labours they shall finde none iniquitie in mee, that were sinne.
9 And I that am the Lord thy God from the lande of Egypt, will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the dayes of the solemne feast.
10 I haue also spoken by the prophets, and I haue multiplied visions, and vsed similitudes, by the ministerie of the prophets.
11 Is there iniquitie in Gilead? surely they are vanitie, they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, yea their altars are as heapes in the furrowes of the fields.
12 And Iacob fled into the countrey of Syria, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheepe.
13 And by a Prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a Prophet was he preserued.
14 Ephraim prouoked him to anger, most bitterly: therefore shall he leaue his blood vpon him, and his reproch shall his Lord returne vnto him.
Judah and Israel reminded of the Divine favours. (1-6) The provocations of Israel. (7-14)1-6 Ephraim feeds himself with vain hopes of help from man, when he is at enmity with God. The Jews vainly thought to secure the Egyptians by a present of the produce of their country. Judah is contended with also. God sees the sin of his own people, and will reckon with them for it. They are put in mind of what Jacob did, and what God did for him. When his faith upon the Divine promise prevailed above his fears, then by his strength he had power with God. He is Jehovah, the same that was, and is, and is to come. What was a revelation of God to one, is his memorial to many, to all generations. Then let those who have gone from God, be turned to him. Turn thou to the Lord, by repentance and faith, as thy God. Let those that are converted to him, walk with him in all holy conversation and godliness. Let us wrestle with Him for promised blessings, determined not to give over till we prevail; and let us seek Him in his ordinances.
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.