Hosea 12:1–14

Abstract

In this article it is shown that Hosea 12:1–14 is a literary unit which comprises four parts (1–3, 4–7, 8–10, 12–14). The first three units deal with the falseness and fraud of Israel/Efraim against God and men. The last unit states that God speaks by means of similes. Three prophecies in simile-form follow, stating that Israel like Gilead will not be able to avert the impending disaster even if they sacrificed bulls (vs 12), that Israel like Jacob will go into exile (vs 13), and that Israel as in the time of the exodus will be redeemed (vs 14).