The Lord's Indictment of Israel and Judah
And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. Hos. 12:12
And Jacob fled... Though ye pride yourselves on the great name of Israel, forget not that your progenitor was the same Jacob who was a fugitive, and who served for Rachel fourteen years. He forgot not ME who delivered him when fleeing from Esau, and when oppressed by Laban (Gen. 28:5; 29:20, 28; Deut. 26:5).
country of Syria...Or, field of Syria; the same with Padan-aram; for Padan, in the Arabic language, as Bochart has shown, signifies a field; and Aram is Syria, and is the word here used.
and Israel served... And so the last clause is supplied by the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi: this was after his flight into Syria, and before he fled from Laban, whom he served seven years for Rachel. And then he continued to serve Laban by keeping his sheep seven more years, as his agreement. Though it may be understood of his two wives, thus; he served seven years for a wife.
he kept sheep... For Rachel intentionally, but eventually it was for Leah; and then he kept sheep seven years more for his other wife Rachel. The history of this is (in Gen. 29:1).
Gen. 28:5 "And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.”
He had not taken a wife of the heathen women around him, as his brother Esau did, but went to his uncle's, and found a wife of the same faith. He worked as a shepherd.
And Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he herded sheep.
The Lord’s past goodness is again recalled. Going back to Jacob’s experience once more (cf. Hos. 12:3-4), Hosea reminded the people of their humble beginnings. Their famous ancestor was once a refugee who had to tend sheep in order to acquire a wife (cf. Deut. 26:5).
0 comments:
Post a Comment