“Yahweh has an indictment
Against Judah.
He will punish Jacob
According to his ways.
He will repay him
According to his deeds.
In the womb,
He tried to supplant
His brother.
In his manhood,
He strove with God.
He strove
With the angel.
He prevailed.
He wept.
He sought his favor.
He met him
At Bethel.
There God spoke
with him.
Yahweh!
The God of hosts!
Yahweh is his name!
But as for you,
Return to your God!
Hold fast
To love!
Hold fast
To justice!
Wait continually
For your God.”
Here Hosea referred to the stories about Jacob in Genesis, chapters 25, 28, 32, and 35. Somehow, this is an indictment against Judah and not Israel. Jacob should have been punished and repaid for his bad deeds. He had tried to supplant his brother. He actually tricked his father, but there is no mention of that. He wrestled with God or an angel, and won. Yet he wept and sought out God at Bethel. There, God spoke to him to tell him that his name was Yahweh. He wanted Jacob, Judah, Israel, and Ephraim to hold fast to love and justice. They were to continually wait for God.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 