Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 12:2

2 The LORD hath also a controversie with Judah , and will punish Jacob according to his wayes : according to his doings will he recompence him .

Though Iudah compar'd with Ephraim be faithful, yet when considered in his wayes and doings he is found faulty in many things and God hath just matter of complaint against Iudah in point of manners; in publick worship Iudah was faithful, kept to God, and the Temple though not without some defects, but in their lives there were many more and greater faults, about which God will contend that Iudah may be reformed.

The two Tribes

Or visit with chastising to amend, else to destroy; there is hope of Iudah that he will be reclaimed, therefore I will try by gentler visitations, by fatherly corrections, yet I will not leave him as hopeless, nor as faultless.

Not the Patriarch, but those who are of him; his children, but that have degenerated from his wayes of love, fear, trust and obedience. Both Ephraim and Iudah are of Iacob, but both have corrupted themselves, and therefore will I proceed against both, and if Iudah, the less faulty, escape not, Ephraim can have no hope to escape; if Iudah be whipt with rods because a disobedient son, Ephraim may fear a sword because he hath been and still is an obstinate Rebel.

Neither can justly complain then, since their different ways are made the Standard of the different proceedings of God against them, he will not lay upon either more than is equal; who suffers most, hath deserved more, and who suffers lest needed so much to amend him.

This is an elegant and very usual ingemination of the same thing▪ which doth assure it will be done, and should affect us the more.

Marginal references: Heb. visit upon.