John Calvin Commentary Hosea 12:2

"Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him." — Hosea 12:2 (ASV)

It may seem strange that the Prophet should now say that God had a controversy with Judah; for he had previously said that Judah stood faithful with the saints. It seems indeed inconsistent that God should litigate with the Jews, and yet declare them to be upright and separate them from the treacherous and ungodly. What then does this mean? The Prophet, as we have said, spoke comparatively of the tribe of Judah when he said that they remained faithful with the saints: for he did not intend wholly to exculpate the Jews, who were also full of grievous evils; but he intended to praise the worship which still prevailed at Jerusalem, so that the impiety of the ten tribes might appear less excusable, who of their own accord had departed from the rule which God had given.

When anyone today reproves the Papists, they say that another mode of worship is unknown to them, that they have been taught this way by their forefathers, and that the worship which they observe has continued for so long from antiquity that they dare not change it or deviate from it.

Such might have been the excuse made by the Israelites. But the prophet charges them with voluntary defection, for the temple which God had chosen for Himself stood in their sight; there the face of God was, in a manner, to be seen, for all things were arranged according to the heavenly pattern which had been shown to Moses on the mount.

Since then pure religion was before their eyes, was not their sin proved by this very fact, that having neglected the word of God, they gave themselves up to new and fictitious modes of worship? The Prophet then had previously praised the worship, but not the conduct, of the tribe of Judah; and he now comes to their conduct, and says that there were many things in Judah which God would chastise.

The Lord then has a controversy with Judah; and He will begin with that tribe, and will then come down to the house of Jacob. The Prophet, however, speaks here only in passing about the house of Judah, and touches only lightly on the controversy He had with that portion of the people.

How was this? Because he was not a teacher, as has already been said, appointed over the kingdom of Judah, but only over the Israelites. He now refers only to that kingdom to strike terror into his own people: as if he said, “Do you think that the forbearance of God will last forever, because He has until now borne with you?”

No, God will begin to contend with the tribe of Judah. I have said, indeed, that they are innocent compared with you; but still they will not escape punishment, for in a short time God will summon them to judgment.

If He will not spare the Jews, how can your great crimes go unpunished? For certainly you deserve a hundred deaths in comparison with the Jews, among whom at least some integrity and uprightness still exist, for they have made no change in the worship of God. Their life is corrupt, but still the law of God and religion are not despised by them as they are by you. If then God will not spare them, much less will He spare you.”

We now understand for what purpose the Prophet says that God had a controversy with Judah; for it was not his design to terrify the Jews themselves, or to exhort them to repentance, except, it may be, in passing; but his object was to present an example to the Israelites, so that they might fear; for they should have thought within themselves, “If this shall be done in the green tree, what shall become of the dry? (Luke 23:31). If God will exercise with so much severity His vengeance against our brethren the Jews, among whom pure religion still exists, what sort of dreadful end awaits us, who have departed from the law, the worship, the teaching, and the obedience of God, who have become truce-breakers, and degenerate, and in every way profane?”

Hence he immediately adds, And will punish Jacob. “God will indeed begin with the tribe of Judah; this will be the prelude, and He will treat the Jews more mildly than you; but against you He will thunder in full force. It will not then be a remonstrance to lead you to repentance, but a punishment such as you deserve; for He has already contended with you more than enough.”

According to his ways, according to his doings, will He recompense him. He sets down here ways and doings, not as a superfluous repetition, but to show that the repentance of this people had already been looked for more than sufficiently; for they had not ceased for a long time to pursue their own wickedness. The Prophet then, no doubt, condemns here the Jews for their perverse wickedness, because they never left off their sins, though they had for a long time now been admonished and had often been reproved by the Prophets.