[Hosea 12:1] EPHRAIM FEEDETH ON WIND, AND FOLLOWETH AFTER THE EAST WIND: HE DAILY INCREASETH LIES AND DESOLATION; AND THEY DO MAKE A COVENANT WITH THE ASSYRIANS, AND OIL IS CARRIED INTO EGYPT.
The "Assyrians" are generally assumed to represent Germany or some later version of the Holy Roman Empire, perhaps the EU?
"Egypt"[in Hebrew "Mitsraim"] usually means the present-day Egypt. We have suggested that in some cases it could also mean Russia.  Reasonable suggestions with some evidence exist that the ancient civilizations of both India and China were founded by peoples from Egypt.                   
 
[Hosea 12:2] THE LORD HATH ALSO A CONTROVERSY WITH JUDAH, AND WILL PUNISH JACOB ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS; ACCORDING TO HIS DOINGS WILL HE RECOMPENSE HIM.
According to the simple meaning God begins by upbraiding Ephraim and then turns say something against Judah. This is a recurring pattern in Prophecy. Nevertheless, the Malbim has an alternate explanation which fits the Hebrew and is worth considering.
THE LORD HATH ALSO A CONTROVERSY WITH JUDAH: The Hebrew as the Malbim notes is also understandeable as saying, "And quarrels about the Almighty with Judah!".
The Malbim renders this verse as saying:

"And quarrels about the Almighty with Judah", meaning by this that Ephraim quarrels with Judah which in effect is a quarrel about God because in those days there existed a dispute between Ephraim and Judah. The disagreement came about since Judah worshipped the Almighty and maintained the Temple Service with its sacrifices. Ephraim on the other hand cleaved to the sin of Jeroboam and debated the nature of God. This dispute was conducted with Judah and was the cause of the fall of Ephraim... AND WILL PUNISH JACOB ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS. WE see that the Ten Tribes related to themselves by the name of Jacob. Every place where in this work it says "House of Jacob" on its own it is referring to the Ten Tribes. Similarly every place where it has Israel and Judah together the Ten Tribes are being referred to by the name "Israel".

 
[Hosea 12:3] HE TOOK HIS BROTHER BY THE HEEL IN THE WOMB, AND BY HIS STRENGTH HE HAD POWER WITH GOD:    
The struggle with Esau earned Jacob the birthright but Esau takes vengeance.                

This and the following verses is pertinent to Ephraim. There are several principles involved in these verses. Looking to Mitsraim and Assyria for alliance is a mistake. It will bring disaster. Ephraim was given the inbuilt quality to dwell alone and overcome all who should go against him. The Almighty chose Jacob from birth. Jacob was imbued with the quality of dissumulation that he needed to outwit his brother and also with an ability to fight for what he wanted. These qualities were God-given in order that Jacob should receive the blessings destined for him. Nevertheless, when Jacob-Ephraim departed from the right track these qualities remain and their continued application then becomes questionable.
 
 [Hosea 12:4] YEA, HE HAD POWER OVER THE ANGEL, AND PREVAILED: HE WEPT, AND MADE SUPPLICATION UNTO HIM: HE FOUND HIM IN BETHEL, AND THERE HE SPAKE WITH US;
The Malbim refers to the two calves that Jeroboam erected, one in Beth-el and the other in Dan. The main one was in Beth-el. Through an analysis of various verses the Malbim comes to the conclusion that this cult was based on the figure of Jacob (who was renamed Israel) with whom Ephraim identified. It was an attempt to connect somehow with the figure of Jacob and with the "religion" of Israel from before the Time of Moses.
POWER OVER...IN BETHEL. The word used here for "Power" is "ON". We discussed this word root in our Commentary to Hosea 10:5.
We also saw this same root in the place name "Beth-Aven" which was another name for "Beth-el". "El" in Biblical Hebrew can mean either "God" (or "god") or "power", e.g. THE POWER [Hebrew, "el"] OF MY HAND[Genesis 31:29]. It follows that "el" and "on" both can connote "power". Since the name "Aven" derives from "on" we may now understand why "Beth[House of-]-el" was also known as "Beth-Aven". The word "aven" on its own also connotes "injustice, oppression, transgression, the misuse of power" so "Beth-Aven" when used as an alternative form of Beth-el may also have deliberate denigratory connotations.
The following two quotations from leading Biblical Commentators are worth noting:

Radak: HE HAD POWER OVER THE ANGEL. This was meant to set a precedent for his descendants after him. I gave him the power to struggle with the angel and to be a ruler over him. It was as if they were part of the one force. By this sign I showed him that his descendants would belong to the portion of the Almighty alone. No constellation or angel would rule over them as long as they do MY will.

Yehudah Kiel ("Daat Mikra"): HE HAD POWER OVER THE ANGEL. The Patrirach Jacob exhibited heroic strength when he struggled with with the angel, as it says, [Genesis 32:24] AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE; AND THERE WRESTLED A MAN WITH HIM UNTIL THE BREAKING OF THE DAY.
[Genesis 32:25] AND WHEN HE SAW THAT HE PREVAILED NOT AGAINST HIM, HE TOUCHED THE HOLLOW OF HIS THIGH; AND THE HOLLOW OF JACOB'S THIGH WAS OUT OF JOINT, AS HE WRESTLED WITH HIM.
[Genesis 32:26] AND HE SAID, LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH. AND HE SAID, I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME.
[Genesis 32:27] AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, WHAT IS THY NAME? AND HE SAID, JACOB.
[Genesis 32:28] AND HE SAID, THY NAME SHALL BE CALLED NO MORE JACOB, BUT ISRAEL: FOR AS A PRINCE HAST THOU POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN, AND HAST PREVAILED.
This is a sign to his offspring that God shall be with them...They therefore have no need to form alliances with other nations, like peoples of other countries do. Israel is a nation of whom it was said, LO, THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL ALONE, AND SHALL NOT BE RECKONED AMONG THE NATIONS [Numbers 23:9].
[Deuteronomy 32:12] SO THE LORD ALONE DID LEAD HIM, AND THERE WAS NO STRANGE GOD WITH HIM.

[Hosea 12:5] EVEN THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS; THE LORD IS HIS MEMORIAL.                    
 
 [Hosea 12:6] THEREFORE TURN THOU TO THY GOD: KEEP MERCY AND JUDGMENT AND WAIT ON THY GOD CONTINUALLY.                    
 
 [Hosea 12:7] HE IS A MERCHANT, THE BALANCES OF DECEIT ARE IN HIS HAND: HE LOVETH TO OPPRESS. 
This according to the following verse  (12:8) below appears to refer to Ephraim.
A MERCHANT translated from the Hebrew "Canaan" which can mean "merchant" or "Canaanite". Here the word means "Merchant" and perhaps also connotes "Phoenecian". The Phoenicians were descendants of Canaan and also great merchants who traveled from place to place so that in Hebrew the name "Canaan" in some cases was used synonymously with "merchant".
e.g. SHE MAKETH FINE LINEN, AND SELLETH IT; AND DELIVERETH GIRDLES UNTO THE MERCHANT (Hebrew: "Canaani" i.e. Canaanite meaning "Merchant")[Proverbs 31:24].
See "Ephraim" chapter seven:
Nineteenth-century Britons tended to identify themselves with the Phoenecians, who were:
 
"The people who of all antiquity had the most in common with England and the English"
M.Bernal, "Black Athena,"  p.350 quotes from G.Rawlinson "Phoenecia", 1889.
 
 The Phoenecians were regarded (by British historians) as allies of King Solomon and as Semites:
 There was a perception, on the Continent, of a close relationship between England and the Semites in general - and the Phoenecians in particular.
 
"Consciously or unconsciously, all European thinkers saw the Phoenecians as the Jews of Antiquity - as clever `Semitic' traders" Bernal p.33.
 
 "Despite the association between the English and the Semites, no one compared the English to the Arabs or the Ethiopians, the Semites they had in mind were Jews and/or Phoenecians." Bernal   p.350
 
Napoleon called the English, "A nation of merchants."
 
 [Hosea 12:8] AND EPHRAIM SAID, YET I AM BECOME RICH, I HAVE FOUND ME OUT SUBSTANCE: IN ALL MY LABOURS THEY SHALL FIND NONE INIQUITY IN ME THAT WERE SIN.                     
 
[Hosea 12:9] AND I THAT AM THE LORD THY GOD FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT WILL YET MAKE THEE TO DWELL IN TABERNACLES, AS IN THE DAYS OF THE SOLEMN FEAST.                    
 TABERNACLES. Hebrew "ohalim" literally "tents".
AS IN THE DAYS OF THE SOLEMN FEAST. Hebrew "CeYiMI Moed" literally "as in the Days of Festival-Assembly". The Israelites were commanded to go up to Jerusalem three times a year. The primary obligated fell on the males but in practice the whole family often participated. In jerusalem they would lodge in peoples houses, in makeshift dwelling provided for the occasion, and apparently also in tents. When the Israelites return to the Land of Israel similar conditions will prevail. Similar conditions indeed did prevail after the Establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. New immigrants, very many of them refugees from Arab countries, had to be provided for in makeshift dwellings and army tents.

 [Hosea 12:10] I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS, AND I HAVE MULTIPLIED VISIONS, AND USED SIMILITUDES, BY THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS.                     
 
[Hosea 12:11] IS THERE INIQUITY IN GILEAD? SURELY THEY ARE VANITY: THEY SACRIFICE BULLOCKS IN GILGAL; YEA, THEIR ALTARS ARE AS HEAPS IN THE FURROWS OF THE FIELDS.
Gilead refers to the west USA.                    
 
[Hosea 12:12] AND JACOB FLED INTO THE COUNTRY OF SYRIA, AND ISRAEL SERVED FOR A WIFE, AND FOR A WIFE HE KEPT [sheep].
"Syria" in Hebrew is "Aram". This name is connected with that of Germany and Central Europe who are also known as Edom.    Aram was also an ancestral god amongst the Celts. The Israelites too considered themselves "Arami" meaning "Syrians" and "Arami" says Pliny was the original name of the Scythians. The Scythians were great sheepherders.    Perhaps this serving for a wife is related to the message about Gomer the wife of Hosea whose children represented the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel?
:"and for a wife he kept [sheep]".
The Hebrew does not say "sheep". The translator has added the word "sheep" to make the sentence more understandable. Jacob did keep "sheep", and goats.
Sheep and wool were very important throughout much of the history of England, not insignificant in North America and the major stay of the Australian economy for many years. The keeping and herding of cattle were also important.           
 
 [Hosea 12:13] AND BY A PROPHET THE LORD BROUGHT ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT, AND BY A PROPHET WAS HE PRESERVED.
A recurring theme in the Book of Hosea concerns Propjhets, Prophecy, and the future appearance of a Prophet to Ephraim?

 [Hosea 12:14] EPHRAIM PROVOKED HIM TO ANGER MOST BITTERLY: THEREFORE SHALL HE LEAVE HIS BLOOD UPON HIM, AND HIS REPROACH SHALL HIS LORD RETURN UNTO HIM.

Chapter Eleven

The Book of Hosea Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
Main Page