Hosea 12:11

Iniquity. Hosea asks the question only to answer it decisively. “Is there iniquity in Gilead?” “Indeed there is, and nothing else.” Gilead. Some understand that Gilead and Gilgal here represent the two parts of the northern kingdom; Gilead the eastern part, Gilgal the western part. The prophet had previously referred to the grave wickedness of the inhabitants of Gilead (see on ch. 6:8). Surely. Heb. ’ak (see on Ps. 62:1; Hosea 12:8). Vanity. Iniquity will lead any people into vanity and worthlessness. As one of the penalties, sin results in moral and physical degeneracy that terminates in eternal death. Gilgal. See on ch. 4:15. The inhabitants of Gilgal on the west were no better than those of Gilead on the east of Jordan, which proves that the whole kingdom was given over to the worship of idols (see Amos 4:4; 5:5). Heaps. Heb. gallim, “heaps of stones,” such as farmers collected on plowed ground and left in useless heaps for easy removal. The idolatrous altars of both Gilead (meaning, “heap of witness”; see on Gen. 31:47) and Gilgal are to be turned into stone heaps. The prophet had previously referred to the grave wickedness of the inhabitants of Gilead (see on ch. 6:8). Surely. Heb. ’ak (see on Ps. 62:1; Hosea 12:8). Vanity. Iniquity will lead any people into vanity and worthlessness. As one of the penalties, sin results in moral and physical degeneracy that terminates in eternal death. Gilgal. See on ch. 4:15. The inhabitants of Gilgal on the west were no better than those of Gilead on the east of Jordan, which proves that the whole kingdom was given over to the worship of idols (see Amos 4:4; 5:5). Heaps. Heb. gallim, “heaps of stones,” such as farmers collected on plowed ground and left in useless heaps for easy removal. The idolatrous altars of both Gilead (meaning, “heap of witness”; see on Gen. 31:47) and Gilgal are to be turned into stone heaps. This treatment of the altars implied not only their destruction but the desolation of the country. The very abundance of these altar ruins in the furrows of the field presents a conspicuous and prominent picture of the gross idolatry of the people.