Deceit, Grace, and Judgment: Originally, this passage was probably not one unit. Verses 11:12 and 12:1 both appear to be isolated accusations with no following announcement of judgment. And it could be argued that 12:2–6, 12:7–9, and 12:10–14 all form complete units in themselves. However, as the passage now stands, whether as the result of Hosea’s arrangement or of a redactor/disciple’s, it is a unified whole centered around the thought of the deceit of Israel (so too Wolff, Hosea). Punctuating the passage at three points is the recollection or reassurance of Yahweh’s grace that answers that deceit (12:4c–6, 9, 13). And prominent in the passage is the role of prophets.

11:12–12:1 There is some debate over who speaks in 11:12. The NIV has considerably altered the Hebrew of 11:12c–d [MT 12:1…