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.”
Making treaties with one’s enemies is like taking big gulps of the dry, damaging east wind. Israel was so determined to ignore God that they grew worse and worse, and increased their efforts to pacify snarling Assyria. Assyria would not be pacified until Israel was desolate. They (Assyria) were an incredibly cruel and vicious people, and would never be prevented from their plans by empty words and promises.
I am thinking of America now being led into alliances with our enemies in the East. We are foolish to believe their empty words and promises, and our leadership is guilty of feeding on the east wind.
Assyria paid dearly for her evil, wicked treatment of her enemies, though. God allowed Assyria to be the tool of judgment on Israel, but as always, they went too far, and God used Babylon, in 612 B.C., to destroy Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria. The Assyrians never recovered from that great loss, and faded into the pages of past history, known mainly for their inhumane treatment of their captives.
What about oil being carried into Egypt?
The Israelites were bargaining with Egypt for protection against Assyria. They took gifts of expensive, medicinal and cosmetic oils with them into Egypt, seeking favor with Pharaoh as a refuge to which they could escape when the Assyrians began their dreadful march of conquest.
Linda's Bible Study 