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.
This prophecy was delivered about the time of Israel's seeking the aid of the Egyptian king, So, in violation of their covenant with Assyria (see Hosea 12:1). He exhorts them to follow their father Jacob's persevering prayerfulness, which brought God's favour upon him. Since God is unchangeable, He will show the same favour to Jacob's posterity as He did to Jacob, if like him they seek God.
Ephraim feedeth on wind - (Proverbs 15:14, "The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness;" Isaiah 44:20). Followeth after vain objects, such as alliances with idolaters and their idols (cf. Hosea 8:7).
And followeth after the east wind - the scorching Samoon, blowing from the desert east of Palestine, which not only does not benefit, but does injury. Israel follows not only things vain, but things pernicious, (cf. Job 15:2, "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge (knowledge of wind? margin), and fill his belly with the east wind?") Israel fed on wind when he sought by gifts to win one who could aid him no more than the wind. He followed after (chased after) the east wind when, in place of the gain that he sought, he received from the patron whom he had adopted, no slight loss (Pococke).
He daily increaseth lies - accumulates lie upon lie, i:e., impostures wherewith they deceive themselves, forsaking the truth of God.
And desolation - violent oppressions practiced by Israel (Maurer). Acts which would prove the cause of Israel's own desolation (Calvin).
And they do make a covenant with the Assyrians - (Hosea 5:13; Hosea 7:11).
Oil is carried into Egypt - as a present from Israel to secure Egypt's alliance (Isaiah 30:6; Isaiah 57:9: cf. 2 Kings 17:4). Palestine was famed for oil (Ezekiel 27:17), whence it is called "a land of oil olive" (Deuteronomy 8:8). It exported oil largely to Tyre.