הושע, פרק י״א, פסוק ג׳

The relationship between God and the Israelites, referred to here as Ephraim, reveals a painful contrast between devoted parental love and deep ingratitude. In the nation's early days, God cared for them with gentle oversight, yet this tenderness was met with a complete lack of recognition.

The primary approach among commentators is that God acted like a patient parent or caregiver, slowly teaching a toddler how to walk. He guided the young nation step by step, helping them move forward without difficulty or heavy burdens [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת ציון, אברבנאל]. Another perspective suggests that this guidance took the form of a messenger, meaning God sent a dedicated leader to direct their path [אברבנאל].

This physical care extended to being carried, a concept that commentators take in three distinct directions. The most prominent view sees this as a description of the human leadership God provided, specifically Moses. He carried and led the people through the wilderness with deep compassion and calmness, much like a caregiver holding a nursing infant in their arms [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A second approach traces this image back to an early historical moment, specifically the time when Jacob took Joseph’s sons into his arms to bless them. Even though Jacob foresaw through divine vision the wicked kings that would eventually descend from Ephraim and initially wanted to withhold his blessing, he was ultimately overcome with mercy and blessed them anyway [רש״י, אברבנאל]. A third, highly ironic view presents a sharp contrast. In this interpretation, God acted as the very foundation and support upon which the nation stood and leaned. Yet, while God was carrying them, the people were busy taking foreign idols and carrying those false gods on their own arms [מלבי״ם].

Ultimately, the people suffered from a profound blindness regarding the true source of their salvation and well-being. Their failure to recognize God as their healer stems from a few possible causes. Some explain that the nation actually knew the truth but simply chose to ignore it, pretending to be unaware [רש״י]. Others suggest it was a genuine error in attribution. The people mistakenly believed that the human leader who brought them out of Egypt operated on his own power, failing to realize that Moses was merely a messenger and that God was the true savior [אברבנאל]. Finally, following the theme of idolatry, when the people were cured of their illnesses, they foolishly credited the idols they carried in their arms, completely failing to acknowledge that God alone was their healer [מלבי״ם].