12:13

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^13aBut by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,

^13band by a prophet he was preserved.

This verse is the second part of the comparison/contrast of Jacob to prophets from 12:12.McComiskey (pages 210–211) suggests that Jacob represented the early period when Israel was an oppressed tribal people. Moses, in this verse, represented the period when Israel became a nation. These two historical allusions condemned Israel and are the basis for the words of judgment that follow in the next verse. In Hebrew, 13a and 13b both start with the same phrase, literally “and by a prophet.” This phrase parallels the phrase “for a wife” in 12:12.The phrases in verses 12 and 13 use the same Hebrew preposition, bet “for/by” prefixed to a noun. The noun is “wife” in verse 12 and “prophet” in verse 13. The similar Hebrew grammatical forms is one indicator that this verse is connected to the previous one.

The NLT adds the words “Then” and “Jacob’s descendants” to make the connection to 12:12 more explicit:

Then by a prophet the Lord brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt; and by that prophet they were protected. (NLT)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate the connection of this verse to 12:12.

12:13a

But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt: This sentence refers to Moses, but it leaves the prophet’s name implied. It may be preferable to do the same in your translation. Here Moses is one example that shows how the LORD uses prophets to guide and care for Israel throughout its history.Dearman (pages 313–315) suggests that Hosea speaks of prophets in general to indicate that the emphasis is on the prophetic office as such.

12:13b

and by a prophet he was preserved: This clause may also refer to Moses.See Patterson and Hill (pages 76–77), Keil (page 99), Garrett (pages 246–247), McComiskey (page 210), Davies (page 282), Macintosh (page 512), and Wood (page 218). However, it could refer to another prophet, such as Samuel.See Andersen and Freedman (pages 620–622), Dearman (pages 313–315), and Hubbard (page 211). It is preferable to leave the name of the prophet implied in your translation, as in 13a.

he was preserved: This phase is more literally “he was kept.” The Hebrew word for “he was kept” is a form of the same word that the BSB translates as “he tended (sheep)” in 12:12. The repetition of this word is a further indication that these two verses are closely connected.

Here the Hebrew word refers to the LORD’s care of the nation of Israel through Moses and other prophets.Macintosh (page 512), Garrett (pages 246–247), and Keil (page 99) suggest that Moses is in view here. However, Dearman (pages 313–315) suggests that it could be a more general reference to the exodus and afterward. Some commentators suggest that here the word may refer especially to the LORD giving his law or covenant to guard them. See McComiskey (page 210) and Stuart (page 195).