Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.

New International Version Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. New Living Translation

This is to be understood of Jacob's fleeing thither for fear of his brother Esau, the history of which is had in ( Genesis 28:1-29:35 )

And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

Hosea draws more lessons from the life of Jacob to urge Israel to remember how God has delivered Jacob and his descendants through His prophets.

Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep. NASB1995.

וְדִבַּ֙רְתִּי֙ עַל־הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים וְאָנֹכִ֖י חָז֣וֹן הִרְבֵּ֑יתִי וּבְיַ֥ד הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים אֲדַמֶּֽה׃ When I spoke to the prophets; For I granted many visions, And spoke parables through the prophets.

Hosea 12:12 — GOD'S WORD Translation (GW). 12 Jacob fled to the country of Syria. Israel worked to get a wife; he took care of sheep to pay for her.

Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep.

Hosea 12:12 - Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep. on StudyLight.org. Bridgeway Bible Commentary · Smith's Bible Commentary