13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.

In the past, Israel was such a strong nation that others trembled when she spoke. Then, Baal worship caused her to lose her influence on the other Gentile nations.

13:2 Even now they persist in sin! They make metal images for themselves, idols that they skillfully fashion from their own silver; all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen! There is a saying about them: “Those who sacrifice to the calf idol are calf kissers!”

Israel weakened herself when she began worshiping wooden and metal idols.

13:3 Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window.

All idolaters will disappear just as the dew disappears on the morning ground. All idols will disappear, just as the chaff is blown away by the wind.

13:4 But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me; except me there is no Savior.

Jehovah Witnesses falsely use this verse to convince baby Christians that Jesus is not their Savior. Notice that Hosea was speaking to apostate Israel, not to the modern church. He gave a warning to Israel that Jehovah was her only protector. He was the only one who could save Israel from the Gentile nations who wanted to devour her.

13:5 I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was.

Israel wandered in the wilderness desert for 38 years without their food or water. God provided them with everything they needed. God was the Protector and Savior of Israel during this time period.

13:6 When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me!

Hosea gave Israel a history of her past. God took her out of Egypt as a slave nation. Israel worshiped idols in the desert. God judged Israel by making her wander in the desert for 38 years. He brought them into the Promised Land. He fed Israel and protected her throughout her history. Israel became satisfied. Israel became proud. Israel forgot God. Israel worshiped idols.

13:7 So I will pounce on them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

God predicted through Hosea that He was going to pounce on Israel in the form of many beasts. Daniel predicted that four wild beasts would attack Israel. The wild beasts were Gentile nations. Hosea mentioned three of the wild beasts. According to Daniel, the lion is Babylon. The leopard is Greece.

13:8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs— I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion— like a wild animal would tear them apart.

The bear is Medo-Persia.

13:9 I will destroy you, O Israel! Who is there to help you?

God will destroy Israel with these beasts. None of their false demonic gods will be able to save her.

13:10 Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying, “Give me a king and princes”?

Israel did not like God as King, so she asked for a human being to rule instead. God warned Israel that this was a big mistake, because no man could rule as well as God. Israel persisted in being ruled by a human king, so God gave them Saul. Saul became a terrible king, making many human mistakes. All of the kings who followed Saul were just as bad or even worse. God told Israel that since she asked for kings, maybe these kings could save them. However, these kings could not save Israel. The kings were actually the ones who were responsible for causing Israel to go into captivity.

13:11 I granted you a king in my anger, and I will take him away in my wrath!

Israel asked for a king at the wrong time of history. In the Mosaic Law, God had always planned for Israel to have a human king. However, the king was to be David. Since David was a child, God gave Saul to Israel as king.

13:12 The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future.

Israel’s cup of iniquity was full. She was ready to be judged.

13:13 The labor pains of a woman will overtake him, but the baby will lack wisdom; when the time arrives, he will not come out of the womb!

Israel was an unwise baby in the womb. The baby refused to go through the birth canal, which endangered the lives of both mother and child.

13:14 Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! My eyes will not show any compassion!

Israel was so steeped in sin that God would not deliver her from death. He would allow the Gentile nations to devour her.

13:15 Even though he flourishes like a reed plant, a scorching east wind will come, a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert. As a result, his spring will dry up; his well will become dry. That wind will spoil all his delightful foods in the containers in his storehouse.

Since Israel fell into such depths of sin, she will wither like a plant in the desert without water. Her springs will dry up. Her wells will dry up. The hot wind will spoil all of the food supply which was stored in her containers.

13:16 (14:1) Samaria will be held guilty, because she rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their infants will be dashed to the ground— their pregnant women will be ripped open.

Samaria was the capital city of Israel. Since Samaria led Israel into idolatry, she will be held guilty of rebellion against God. Those who lived in Samaria would be killed by the sword of the attacking Assyrian army. The armies would smash the children's heads against the ground. Since Assyria does not want Israel to repopulate, Syria will rip open the stomachs of pregnant women and kill the babies.