Hosea 5

But Judah will not escape; its leaders are like those who remove boundary stones (verse 10). Removing a boundary stone was equivalent to stealing someone’s property (see Deuteronomy 19:14); indeed, over the years Judah had seized some of Israel’s property (see 1 Kings 15:16–22). But Judah’s leaders hadn’t just moved physical boundary stones; they had also moved spiritual and moral “boundary stones.” They had changed the “boundary” between right and wrong, between truth and falsehood. Judah would surely share in Ephraim’s judgment—though Judah’s punishment would come a century and a half later.

In verses 11–12, God says that Ephraim (and later Judah) will be trampled in judgment. God will be like a moth or like rot; the people will be “eaten up,” consumed by troubles and disasters (see Matthew 6:19).

13–15 The sickness and sores afflicting Ephraim and Judah are figures for the damage and defeats inflicted on them by enemy nations (verse 13). Ephraim turned to Assyria for help (see 2 Kings 15:19–20; 17:3), but that was folly; Assyria couldn’t help. Indeed God would eventually use Assyria to destroy Ephraim. God Himself would be like a lion to both Ephraim and Judah, and no other nation would be able to defend them against God’s judgment (verse 14). Finally, God would withdraw from them until they admitted their guilt (verse 15); when their misery became great enough, they would once again earnestly seek Him (see Deuteronomy 4:30–31).

Nothing is worse for a nation or an individual than to have God withdraw His presence: all blessing, all guidance, all protection is removed. But that is exactly what God said He would do—and eventually did do: “I will go back to my place—until Ephraim and Judah repent” (verse 15).