768 (or 760) BCE. "Wild ass": of the East or "pere", is "heady, unruly, undisciplinable" (cf. ; Abraham was told that Ishmael would be one in ), "obstinate, running with swiftness far outstripping the swiftest horse", without rule or direction. However, the one breaking away alone would expose itself for a prey to lions (cf. "the wild donkey is the lion's prey in the wilderness"; Ecclesiasticus 13:19). Israel had become "stubborn, heady, selfwilled, refusing to be ruled by God's law and His counsel", but instrad running to the Assyrian, then would perish there. This is a figure of Israel's headstrong perversity in following her own bent (). "Hired lovers": or "sued for lovers", in contrast of being independent by going alone, Ephraim lost independence by soliciting help from foreign allies. Verse 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.'' "Many altars to sin": The altars were built not with an intention to commit sin, but to offer sacrifice for sin (make atonement for it). However, they are directed to idols, not the God of Israel, so the people sinned in making these and also caused sin for other people who followed their example. This refers to the action of king Jeroboam of Israel, who erected altars in Dan and Bethel, and caused the people to build the altars in all high places, and tops of mountains, where they sacrificed to idols, against the commandment of God, who required sacrifice only at one place, and on one altar (). See also Related Bible parts: Hosea 6, Hosea 7 Notes References Sources External links Jewish Hosea 8 Hebrew with Parallel English Hosea 8 Hebrew with Rashi's Commentary Christian Hosea 8 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate 08