Albert Barnes Commentary Hosea 11:5

"They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return [to me]." — Hosea 11:5 (ASV)

He shall not return to Egypt — Some had probably returned already to Egypt; the rest were looking to Egypt for help, and rebelling against the Assyrian (whose servant their king Hoshea had become), and making alliance with So king of Egypt. The prophet tells them, as a whole, that they shall not return to Egypt, to which they looked, but shall have the Assyrian for their king, whom they did not want. “They refused to return” to God, who lovingly called them; therefore, what they desired, they should not have; and what they feared, that they should have. They would not have God for their king; therefore, “the Assyrian” should “be their king,” and a worse captivity than that of Egypt should befall them. For, from “that” captivity they were delivered; from this one, now hanging over them, never should they be restored.