Charles Ellicott 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)

It is best, with Ewald, to take the two clauses as interrogative, Shall he not return into the land of Egypt? And shall not the Assyrian, etc.? (See Notes on Hosea 8:13; Hosea 10:3–6. Compare also Hosea 11:11.)

Return— i.e., to God.