Charles Ellicott Commentary Hosea 7:11

"And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria." — Hosea 7:11 (ASV)

Silly dove.—No creature is less able to defend itself than the dove, which flies from the bird of prey to the net of the fowler. In this powerful metaphor, we have a political allusion.

King Hoshea is called Ausih on the Assyrian monuments. Having usurped the throne after the murder of Pekah, he “purchased his recognition as king of Israel by giving a large present to the Assyrian monarch” (730 B.C.). (See Geo. Smith, Assyria, S.P.C.K.) But while Hoshea was sending tribute to Assyria, he was secretly intriguing with Egypt. The alliance between Egypt and the king of Israel, mentioned in 2 Kings 17:4, took place later, after Tiglath-pileser’s death, and led to Israel’s ruin.

On the other hand, many commentators (Ewald, Nowack, and others) refer the allusions of this verse to the reign of Menahem.

Without heart.—This is better translated as without understanding.