Charles Ellicott Commentary Hosea 8

Eagle.— The image of swiftness (Jeremiah 4:13; Jeremiah 48:40). So Assyria shall come swooping down on Samaria, to which Hosea, though with some irony, gives the name “House of Jehovah,” recognising that the calf was meant to be symbolic in some sense of Israel’s God. (See, however, Note on Hosea 9:15.)

Should be rendered, To me they cry, My God, we know You, we Israel.

Cast off. —Jehovah’s reply to Israel’s hollow repentance. The word “cast off” means a scornful loathing of what is putrescent or obscene. “The thing that is good” is the name of God, which is the salvation of Israel (Aben Ezra).

Set up kings. —It is possible that the prophet alludes to the history of the northern kingdom as a whole. Though the revolt of the Ten Tribes received Divine sanction (1 Kings 11:9–11), it was obviously contrary to the Divine and prophetic idea which associated the growth of true religion with the line of David (Hosea 3:5). But it is best to regard the passage as referring to the short reigns of usurpers and to the foul murders which disgraced the annals of the northern kingdom since the death of Jeroboam II. Jehovah repudiates all participation in their anarchy.

Knew it not. —Should be, knew them not —namely, the gold and silver splendours with which Israel had adorned its apostasy.

Your calf ... has cast you off.— Rather, is loathsome. Nothing can exceed the scorn of this outburst. The last clause should be rendered, How long are you unable to attain purity? The attribution of consuming fire to God is not peculiar to the prophet. (Compare to Hebrews 12:29.)