Charles Ellicott Commentary Hosea 8:14

"For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof." — Hosea 8:14 (ASV)

Temples. The word used here for temple is used sixty times for Jehovah’s temple. The building of these temple-palaces was a distinct sin against the unity of the Godhead.

Judah hath multiplied fenced cities. This is referred to by Sennacherib in the inscription relating to the campaign of 701 B.C. “Forty-six of his (Hezekiah’s) strong cities, fortresses ... I besieged, I captured.” These were erected by Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26:10; 2 Chronicles 27:4). With the allusions to Israel’s temples (palaces), compare Amos 3:11 and Amos 3:15.