Charles Ellicott Commentary Hosea 9:13

"Ephraim, like as I have seen Tyre, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring out his children to the slayer." — Hosea 9:13 (ASV)

The Septuagint suggests a doubt about the validity of our text. They render "Ephraim, even as I saw, gave their children as prey."

The reference to Tyre is very obscure. Some would render the Hebrew word for “meadow” as “resting-place,” and interpret, "I look on Ephraim even as I look on Tyre, planted in a sure resting-place." The impregnable fortress of Tyre was a conspicuous object in the days of Hosea.

Similarly, Samaria was a stronghold that was able to resist prolonged sieges. (Compare to Isaiah’s graphic words in Isaiah 28:1-4 and Amos 6:1) — "Yet Ephraim shall bring forth sons to the murderer", that is, in the impending overthrow and massacre in 721 B.C.