“The inhabitants of Samaria
Tremble
Before the calf of Beth-aven.
Its people shall mourn
For it.
Its idolatrous priests
Shall wail over it.
Its glory
Has departed from it.
The thing itself
Shall be carried
To Assyria,
As tribute
To the great king.
Ephraim
Shall be put to shame.
Israel
Shall be ashamed
Of his idol.”
Hosea said that the people of Samaria would tremble before the idol calf at Beth-aven, the house of wickedness, that was close to Ai and Bethel. Maybe it was Bethel itself. However, the people and its priests would mourn for the soon to be departed glorious calf. What happened to it? Assyrians would take it as a tribute to their great king. Thus, Ephraim and Israel would be ashamed of this lost idol.