Hosea 8:9
They have gone up to Assyria like a donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers.
Free Bible Version
In The King James Version
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
In Context
8Israel is swallowed up; among the nations they are like something nobody wants.
Cross References
2 Kings 15:19Pul, king of Assyria, invaded the country. Menahem paid Pul a thousand talents of silver to support Menahem in consolidating his power over the kingdom.
Isaiah 30:2You go to Egypt without asking me, looking to Pharaoh for protection, hoping to find safety hiding behind Egypt.
Jeremiah 2:24You're a female donkey living in the desert, sniffing the wind for a mate because she's in heat. No one can control her at mating time. All those who're looking for her won't have trouble finding her when she's in heat.
Ezekiel 23:5Oholah prostituted herself while she was still married to me. She wanted to have sex with her lovers, the Assyrians.
Hosea 2:10I will strip her naked while her lovers watch; no one will be able to rescue her from me.
Hosea 7:11Ephraim is like a dove, foolish and without sense—calling to Egypt, then going to Assyria.
Matthew Henry on Hosea 8:9-14
The Sins of Israel; The Crimes of the People. ( b. c. 745.) 8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. 10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things… Read the whole commentary →