Hos 11:5 | JFB | STEP | 5. He shall not return into . . . Egypt —namely, to seek help against Assyria (compare ), as Israel lately had done ( ), after having revolted from Assyria, to whom they had been tributary from the times of Menahem ( ). In a figurative sense, "he shall return to Egypt" ( ), that is, to Egypt-like bondage; also many Jewish fugitives were literally to return to Egypt, when the Holy Land was to be in Assyrian and Chaldean hands. Assyrian shall be his king —instead of having kings of their own, and Egypt as their auxiliary. because they refused to return —just retribution. They would not return (spiritually) to God, therefore they shall not return (corporally) to Egypt, the object of their desire.

Hosea 11:5

5. He shall not return into . . . Egypt—namely, to seek help against Assyria (compare Ho 7:11), as Israel lately had done (2Ki 17:4), after having revolted from Assyria, to whom they had been tributary from the times of Menahem (2Ki 15:19). In a figurative sense, "he shall return to Egypt" (Ho 9:3), that is, to Egypt-like bondage; also many Jewish fugitives were literally to return to Egypt, when the Holy Land was to be in Assyrian and Chaldean hands.

Assyrian shall be his king—instead of having kings of their own, and Egypt as their auxiliary.

because they refused to return—just retribution. They would not return (spiritually) to God, therefore they shall not return (corporally) to Egypt, the object of their desire.