Hosea 5:1

Hear ye this. The various classes of people of the northern kingdom are here addressed, priests, citizens, and members of the royal family. In God’s imperial realm of moral and spiritual requirements all stand free and equal in obeying or disobeying the divine law of righteousness. There is no respect of persons; all are placed on the same level and will be judged by the same standard (see on Deut. 10:17).

Judgment is toward you. To the priests had been given the authority to teach the people (2 Chron. 15:3); to the king and his princes, the right and prerogative to execute civil judgments upon Israel. Now, however, because the entire nation is enmeshed in sin, leaders as well as people are the subjects of divine judgment, for these leaders have “been a snare” to the nation instead of being the people’s safeguard.

The announcement of “judgment” carries out the threat implied in the sign-name of Lo-ruhamah (see on ch. 1:6). Here, “judgment” is equivalent to Lo-ruhamah, “not pitied,” or “no mercy” (see on ch. 2:23).

Mizpah. Perhaps mentioned along with Tabor to show the wide extent of the nation’s evil influence, Mt. Tabor being west of the river Jordan, and Mizpah probably in Gilead.

It is generally assumed that this does not refer to the Mizpah of Benjamin, since that was in the southern kingdom.