Hosea 7:8

Among the people. Literally, “among the peoples,” that is, among the other nations (see Esther 3:12). One of the chief reasons Israel apostatized was that they associated with the heathen and intermarried with them (see Ex. 34:12-16; Ps. 106:33-41).

A cake. Heb. ‘ugah, a circular, thin layer of bread, which was quickly baked upon ashes or heated stones (see 1 Kings 19:6). It in no way resembled the modern sweet cake; it was more like a pancake. The ‘ugah needed to be quickly turned, else it would be burned on one side and be moist dough on the other; rained by heat because not penetrated by heat. This is a graphic figure of spiritual inconsistency and inconstancy.

The Israelites were worshipers of the Lord by profession, but engaged in the idolatries of the heathen.

The Lord chose Abraham and his descendants to be a holy nation unto Himself, for His own possession; and so He ordained that they should be, as Balaam prophesied, a people that “shall dwell alone” (Num. 23:9; see Ex. 19:4-6; Deut 14:2; 26:16-19; Ps. 135:4). Israel refused to follow this divine order, but mingled with the surrounding peoples, and so became a religious hybrid, as it were.