Hosea 8:5

Thy calf. If the use of the singular, “calf,” is significant, the reference is probably to the calf of Bethel, for that city seems to have been the chief center of Samaria’s calf worship (see on Amos 7:13). Hath cast thee off. Literally, “hath rejected.” The Hebrew is somewhat uncertain, and various objects for the verb have been supplied, such as “thee” (KJV), “me,” “them,” etc., each one giving its own shade of meaning. However, the thought of the entire passage (vs. 5-7) is plain enough, for it shows that the nation was shortly to reap the fruitage of the calf worship that had been instituted by Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:28). The LXX for this clause reads, “Cast off thy calf, O Samaria,” making this an exhortation to Samaria and the entire country to cast aside the calf worship, which has brought down upon them the wrath of God. Mine anger is kindled. The Lord is fully justified in His anger against the apostates. He asks how long it will be before they become innocent of such iniquity; or, as the LXX puts it, “How long will they be unable to purge themselves in Israel?”