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.