1. No love of God in the land (1-8)

When God judges a nation, he does not look at its level of economic prosperity; he looks to see if he can find faithfulness, love, and acknowledgment of God. In the kingdom of Northern Israel (Ephraim) in Hosea's time, God did not find any of those things, but only cursing, lying and murder, stealing, and adultery. Such sin brings a curse which dries up a nation's blessings. People accusing each other would do no good (4). The priests and the people alike participated in sin. The nation had rejected the knowledge of God.

2. Ephraim is joined to idols (9-19)

The idolatry introduced by King Jeroboam had become deeply ingrained in Ephraim's culture. Baal worship had been added by Ahab. These systems of worship plunged the people into sins of the flesh. God held the men responsible for destroying their families with their sexual immorality. The nation was on the brink of complete ruin. God even told the Southern kingdom of Judah not to have a relationship with Ephraim, so they wouldn't be corrupted.