Book of Hosea - Chapter 10 - Verse 5

In this verse, the prophet Hosea is forewarning the people of Samaria about the consequences of their idolatry. "The calves of Bethaven" refer to the golden calf idols that the people of Samaria worshipped instead of God. The inhabitants of Samaria will fear because these idols will not be able to save them in times of trouble. The people will mourn over their false gods, realizing that their trust and reliance on them were misplaced. The priests, who should have been leading the people in worshipping the true God, instead rejoiced in the glory and power that the idols supposedly represented. But now, that glory and power have departed from these idols, leaving the priests and the people in despair. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from the one true God.

In this verse, the prophet Hosea is speaking of the impending judgment on the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The inhabitants of Samaria, the capital of Israel, are warned that they shall fear because of the idols they worship in Bethaven (which means "house of wickedness"). The calves of Bethaven were likely fertility cult idols that the people worshipped instead of the true God. The people shall mourn over these idols as they realize the futility of their worship. The priests, who should have been the spiritual leaders of the people, will also mourn because the glory and power of their idols have departed from them. This verse serves as a warning against idolatry and the consequences of turning away from the true God. It also highlights the importance of trusting in God alone and not in false idols.