Book of Hosea Chapter 13 Vs. 10

 The Lord's Relentless Judgment on Israel

I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? Hos. 13:10

I will be... The 21st prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 13:10, unfulfilled). Next, Hos. 13:14. Here God predicted that He would eventually be their King and save them in all their cities. I would have been thy king to save and govern thee, but thou refused me in both respects: yet I will be thy king to judge me and punish thee. The LXX and all the ancient versions interpret the clause differently, and give the interrogative, Where? Where is thy king now, that he may serve thee?

where is any... Questions 12-13. Next, Hos. 14:8. Or who is there, what wise, valiant, and successful commander, in any of thy cities that can deliver thee first out of my hand, and next out of the Assyrians’ hand?

thy judges of... Where are they? Thy magistrates have sinned with thee and shall be destroyed with thee. Thy rulers or inferior governors,

of whom thou... Whom thou didst importune and solicit, in a manner forced to meet, consult, and resolve in seditious times? Who should be king next, when treasons had taken away him that was? Some refer this to their first asking a king, but it is better referred to the times either after Jeroboam the First, or to the times after Jeroboam the Second, between whose death and Hosea’s time, some say, there was a period of twenty or near twenty years, during which a turbulent people, as the Israelites were, would be frequent and earnest in all likelihood in moving for a king.

Give me a... This refers to their original rejection of God as King and the choosing of an earthly king and princes, thus becoming like the nations who would fight their battles (1 Samuel 8-10). Such kings and princes did not prove themselves capable of protecting Israel from their enemies, or they would not have been in their present condition of servitude, weakness, and facing destruction. God here simply told them that they would never be delivered from their enemies or have a true champion until He Himself came to be their King and fight their battles.

and princes... Necessary to assist the king.

Israel had been unfaithful to God, when they sought the help of the worldly kings around them. God was their help. These worldly kings not only could not save them from destruction but would not if they could. They have made agreement with the world and left God. God is the only One that could and would, save them.

Where is thy king now? that he may save thee, or all thy princes? that they may rule thee; those of whom thou hast said, Give me a king and princes.

When the Lord would come to destroy (Hos. 13:9) no one would be able to save the people, not even the political leaders they had demanded from the Lord (Hos. 13:10; cf. Hos. 10:3, Hos. 10:7, Hos. 10:15).