Book of Hosea Chapter 13 Vs. 16

 The Lord's Relentless Judgment on Israel

Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up. Hos. 13:16

Samaria shall become... This is speaking of their capital.

שֹׁמְרוֹן

shôm^erôn

sho-mer-one'

From the active participle of H8104, watch station; Shomeron, a place in Palestine: - Samaria.

אָשַׁם אָשַׁם

'âsham 'âshêm

aw-sham', aw-shame'

A primitive root; to be guilty; by implication to be punished or perish: - X certainly, be (-come, made) desolate, destroy, X greatly, be (-come, found, hold) guilty, offend (acknowledge offence), trespassive

מָרָה

mârâh

maw-raw'

A primitive root; to be (causatively make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively to provoke): - bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke (-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).

they shall fall... The shocking atrocities mentioned were in keeping with brutalities characteristic of the Assyrians (compare 2Kgs. 17:5; Isa. 13:6; Amos 1:13; Nah. 3:10).

their infants shall... The severity of the war is shown in the infants being dashed to pieces, and the women with child being ripped apart. This is a very nasty war. We must remember they actually brought it upon themselves when they worshipped false gods.

נָפַל

nâphal

naw-fal'

A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitively or causatively, literally or figuratively): - be accepted, cast (down, self, [lots], out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell (-ing), fugitive, have [inheritamce], inferior, be judged [by mistake for H6419], lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present (-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

חֶרֶב

chereb

kheh'-reb

From H2717; drought; also, a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement: - axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.

עֹלָל עוֹלֵל

‛ôlêl ‛ôlâl

o-lale', o-lawl'

From H5763; a suckling: - babe, (young) child, infant, little one.

רָטַשׁ

râṭash

raw-tash'

A primitive root; to dash down: - dash (in pieces).

הָרִי הָרֶה

hâreh hârı̂y

haw-reh', haw-ree'

From H2029; pregnant: - (be, woman) with child, conceive, X great.

בָּקַע

bâqa‛

baw-kah'

A primitive root; to cleave; generally to rend, break, rip or open: - make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces, through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out, divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win.

The language is that of covenant curse (cf. Lev. 26:25; Deut. 28:21; 32:24-25; Amos 4:10). Again, destruction would come, God said, because Israel had rebelled against Him (cf. Hos. 7:13; 8:1).

Samaria must bear her guilt: for she hath rebelled against her God. To this simple issue has the impenitence of the people finally reduced the many possibilities of those momentous years; and their last prophet leaves them looking forward to the crash which came some dozen years later in the invasion and captivity of the land. They shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child ripped up. Horrible details, but at that period certain to follow every defeat in war.

Thus Hos. 13:15-16 correspond to the plagues and destruction of death mentioned in Hos. 13:14. The language is that of covenant curse (cf. Lev. 26:25; Deut. 28:21; 32:24-25; Amos 4:10). Again destruction would come, God said, because Israel had rebelled against Him (cf. Hos. 7:13; 8:1).