Hosea 5:8 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah - The evil day and destruction, denounced, is now vividly pictured, as actually come. All is in confusion, hurry, alarm, because the enemy was in the midst of them. The “cornet,” an instrument made of horn, was to be blown as the alarm, when the enemy was at hand. The “trumpet” was especially used for the worship of God. “Gibeah and Ramah” were cities of Benjamin, on the borders of Ephraim, where the enemy, who had possessed himself of Israel, would burst in upon Judah. From Bethaven or Bethel, the seat of Ephraim’s idolatry, on the border of Benjamin, was to break forth the outcry of destruction, “after thee, O Benjamin;” the enemy is upon thee, just behind thee, pursuing thee. God had promised His people, if they would serve Him, “I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee” Exodus 23:27, and had threatened the contrary, if they should “walk contrary to Him.” Now that threat was to be fulfilled to the uttermost. The ten tribes are spoken of, as already in possession of the enemy, and he was “upon Benjamin” fleeing before them.