When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel, rather, "When Ephraim," as the mightiest of the northern tribes, "spoke, there was trembling"; for the other tribes were so much weaker that they could not hold out against the leading tribe; he exalted himself in Israel, assuming the leadership and enforcing his will; but when he offended in Baal, when he transgressed through his idolatry in serving Baal, he died, his destruction was determined upon.
Related Commentaries of Hosea 13:1
Hosea 13:1
1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.