Israel Have Laid False Foundations In Kingship And Religion, And YHWH, Despairing Of There Being Any Likelihood Of Their Becoming Pure, Will In Anger Both Destroy ‘The Calf Of Samaria' And Minimise Their Harvest (Hosea 8:4-7).
Having appointed kings and princes without regard to YHWH, and having used their God-given wealth in order to make idols for themselves, Israel is subject to the anger of YHWH, Who despairs of their ever becoming pure in the near future. He will therefore destroy the calf of Samaria and break it in pieces, and will make their fields barren, while anything that is produced will be swallowed up by foreigners.
Analysis of Hosea 8:4-7.
a They have set up kings, but not by me, they have made princes, and I knew it not, of their silver and their gold they have made idols for themselves, that they may be cut off (Hosea 8:4).
b He has cast off your calf, O Samaria (Hosea 8:5 a).
c My anger is kindled against them. How long will it be before they attain to innocency? (Hosea 8:5 b).
b For from Israel is even this, the workman made it, and it is no God. Yes, the calf of Samaria will be broken in pieces (Hosea 8:6).
a For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind, he has no standing grain, the blade will yield no meal. If so be it yield, strangers will swallow it up (Hosea 8:7).
Note that in ‘a' their kings and princes are strangers to YHWH, and their wealth they have turned into idols, that they may be cut off, and in the parallel their fields will be fruitless (fruitfulness was the main aim of Baalism), and strangers would swallow up anything that they did produce, because their kings and princes would be unable to prevent it. In ‘b' the bull of Samaria has been cut off, and in the parallel it is because it was made by workmen and is no God, which is why it will be broken in pieces. Centrally in ‘c' YHWH is angry with them and despairs of their ever becoming pure.