Hear, O my people,.... This is an address to the people of the Jews, whom God had chosen to be his people above all others, and who professed themselves to be his people; but now a "loammi", Hosea 1:9, was about to be written upon them, being a people uncircumcised in heart and ears, refusing to hear the great Prophet of the church, him that spake from heaven;
and I will speak: by way of accusation and charge, and in judgment against them for their sins and transgressions;
O Israel, and I will testify against thee; or "to thee" t; to thy face produce witnesses, and bring sufficient evidence to prove the things laid to thy charge,
I [am] God, [even] thy God; which is an aggravation of their sin against him, and is the reason why they should hearken to him; see
t בך "tibi", V. L. Vatablus; so Ainsworth.