When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
Probably delivered in the interreign and civil war at Pekah's death; for Hosea 7:7, "all their kings are fallen," refers to the murder of Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah: in Hosea 7:8, "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people," the reference seems to be to Menahem's payment of tribute to Pul, in order to secure himself in the usurped throne, also to Pekah's league with Rezin of Syria, and to Hoshea's connection with Assyria during the interreign at Pekah's death (Maurer).
When I would have healed Israel. Israel's restoration of the 200,000 Jewish captives at God's command (2 Chronicles 28:8-15) gave hope of Israel's reformation (Henderson). Political as well as moral healing is meant.
Then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. Ephraim is specified as being the royal tribe; Samaria as being the royal city. When I would have healed Israel in its calamitous state, then their iniquity was discovered to be so great as to preclude hope of recovery. Then he enumerates their wickednesses: "The thief cometh in (doors stealthily), and the troop of robbers spoileth without" (out of doors with open violence).