And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
And thou wentest to the king - the idol which they came to worship, perfumed with oil, like harlots (Jeremiah 4:30; Ezekiel 23:16; Ezekiel 23:40). So "king" means idol (Amos 5:26; Zephaniah 1:5, Malcham, meaning "king") (Rosenmuller). Rather, the king of Assyria or Egypt, and other foreign princes, on whom Israel relied, instead of on God; the "ointment" will thus refer to the presents (Hosea 12:1), and perhaps the compliances with foreigners' idolatries, whereby Israel sought to gain their favour (Lowth). (Isaiah 30:6; Ezekiel 16:33; Ezekiel 23:16; Hosea 7:11.)
And didst send thy messengers far off - not merely to neighbouring nations, but to those "far off" in search of new idols, or else alliances.
And didst debase (thyself even) unto hell - the lowest possible degradation.