Hosea 9:11-14

Israel's glory flew away -- Hosea 9:11-14 : The glory of Israel would fly away like a bird. They would no longer be a growing and productive nation. Their women would no longer be able to give birth. Ephraim had changed in a terrible way. They had moved from devotion to the true and living God to the low estate of an idolatrous worshiper. This was a certain path of ruin. Even if they did have children, God took them all away and left the people to mourn. Some of their children were taken away by misfortune in the home land and many others were taken away by Assyrian captivity.

At first Israel served God faithfully. He looked upon them as a flourishing palm tree in fertile ground. She had strength and beauty like great cities. Their disobedience caused all of this to be reversed. Now Ephraim would lead her children out only to be slaughtered. The power of the nation was reversed by the women not being able to have children or if they had them they were not able to nurse them or care for them. Sin brings terrible consequences.