2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
2 To me they cry, "My God, we--Israel--know you." 3 Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.
2 Predictably, Israel cries out, 'My God! We know you!' But they don't act like it. 3 Israel will have nothing to do with what's good, and now the enemy is after them.
2 Israel will cry to Me, 'My God, we know You!' 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.
2 Now Israel pleads with me, 'Help us, for you are our God!' 3 But it is too late. The people of Israel have rejected what is good, and now their enemies will chase after them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 8:2-3
Commentary on Hosea 8:1-4
(Read Hosea 8:1-4)
When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God, I love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?