Hosea 4:15-19 is concerned with Israel’s stubbornness.
Israel went about as a harlot, but Judah was charged not to transgress and not to come to Gilgal, nor to go up to Beth-aven, nor to swear, “As Jehovah lives” (v. 15). Gilgal was the focus of idolatry (9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4; 5:5). Beth-aven means “house of nothingness” or “house of idolatry.”
Israel was stubborn, like a stubborn heifer (Hosea 4:16a), which is disobedient and goes its own way.
In verse 16b the prophet asks, “Will Jehovah now pasture them / Like a lamb in a spacious place?” This indicates that Jehovah would limit Israel in a narrow field.
In verse 17a we are told that Ephraim was joined to idols.
In 4:17b the prophet gives a charge concerning Ephraim: “Leave him alone.” Ephraim was to be let go. This indicates a kind of punishment.
Their liquor had ended (v. 18a), meaning that their pleasure in drinking was gone. That was God’s punishment. They had given themselves up to harlotry; their rulers dearly loved shame (v. 18b). They were fond of drinking and harlotry.
Verse 19a says that the wind had wrapped her up in its wings. It had carried her away—a kind of punishment. According to verse 19b, they would be ashamed because of their sacrifices (to idols—v. 13a).
In 5:1-14 and 6:4-10 we have more details about the sins of Israel and the punishments of Jehovah—mainly concerning the priests, the house of the king, and the princes.
In 5:1-2 we are told that upon the priests, upon the house of Israel, and upon the house of the king Jehovah’s judgment would come, for they had been a snare and a net for slaughtering, even though Jehovah had chastised them all.
Ephraim had gone about as a harlot, and Israel was defiled. A spirit of harlotries was within them (or, in the midst of them). Their doings did not permit them to turn to their God, and they did not know Jehovah (vv. 3-4).