NOTES for Hos 13:16-14:9
The destruction of Samaria is caused by her own sins, and the prophet's words sound like a warning; they contain no gloating. But it is bitter to hear that the blow will fall on the weakest and most defenseless: infants and pregnant women. Sadly, this is no surprise, since evil seeks to destroy everything it touches and everything near it, and the most defenseless are the first to suffer from it.
But the words about the destruction of infants can also be understood figuratively, as saying that people who have set out on the path of pagan impiety are doomed to barrenness. Not necessarily physical barrenness, but in any case no good fruit will remain from apostates.
But those who return to the Lord will be healed of the consequences of their sinful distortions. The Lord's promise that His anger will turn away and that He will receive the repentant with love sounds astonishing beside all the stern warnings just spoken. But His mercy is great. It is no accident that Hosea concludes his prophetic speech with words saying that God's wisdom cannot be grasped by human wisdom. But those who want to live righteously can walk in His ways.