Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!
"Ephraim ..."  This is the first of 37 usages of this expression for Israel in the Book of Hosea.[44]  Polkinghorne discerned the significance of this as a "denial to Israel of that title, so long as they refused to accept the authority of David's dynasty."[45]  Of course, Israel was indeed a sacred name, and this view could be correct.