When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, And sent to king Jareb: But he is not able to heal you, Neither will he cure you of your wound.
So, because they had turned from God and were worshiping these false gods, that was always considered by God as whoredom. "You've gone away from the true and the living God. You're worshiping Baal or you're worshiping the other idols," and God looked upon that as spiritual adultery, as whoredom. And because of it, they are going to fall. And here's a prediction of the fall, not only of the Northern Kingdom of Israel but also the Southern Kingdom of Judah.