They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, That they may be cut off.
"Idols ..." Not only were there the golden calves which Jeroboam I had set up at Dan and at Bethel, these, in all probability had proliferated (see under  Hosea 8:5-6, below).  Also May tells us that, "Besides the bull images at Bethel and Dan, figurines and plaques of various deities designed for use in private rites were abundant."[8]  Now the big thing about Hosea's citation here is that the Decalogue specifically forbade the making of any graven image  (Exodus 20:3-6,23; 34:17), not merely the worshipping of such devices; but the very making of them (as religious items) was also forbidden.  If Israel's breaking of their agreement with God regarding idols is not in focus here, it may be inquired then, as to why God was any more provoked with Israel than he was with a whole world of pagan nations all around Israel?  For this prophecy to have any claim whatever to validity, the prior existence of the Decalogue and the Old Testament laws related to it is absolutely necessary.