Hosea 10:8

“The high places also of Aven, etc.] Bethel, which is not only as before called Bethaven, the house of iniquity; but Aven, iniquity itself; the high places of it were the temple and altars built there for idolatrous service, which were usually set on hills and mountains: the sin of Israel shall be destroyed; that is, which high places are the sin of Israel, the occasion of sin unto them; and where they committed sin, the sin of idolatry, in worshipping the calves; these should be thrown down, demolished, and no longer used: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; lying in ruins, these shall grow upon them, the people and priests being carried captive that used to sacrifice…”

“Aven--that is, Beth-aven. the sin--that is, the occasion of sin (Deu 9:21; Kg1 12:30). they shall say to . . . mountains, Cover us--So terrible shall be the calamity, that men shall prefer death to life (Luk 23:30; Rev 6:16; Rev 9:6). Those very hills on which were their idolatrous altars (one source of their confidence, as their "king," Hos 10:7, was the other), so far from helping them, shall be called on by them to overwhelm them.”

“The high places of Aven - that is, of vanity or iniquity. He had before called “Bethel, house of God,” by the name of “Bethaven, house of vanity;” now he calls it “Aven, vanity” or “iniquity,” as being the concentration of those qualities. Bethel was situated on a “hill,” the “mount of Bethel,” and, from different sides, people were said to “go up” (Joshua 16:1; 1 Samuel 13:2; above Hosea 4:13; Genesis 35:1; Judges 1:22; 1 Samuel 10:3; 2 Kings 2:23) to it. “The high place” often means the shrine, or “the house of the high places.” Jeroboam had built such at Bethel 1 Kings 12:31; many such already existed in his time, so that, “whoever would, he consecrated” as their “priests” 1 Kings…”

“The high places - The temples and altars of Baal. Of Aven - Or Beth - aven. They shall say - When this shall be brought to pass, the idolatrous Israelites shall be in such perplexity, that they shall wish the mountains and hills might fall on them. Hosea 10:9”

“10:8 The only response of Israelites who survived the coming catastrophe would be to implore the mountains and hills, “Bury us! . . . Fall on us!””

“high places: Hos 10:5, Hos 4:15, Hos 5:8 the sin: Deu 9:21; Kg1 12:28-30, Kg1 13:34, Kg1 14:16; Amo 8:14; Mic 1:5, Mic 1:13 the thorn: Hos 9:6; Isa 32:13, Isa 34:13 their altars: Kg1 13:2; Kg2 23:15; Ch2 31:1, Ch2 34:5-7 they shall: Isa 2:19; Luk 23:30; Rev 6:16, Rev 9:6 Hosea 10:9”