Hosea 5:15

“I will go [and] return to my place, etc.] Leave the countries of Israel and of Judah, where he had used to grant his gracious and spiritual presence unto his people, and watched over them, and cared for them, and bestowed many favours on them, and go up to heaven, the place of his more glorious presence, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it; and there, as it were, shut himself up, particularly with respect to these people, as if he had no more thought of them, or concern for them: this is to be understood in a sense becoming and agreeable to the omnipresence of God: till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face; till the Israelites acknowledge their idolatry, and the Jews…”

“return to my place--that is, withdraw My favor. till they acknowledge their offence--The Hebrew is, "till they suffer the penalty of their guilt." Probably "accepting the punishment of their guilt" (compare Zac 11:5) is included in the idea, as English Version translates. Compare Lev 26:40-41; Jer 29:12-13; Eze 6:9; Eze 20:43; Eze 36:31. seek my face--that is, seek My favor (Pro 29:26, Margin). in . . . affliction . . . seek me early--that is, diligently; rising up before dawn to seek Me (Psa 119:147; compare Psa 78:34). Next: Hosea Chapter 6”

“I will go and return to My place - As the wild beast, when he has taken his prey, returns to his covert, so God, when He had fulfilled His will, would, for the time, withdraw all tokens of his presence. God, who is wholly everywhere, is said to dwell “there,” relatively to us, where he manifests Himself, as of old, in the tabernacle, the temple, Zion, Jerusalem. He is said to “go and return,” when He withdraws all tokens of His presence, His help, care, and providence. This is worse than any affliction on God’s part , “a state like theirs who, in the lowest part of hell, are “delivered into chains of darkness,” shut out from His presence, and so from all hope of comfort; and this must needs…”

“5:15 Hosea again reminded Israel that divine judgment was not merely punitive. God’s purpose was to convince Israel to admit their guilt and return to the Lord (see 2:2, 14).”

“return: Hos 5:6; Exo 25:21, Exo 25:22; Kg1 8:10-13; Psa 132:14; Isa 26:21; Eze 8:6, Eze 10:4; Eze 11:23; Mic 1:3 till: Hos 14:1-3; Lev 26:40-42; Deu 4:29-31, Deu 30:1-3; Kg1 8:47, Kg1 8:48; Ch2 6:36, Ch2 6:37; Ch2 7:14; Neh 1:8, Neh 1:9; Job 33:27; Isa 64:5-9; Jer 3:13, Jer 29:12-14; Jer 31:18-20; Eze 6:9, Eze 20:43, Eze 36:31; Dan 9:4-12 acknowledge their offence: Heb. be guilty in their: Jdg 4:3, Jdg 6:6, Jdg 6:7, Jdg 10:10-16; Ch2 33:12, Ch2 33:13; Job 27:8-10; Psa 50:15, Psa 78:34; Psa 83:16; Pro 1:27, Pro 1:28, Pro 8:17; Isa 26:9, Isa 26:16; Jer 2:27; Zep 2:1-3; Luk 13:25 Next: Hosea Chapter 6”