Hosea 9:8

“The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God, etc.] Formerly the watchmen of Ephraim, or the prophets of Israel, were with the true God, whom the prophet calls his God; as Elijah and Elisha, who had communion and intimacy with him; had revelations and instructions from him; and were under the direction and inspiration of his Spirit, and prophesied in his name things according to his will, and for the good of his people: or “the watchman of Ephraim [should be] with my God”; on his side, and promote his worship and service, his honour and interest; and give the people warning from him, having heard the word at his mouth: but now they were not with him, nor for him, nor did as they should: or one…”

“The watchman . . . was with my God--The spiritual watchmen, the true prophets, formerly consulted my God (Jer 31:6; Hab 2:1); but their so-called prophet is a snare, entrapping Israel into idolatry. hatred--rather, "(a cause of) apostasy" (see Hos 9:7) [MAURER]. house of his God--that is, the state of Ephraim, as in Hos 8:1 [MAURER]. Or, "the house of his (false) god," the calves [CALVIN]. Jehovah, "my God," seems contrasted with "his God." CALVIN'S view is therefore preferable.”

“The watchman of Ephraim was with my God - These words may well contrast the office of the true prophet with the false. For Israel had had many true prophets, and such was Hosea himself now. The true prophet was at all times with “God.” He was “with God,” as holpen by God, “watching” or looking out and on into the future by the help of God. He was “with God,” as walking with God in a constant sense of His presence, and in continual communion with Him. He was “with God,” as associated by God with Himself, in teaching, warning, correcting, exhorting His people, as the Apostle says, “we then as workers together with Him” 2 Corinthians 6:1. It might also be rendered in nearly the same sense,…”

“The watchman - The old true prophets indeed were with God. My God - The God of Hosea. The prophet - The false prophets have, as well as the people, left God. Is a snare - Their pretended predictions are but a snare, such as fowlers lay. And hatred - Such prophets are full of hatred and malice: yea, they are hatred itself. Hosea 9:10”

“9:8 The watchman stood guard on the wall of the city to warn of any threat (e.g., 1 Sam 14:16). In the same way, a prophet was God’s watchman, stationed to warn Israel of her sin and of the judgment that sin would inevitably bring (see Jer 6:17; Ezek 3:17). Despite his service to the people, all the prophet received was hostility.”

“watchman: Sol 3:3; Isa 62:6; Jer 6:17, Jer 31:6; Eze 3:17, Eze 33:7; Mic 7:4; Heb 13:17 with: Kg1 17:1, Kg1 18:1, Kg1 18:36-39, Kg1 22:28; Kg2 2:14, Kg2 2:21, Kg2 3:15-20, Kg2 4:1-7, Kg2 4:33-37, Kg2 4:41; Kg2 4:43, Kg2 5:14, Kg2 5:27, Kg2 6:17, Kg2 6:18, Kg2 7:2, Kg2 7:19, Kg2 13:21 but: Hos 5:1; Kg1 18:19, Kg1 22:6, Kg1 22:11, Kg1 22:22; Jer 6:14, Jer 14:13; Lam 2:14, Lam 4:13 in the: or, against the, Joh 15:24; Rom 3:7 Hosea 9:9”