Hosea 11:6

"And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels."

Assyria is clearly identified in this chapter as the place of slavery for Israel, and with the deportation shall come a savage murder of many of their population. The sword, as one of the principal weapons used by the military in those days, is here used by metonymy for all of the horrors and devastation of military conquest.

"Consume their bars ..." is a reference to the bars that secured the locks upon the city gates, hence a symbol of the safety and security of the people. All such things shall perish in the invasion.

"Because of their own counsels ..." It was the false teaching forming the principal guidance of the people that actually resulted in their overthrow. The false teaching was the philosophy which they had adopted instead of following the commandments of the Lord.