Hosea 13:16

"Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up."

These stark and terrible details are all that is needed to describe the horrible Assyrian invasion that carried Northern Israel away forever. They ruthlessly butchered the vast majority of the population, burned, looted, and demolished their cities, destroyed their fortresses, and carried away into slavery more than 27,000 of the Israelites whose youth, strength, and ability would make them profitable as slaves. Children too young to work were destroyed. The nobility in the greater part, all of the aged, infirm, or disabled were killed.

"Samaria shall bear her guilt ..." As Ward said, this may be rendered, "Samaria shall make atonement."[38] Indeed! And must not every man make atonement, or bear his guilt, unless he shall receive the "atonement in Christ"? Samaria foolishly preferred to make it for themselves; and what an "atonement" it proved to be! But how about men today? Shall it be any better for them who know not the Lord and refuse, like a kicking heifer, to walk in God's ways? All who read these words of God in Hosea should pause to give thanks that a better way has been opened up for all who will receive it in the blood of Christ!