הושע, פרק י״א, פסוק ב׳

A tragic dynamic of distance and ingratitude unfolds as a persistent invitation for closeness is met with a stubborn retreat into idolatry. The primary approach among commentators is that God sent His prophets to reach out to the Israelites. Constantly, these prophets called out to the people, trying to teach them the right path and guide them back to God [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, the response was one of direct defiance. A heartbreaking cause-and-effect relationship emerged: the more the prophets pleaded with them, the more the people turned their backs. Instead of listening, they actively rebelled and ran further away [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Because the presence of prophets is not explicitly mentioned, some view this dynamic as a direct contrast to God's earlier actions. God had called the Israelites out of Egypt so they would serve Him, yet the Israelites chose to call out to the Baals instead. As a direct result of pursuing these false gods, the Israelites eventually wandered and were exiled from their land [אבן עזרא, אברבנאל]. Another perspective shifts the focus to the relationship between the Israelites and the idols themselves. The people desperately called out to the Baals, but the false gods remained distant and unresponsive, completely incapable of answering or offering salvation [מלבי״ם].

Ultimately, instead of listening to the voice of God, the people devoted themselves to idol worship through sacrifices and incense. There is a clear distinction between these two forms of ritual. Offering sacrifices represents the core practice of idolatry, performed directly for the Baals. Burning incense, on the other hand, is a secondary act of worship, done simply to show honor to the physical statues [מלבי״ם].