הושע, פרק ו׳, פסוק ח׳

Gilead, once a prominent and significant city within the Kingdom of Israel, devolved into a notorious center of violence and crime. The prophet portrays it as a haven for criminals, completely overrun by wicked individuals intent on doing harm [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The true horror of the city lies in the specific nature of its deadly violence. The primary approach among commentators suggests a culture of hidden attacks, where the city is filled with people lying in wait to ambush their victims and shed innocent blood in secret [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. Building on this idea of hidden danger, others understand the violence as rooted in trickery and deceit. In this view, the residents employ cunning schemes and manipulation to trap and kill their targets rather than simply hiding in physical spaces [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

Contrasting with the focus on the methods of murder, another perspective highlights the grim visual reality left behind by these acts. From this viewpoint, the city is heavily stained and dirtied from the immense amount of spilled blood, much like deep wine stains [רד״ק]. Expanding on this visual imagery, the streets themselves are seen as literally covered in bloody footprints, leaving the entire city surrounded by the blood of the murdered [ביאור שטיינזלץ].