Hos 13:5, Amo 3:2 | JFB | STEP | 5. I did know thee-- did acknowledge thee as Mine, and so took care of thee ( ; ). As I knew thee as Mine, so thou shouldest know no God but Me ( ). in ... land of ... drought-- ( ).

‏ Hosea 13:5

5. I did know thee--did acknowledge thee as Mine, and so took care of thee (Psa 144:3; Am 3:2). As I knew thee as Mine, so thou shouldest know no God but Me (Ho 13:4).

in ... land of ... drought--(De 8:15).

‏ Amos 3:2

2. You only have I known--that is, acknowledged as My people, and treated with peculiar favor (Ex 19:5; De 4:20). Compare the use of "know," Psa 1:6; 144:3; Joh 10:14; 2Ti 2:19.

therefore I will punish--the greater the privileges, the heavier the punishment for the abuse of them; for to the other offenses there is added, in this case, ingratitude. When God's people do not glorify Him, He glorifies Himself by punishing them.