Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 13:8

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps , and will rent the caul of their heart , and there will I devour them like a lion : the wild beast shall tear them .

I know their haunts, their walks, I will not fail to meet them there.

Rob'd of her whelps newly taken away which makes her mad with rage, so great rage is proverbially exprest, Prov. 17.12.

First kill, next tear in pieces, pull out the very heart, it is probable this fierce creature may by instinct hasten to tear up the prey that it may drink the blood before that it run to waste.

Where I find them, and seize them, like the hungry and fearless lion which feasts on his prey where he catcht it, draws it not into his Den, but devoureth it immediately.

An old Lion that hath his great Teeth, his Grinders, and hath still whelps, fierce, Gen. 49.9. and terrible that will either call in his whelps to divide the prey, or drag the prey to his Den for them, and what hope of any thing to be spared, when you fall into such hands.

It is said of the Lion, that he calls by his roaring the wild Beasts together to the prey, when he hath taken it, so you shall be devour'd by the whole Troop of wild Beasts. Or it may be a general threat added to those particular ones before, every wild Beast shall prey upon them. All this God executed on them by the Assyrians who in their fierceness, cruelty, greediness, and courage answered the character here given to them, the particular resemblances I leave to any who may easily suit them.

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