“I delight in mercy ( hesed ) rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”  Thus far Hosea (6:6), reaffirmed by Jesus (Matthew 9:13; 12:7).

Less well-known is the context in Hosea 6: “What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah?  For your loyalty ( hesed ) is like a morning cloud and like the dew which goes away early.   Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth” (vv. 4-5).

Ephraim and Judah have no loyalty ( hesed ), which is what delights Yahweh more than sacrifice.  So He sends the prophets who hew and slay Judah and Israel with words.  That is to say, Yahweh makes a pleasing sacrifice of his people; the prophets are priests bringing Yahweh’s people to the altar so that their judgments will flash forth like light and burn like fire.