Stuart1 says this indicates that Israel’s national sovereignty and social infrastructure will be eliminated. Israel will have no king…Since kingship was integral to the nation’s identity, its end would mean a different kind of existence.
This is a double-edged punishment, since Israel’s leaders were uniquely responsible (Hosea 5:1; Hosea 7:1–16), yet the prophet later identifies the nation’s solidarity with her leaders (Hosea 8:4; Hosea 10:3; Hosea 13:10). By temporarily halting Israel’s ruling class, both those individuals and corporate people suffered. Hwang2 writes: “Israel would lack human leaders at precisely the same time in the eighth century BCE when the 'great king' (Hosea 5:13; Hosea 10:6) of Assyria was conniving to expand his borders.” As we know from history, Israel were conquered and carted off into exile by the Assyrians.
4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods.