The first places mentioned are Gibeah and Ramah (Hosea 5:8), two places just north of Jerusalem. These places are situated on a hill and are therefore very suitable for sounding the alarm (on the trumpet). Bethel (or in other translations Beth-aven) is also mentioned, which is in the same area. Bethel is the place where King Jeroboam began his worship of idols. The place where God’s house became an idolatrous house. All three places are on the border, between the two-tribe kingdom and the ten-tribe kingdom. The words of the prophet also indicate that both peoples are under threat, probably of the Assyrians. God will punish both peoples for serving idols.
8 Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah. Sound the alarm at Beth-aven; we follow you, O Benjamin!