In our Bible Study of the Prophecy of Hosea, there are a number of references to the calf worship that Israel established in place of the place of true worship in Judah. This idolatry started back in Exodus 32. One might wonder why. Here's an article that gives an explanation:
The Issue of Calf Worship
“Our understanding of the golden calf can benefit from an
understanding of the iconography of the ancient world. From the ancient Near
East (mostly from the Late Bronze Age), there are pictures of gods standing
atop various animals, especially lions and bulls, as well as atop composite
creatures. Moreover, there are depictions of bovines (these are generally from
the Iron Age)— most likely bulls— that have no rider whatsoever. In the first
set of images, the animal clearly functions as the seat or pedestal for the
deity. In the second, there is no deity, which may raise possibilities for
understanding the use of the golden calf here. One idea is that the calf is
still the pedestal, but this time of an invisible deity. The ark within the
tabernacle functioned as a seat or footstool (see note on Ex 25: 16) for the
divine presence without any object to represent that presence. Perhaps, then,
the golden calf functioned similarly. Or perhaps the calf is more in the nature
of an emblem or symbol that stands in for the deity. The worship is still
directed toward Yahweh (note the festival to Yahweh proclaimed by Aaron in 32:
5), but it makes use of a representative, one that embodies Yahweh’s power and
protection and brings reassurance to the people with Moses absent. Regardless
of how one interprets the calf, the worship in which the people engage angers
Yahweh, in all likelihood because it violates the prohibition on making images
(20: 4), which they are supposed to know and to which they have already agreed.
In this sense, the calf functions more to replace the absent Moses as a
mediator than to replace Yahweh as the one who delivered them from Egypt.”[1]
[1] HarperCollins
Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to
Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 21965-21980). Zondervan.
Kindle Edition.
