Hosea 1:7
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
The book of Hosea foretells the captivity of Israel and then looks past that apostasy to the Lord's restoration of His people. The departure from God is set forth as spiritual adultery, embracing idolatry and conformity to the world as a corrupt mingling of heaven with earth and of righteousness with sin. Although Judah was also reproved, Judah still ruled with God and remained faithful with the saints. Mercy is therefore promised to the house of Judah in contrast with Ephraim, whose sin had passed beyond recall.
The promise is that God will have mercy upon the house of Judah and save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen, nor by any other military force or weapon. Zerubbabel trusted these prophetic words in connection with the rebuilding of Jerusalem.