Verse 8
Beth-el
One of the sacred places of Canaan, meaning, house of God Genesis 28:1-22, (See Scofield "Genesis 35:7").
It is characteristic of all apostasy that Jeroboam chose this sacred place in which to erect an idol 1 Kings 12:28,32. (Cf) 1 Kings 13:1-5 and of divine judgment upon apostasy that God should decree the destruction of Bethel, despite its sacred memories ; 1 Kings 13:1-5; 2 Kings 23:15-17; Amos 3:14,15.
God never hesitates to cast aside that which no longer serves His purpose Revelation 2:5; 3:16.
Verse 10
famine
A famine was often a disciplinary testing of God's people in the land. (Cf) Genesis 26:1; 42:5; Ruth 1:1; 2 Samuel 24:13; Psalms 105:16.
The resort to Egypt (the world) is typical of the tendency to substitute for lost spiritual power the fleshly resources of the world, instead of seeking, through confession and amendment, the restoration of God's presence and favour.
