WOULD EPHRIAM RETURN TO EGYPT?

Hosea 8:11-13 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.  I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.  They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. (KJV) Hosea 11:5 He (Ephriam) shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. (KJV)

In 8:11-13, the phrase 'return to Egypt' is metaphorical for returning to the state of bondage they were in while in Egypt.  It does not mean that they were going back to the actual country.  In fact, this is clarified in Hosea 9:3 which says (in part) "Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria."  How could Ephriam be in Egypt while in Assyria, unless 'Egypt' is metaphorical?  Not a contradiction.