Hosea 3 WBT
Summary: In a second sign-act, Hosea is told to love and buy back an adulterous woman — understood as Gomer again — for silver and barley, illustrating the LORD's persistent love for Israel despite her turning to other gods. He requires her to live with him many days without playing the harlot or having a husband, symbolizing a coming period in which Israel will exist without king, prince, sacrifice, pillar, ephod, or household gods. Only afterward will the Israelites return and seek the LORD their God and David their king, coming in awe to his goodness "in the latter days" (v. 5).
1Then said the LORD to me, Go yet, love a woman beloved by [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD towards the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
2So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] a homer of barley, and a half homer of barley:
3And I said to her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for [another] man: so [will] I also [be] for thee.
4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim:
5Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.
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