Hosea Redeems His Wife
1Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another† and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”†
2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver† and a homer and a lethech of barley.†
Just as Hosea’s wife was required to live...
Just as Hosea’s wife was required to live many days without sexual relations, Israel would be deprived of the institutions (king or prince), practices (sacrifices), and objects (sacred pillars . . . or even idols) that had been foundational to its life and worship.
3Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”
4For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol. 5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.