Hosea 3

The LORD commands Hosea to again love an adulterous woman, symbolizing His enduring love for idolatrous Israel. Hosea redeems her and instructs her to remain faithful, which foreshadows Israel's future period of spiritual and political desolation without traditional leadership or religious practices. This period will ultimately lead to Israel's return to seek the LORD their God and David their king in the latter days.

Hosea chapter three begins with the LORD instructing the prophet to once more demonstrate love towards a woman, described as beloved by her friend yet an adulteress, directly paralleling God's steadfast affection for the children of Israel despite their spiritual infidelity and idolatry. Hosea purchases her for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley, signifying a redemptive re-acquisition. He then commands her to remain faithful to him for many days, refraining from harlotry or relations with other men, promising his reciprocal commitment. This symbolic act foreshadows a future time when Israel will abide many days without a king, prince, sacrifice, image, ephod, or teraphim, indicating a profound period of national desolation. Ultimately, this time of barrenness will lead to Israel's repentance and their return to seek the LORD their God and David their king, fearing His goodness in the latter days.

Hosea chapter three commences with a profound divine command from the LORD to the prophet, instructing him to once again demonstrate love towards a woman who is characterized as beloved by her friend yet an adulteress. This act serves as a powerful and direct allegory for the LORD's persistent and unwavering love for the children of Israel, even as they turn to other gods and indulge in idolatrous practices, symbolized by their love for flagons of wine. Following this divine instruction, Hosea purchases the woman for a specific sum of fifteen pieces of silver, a homer of barley, and an additional half homer of barley, an action that signifies a redemptive re-acquisition or a re-establishment of a relationship. He then establishes a personal covenant with her, commanding her to abide with him for many days, refraining from playing the harlot and from being with any other man, while promising his own faithfulness in return. This personal covenant between Hosea and the woman directly foreshadows the future state of the nation of Israel. The LORD reveals that the children of Israel shall similarly abide for many days in a state of national and spiritual barrenness. During this period, they will be without a king, a prince, a sacrifice, an image, an ephod, or teraphim, signifying a profound absence of both their legitimate religious practices and their idolatrous customs, as well as their political leadership. This era of desolation is not, however, an ultimate end but a preparatory stage for future restoration. The chapter concludes with a promise of this future: after this extended period, the children of Israel will return to seek the LORD their God. They will also seek David their king, a clear messianic reference, and will come to fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days, indicating a profound national repentance and a renewed, faithful covenant relationship with God.