Hosea 3

Chap. III. Ver. 1—5. The desolate state of Israel, and their future hopes.—Commentators are not agreed in what light to consider the woman here named: some suppose her to be the wife Hosea had been directed to marry in the first chapter, and who had proved false to him: but surely she could have no claim to a dowry. Others suppose her to have been a temporary wife, such things being common among the heathen; but they certainly were not tolerated by the law of Moses. We therefore consider the fact to be, that the Prophet purchased this woman, being a female slave, as a concubine, or secondary wife: and it is very remarkable, (as Michaelis observes,) that he paid the legal and established price of a female slave, namely, “thirty shekels, half in money, and half in grain.” But this is never mentioned as the price of a harlot, nor could be.

This parable seems to be intended to represent God’s love to, and redemption (or purchase) of, his people Israel: and the Prophet is commanded to love her, as the Lord does his people, that is, gratuitously, and without any merit on their part; slaves by nature, but redeemed by grace. This woman we may suppose to have been married, and dismissed for her unworthy conduct, on which account she had been separated without any of the ornaments or privileges of a wife; so should Israel, while living in impenitence, remain long without those privileges, civil or religious, which they formerly enjoyed while acting in obedience to his laws; without prince or priest, sacrifice or oracle, or God. In the latter days, however, it is promised they shall return and seek the Lord and his anointed; and fear God and his

goodness; that is, fear as well to abuse his goodness, as to provoke his anger.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 21. I will hear (or answer) the heavens.—‘Asking (as it were) to pour down rain on the earth; and they shall hear the earth when it supplicated for rain: this and the next verse implies that they had had unfruitful seasons.’ Ver. 22. Shall hear the corn, &c.—These two verses beautifully represent inanimate objects as speaking, and a chain of second causes as depending on the first, the Lord of all——Shall hear Jezreel.—The people whom God will sow again in his land. See (Hosea 1:11), and verse following. Horsley. Ver. 23. I will say to them, &c.—Dr. Boothroyd makes this passage clearer by preserving the original names: “I will have mercy on Lo-ruhamah; and I will say to Lo-ammi, (Not my people,) Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art our God.”

Chap. III. Ver. 1. Beloved of her friend, (or husband,) yet an adulteress.—False to her marriage vows. The LXX. and other versions read, “A woman that loveth evil, an adulteress.”——Flagons of wine.—See margin. The most ancient method of making wine was, by pressing the juice of the grapes into a cup, (Genesis 41:11); see note there. But some think that here the word refers to dried grapes, or, &c. See note on (Song of Solomon 2:5).——So I bought her, &c.—Namely, as a concubine: See (Deuteronomy 21:11-14). Ver. 4. The children of Israel shall abide many days, &c.—This is given as the mystical import of the preceding verse; and that this was the fact, our translators refer to the Song of the Three Children in the furnace, (ver.

15.) * Neither is there at 3D time a prince or prophet or leader, or burnt-offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and find mercy.” ——An image.—See margin; also (Isaiah 19:19).——Without an ephod, and without teraphim.—Without means of inquiring the will of God. Ver. 5. David.—That is, “Messiah.” See (Ezekiel 34:23).—[The Targum renders, weyishtammoon limsheecha var dawid malkehon, “and they shall obey the Messiah, the son of David, their king.” This doubtless foretels their future conversion.]—Bagster. Peer