Hosea 3
DortBy the marrying and long tarrying of an Adulteresse, God commands the Prophet to set before the eyes of the Israelites, their long – lasting desolate condition to come, whereupon should follow at length their conversion unto Christ.
1. An the LORD said to one, [viz. in a vision, compare ab. chapter 1. on verse 2,3.] Go again now , love a women, which being beloved of (her) friend, [i.e. by her own husband] nevertheless commiteth adultery; according as the LORD doth love the children of Israel, [Heb. according to the love of the LORD, wherewith he loveth, etc. as elsewhere] but they do look about after other Gods, and love the other bottles of the grapes [i.e. the wine bottles whereby God checks them for the drunkennes that was so common among them in the feasts which they made for the honour of their idols, according to the customs of the heathens with all manner of excess, dunkenesse and jollity . See bel. chap 4.18. By this vision God did represent unto the ten tribes , the great love which he bare shewed them still, and on the contrary their unfaithfulness and ingratitude, which they shewed forth by their shameless spiritual adultery of idolatry here discribed.]
2. And i bought (her) for me for fifteen silver rings; [See Gen.20. on verse. 16. just half the sum which Judas got for betraying of Christ; also half the price of a man – servant, or maid – servant hurt by an ox. Exodus 21:23. and of the redemtion of a female Levit. 27. 4 and consequently but a mean and low price] an an homer, [otherwise also called a Cor., see 1 Kings 4. on verse 22.] of barley [which maybe a token that was to live by barley bread, i.e. to change her pleasant and luxurious estate into a sober one; as also she was bought but at a mean rate, which may have implied the unworthiness and despicableness of Israel, when God first bought and redeemed them for him self.] and half an homer of barley.
3. And i said unto her, Thou shalt tarry for me; [waiting till i marry thee , (compare Deuteronomy 21:11 and the phrase Ex.24 14 also Ruth 3:18) in the mean time; i shall make trial of thy repentance in lowly condition.] many dayes,[i.e. for a long time.] thou shalt not play the whore, nor became (another) mans ; and i also for thee. [i.e. i do like wise promise my throth to thee, and will stay for thee as long; see the explaining hereof in the sequel. These abrupt speeches are reason of their obscurity, variously compleated and interpreted: the plainest sence is in the text it self. Compare Isa.30. 18]
4. For the children of Israel shall tarry many dayes [ to wit, after the Salmanasser should carry away the ten tribes (represented by this adulterous women) out of their land into to Assyria, and scatter them thence into various countries; until the time of their conversion, as is explained in the following verse. This time of conversion, some determine with the coming of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel of the Apostles: others applie it to the succeeding and present estate and condition, of all the people of the Jews until the time of their last and finall conversion, out of Romans 11:25. The one dothh not exclude the other,[ withh out King, and without Prince [viz. from among other brethren.] and without offring etc without (a) reared image, [such as were the golden calves at Dan. and Bethel, and the Baals.] and without Ephod . [See of the Eph. Exo. 28. on verse. 6. Jerobeam doubtless ordained together with his new Priests, new Priestly garments also, for to keep the people from going up to Jerusalem. See idolatrous . Ephods made without Gods order and institution, Jud.17, 5.&c.] and Teraphim [which they had, according to the manner of the heathen, for to inquire of God by them. See Gen.31. on verse. 29. Eze. 31. 21. Zach. 10. 2. The meaning of all is, that they should be for a long without any form of either civil government and Common – wealth or publike solemn worship true or false, as also it is, and continueth with them to this day, wheresoever they remain scattered thorowout the world.]
5. After that the children of Israel shall covert themselves, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king: [viz. the LORD Jesus Christ their Messia, called David, as whole son he was to be according to the flesh, and whom David typisied, See Jeremiah 30:9. Eze.34. 23. and 37. 24.] and they shall come to the LORD, fearing, [Heb, they fear to God i.e. come or draw with fear, in acknowledgement of their own unworthiness] and to his goodness . [being amazed at the marvellous great goodness of God to be exhibited them in the Gospel; and full of care and circumspection , how to take timely notice of this time of grace, and to make a right use of it. Compare below Chap 11. 10, 11. Mich.7 17. also Isa. 13 .3.] in the last days. [i.e. after a very long time, in the New Testament, after the coming of Jesus Christ: for this phrase doth not look justly upon the very last time of all, before the consummation of the world . See Gen.49. 1. Isa.2.2. Mich. 4. 1. Heb.1.1. etc. With the annotat. there.]