Hosea 3:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hosea 3:1-5

Some think that this chapter refers to Judah, the two tribes, as the adulteress the prophet married (Hos. 1:3) represented the ten tribes; for this was not to be divorced, as the ten tribes were, but to be left desolate for a long time, and then to return, as the two tribes did. But these are called the children of Israel, which was the ten tribes, and therefore it is more probable that of them this parable, as well as that before, is to be understood. Go, and repeat it, says God to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 3:1

Then said the Lord unto me ,.... Or, as the Targum, "the Lord said unto me again'; for the word yet or again is to be joined to this, and not the following clause; and shows that this is a new vision, prophecy, or parable, though respecting the same persons and things: go, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress ; not the prophet's wife, not Gomer, but some other feigned person; beloved either of her own husband, as the Targum and Jarchi, notwithstanding her unchastity... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 3:2

So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver ,.... Or, "fifteen shekels", which was about one pound seventeen shillings and six pence of our money, reckoning a shekel at two shillings and six pence; though some make it to be but two shillings and four pence; this was but half the price of a servant, Exodus 21:32 , and alludes to the dowry which men used to give to women at their marriage; see 1 Samuel 18:25 . The word here used has the signification of digging; hence the Vulgate... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 3:1

Go ye, love a woman - This is a different command from that mentioned in the first chapter. That denoted the infidelity of the kingdom of Israel, and God's divorce of them. He gave them up to their enemies, and caused them to be carried into captivity. The woman mentioned here represents one who was a lawful wife joining herself to a paramour; then divorced by her husband; afterwards repenting, and desirous to be joined to her spouse; ceasing from her adulterous commerce, but not yet... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 3:2

Fifteen pieces of silver - If they were shekels, the price of this woman was about two pounds five shillings. A homer of barley - As the homer was about eight bushels, or something more, the homer and half was about twelve or thirteen bushels. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 3:1

Verse 1 The substance of this chapter is, that it was God’s purpose to keep in firm hope the minds of the faithful during the exile, lest being overwhelmed with despair they should wholly faint. The Prophet had before spoken of God’s reconciliation with his people; and he magnificently extolled that favor when he said, ‘Ye shall be as in the valley of Achor, I will restore to you the abundance of all blessings; in a word, ye shall be in all respects happy.’ But, in the meantime, the daily... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 3:2

Verse 2 These verses have been read together, for in these four the Prophet explains the vision presented to him. He says, first, that he had done what had been enjoined him by God; which was conveyed to him by a vision, or in a typical form, that by such an exhibition he might impress the minds of the people: I bought, he says, a wife for fifteen silverings, and for a corus of barley and half a corus; that is, for a corus (12) and a half. He tells us in this verse that he had bought the wife... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 3:1

EXPOSITION This short chapter contains two sections, of which the first, comprising Hosea 3:1-3 , is a symbolic representation; and the second, consisting of Hosea 3:4 and Hosea 3:5 , gives the explanation. The prophet bestows his affections on a worthless wife, who, notwithstanding his tender love to her, proves utterly unfaithful and lives in adultery. He does not cast her off, but, in order to reclaim her and bring her to repentance, he places her in a position of restraint,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 3:1

The love of the Lord toward the children of Israel. This exquisitely beautiful phrase comes in the midst of a passage of the most painful and distressing character. As a fend husband may tenderly love his wife, even though she abandon herself to a course of infidelity and profligacy, so the God of Israel is represented as cherishing towards his people, even in their defection and apostasy, the sincerest compassion, the most invincible affection. I. HOW THE LOVE OF THE LORD ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hosea 3:1-3

God's mercifulness and Israel's sinfulness are brought into contrast. Some are disposed to regard the woman mentioned in this chapter as identical with Gomer, whom the prophet had previously made his wife; and that she had in the mean time forsaken her husband the prophet, and had formed an adulterous connection with another man: while others regard the command of God to the prophet and his conduct in compliance therewith in the light of a new transaction with a different individual. In... read more

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