Hosea 3:1-5

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

John Gill

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

And I said unto her ,.... Having bought or hired her; this was the covenant or agreement he made with her, thou shall abide for me many days ; dwell alone in some solitary and separate place, and have no conversation with any, especially with men; live like a widow that has lost her husband, and so wait for a long time till the prophet should think fit to take her to his house and bed: thou shall not play the harlot, and thou shall not be for another man ; neither prostitute herself,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 3:4

For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince ,.... Without any form of civil government, either regal or without any civil magistrate, either superior or subordinate, of their own; being subject to the kings and princes of other nations, as the ten tribes were from their captivity by Shalmaneser, to the coming of Christ, which was about seven hundred years; and from that time the tribes of Judah and Benjamin have had no kings and princes among them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hosea 3:5

Afterward shall the children of Israel return ,.... The ten tribes of Israel, and also the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which are included in the name of Israel, as Aben Ezra interprets it; and these are joined together in parallel places; see Jeremiah 30:3 for though they did not go into captivity together, yet their return and conversion will be at the same time; and they are all spoken of under the name of Israel by the Apostle Paul, when he foretells their conversion and... 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

Adam Clarke

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

Thou shalt abide for me many days - He did not take her home, but made a contract with her that, if she would abstain from her evil ways, he would take her to himself after a sufficient trial. In the meantime he gave her the money and the barley to subsist upon, that she might not be under the temptation of becoming again unfaithful. So will I also be for thee - That is, if thou, Israel, wilt keep thyself separate from thy idolatry, and give me proof, by thy total abstinence from idols,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 3:4

Many days without a king - Hitherto this prophecy has been literally fulfilled. Since the destruction of the temple by the Romans they have neither had king nor prince, nor any civil government of their own, but have lived in different nations of the earth as mere exiles. They have neither priests nor sacrifices nor urim nor thummim; no prophet, no oracle, no communication of any kind from God. Without an image ephod - teraphim - The Septuagint read, Ουδε ουσης θυσιας, ουδε οντος... read more

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