Hosea 2:14-17

14-17. Israel will be restored to the intimate fellowship with Jehovah enjoyed in the beginning.

Therefore In view of the general situation, as described in Hosea 2:2-13. It requires divine interference. Therefore might, however, be connected only with the last clause of Hosea 2:13. Because Israel has forgotten me, therefore I that the emphasis is on Jehovah’s efforts is indicated by the use of the separate pronoun with the verb form must reveal myself to her and thus win her back.

Behold, I will According to G.-K., 116p, the construction points to the immediate future as the time of fulfillment; equivalent to I am about to do.

Allure G.A. Smith, “woo her.” The verb is used here in a good sense. Whatever Jehovah does is done for the purpose of winning back the faithless wife. The prophet says nothing about the means of persuasion; evidently he has in mind the judgment which will accomplish that which pleasanter means have failed to do.

Bring her into the wilderness The figure is that of Israel’s early wanderings in the desert (compare also Hosea 2:15). But the question arises, whether the prophet has in mind an actual deportation into the wilderness, that is, an exile (Ezekiel 20:35), or whether the removal into the desert is only a picture of the complete desolation of the land, such as is described in Hosea 2:6 ff.

Hosea 2:21-23 and Hosea 3:4, have sometimes been thought to favor the first interpretation; the former passage is ambiguous, the latter is more readily interpreted as implying an exile, but even its meaning is not beyond question. At any rate, Hosea 3:4, does not necessarily determine the interpretation of this verse; Hosea 2:6-13 certainly favor the second view.

Speak comfortably unto her Literally, speak unto her heart. “To every Israelite some of these terms must have brought back the days of his own wooing. I will speak home to her heart is a forcible expression like the German ‘an das Herz,’ or the sweet Scottish ‘it com’ up roond my heart,’ and was used in Israel as from man to woman when he won her” (compare Isaiah 40:1). With Israel reduced to its ancient poverty, and through such reduction persuaded to listen to the divine voice, a new beginning is to be made, while Jehovah’s blessings will fall in abundance.