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Exile & Return: Covenant broken, exile, prophets cry for restoration

Hosea

Chapter 3

Love and Redemption of an Unfaithful Woman

The LORD commands Hosea to love a woman beloved of her friend yet an adulteress, paralleling God's love toward the children of Israel who look to other gods. Hosea buys her with silver and barley and commands her to abide with him, just as Israel shall abide many days without king, prince, sacrifice, or image. Afterward, the children of Israel shall return, seek the LORD their God and David their king, and fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Redemptive loveIsrael's restorationFuture repentance

1Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

2So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

3And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

5Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

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