Hosea’s Second Symbolic Marriage
1 Then the Lordsaid to me, “Go again, love a woman (Gomer) who is beloved by her husband and yet is an adulteress, even as the Lordloves thechildren of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love the raisin cakes [used in the feasts in pagan worship].”
2 So I bought her for myself forfifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley [the price of a common slave].
3 And I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you [until you have proved your faithfulness].”
4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or [idolatrous] pillar, and withoutephod or teraphim (household idols).
5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return [in deep repentance] and seek the Lordtheir God and [seek from the line of] David their king [the King of kings–the Messiah]; and they will come trembling to the Lordand to His goodnessandblessing in the last days.