Bible Commentaries
Hosea 3

Verses 1-5

Hosea 3:1-5 Hosea Buys Back Gomer - Hosea 2:23 ends on the discussion of God accepting the Gentiles (Hosea 2:23, Romans 9:25). So Hosea 3:1-5 seems to say that Israel will be cut off for a while (Romans 9:19-20), until the fullness of the time of the Gentiles (Romans 9:25), and then Israel will return to God forever (Romans 9:26).

Hosea 2:23, “And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”

Romans 9:25, “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.”

Romans 9:19-20, “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”

Romans 9:26, “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.”

So, by illustration, Hosea went and purchased back this adultness after she had been gone for a while, and then he told her that she would not ever leave again.

Hosea 3:1 Then 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.

Hosea 3:1 Word Study on “flagons of wine” - Strong says the Hebrew word “flagon of wine “ash-ee-shaw’” ( אֲשִׁישָׁה ) (H809) means, “a cake of raisins or other comfits, flagon.” Webster defines a flagon as “a vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 4 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “flagon 4.” Modern versions translate this word as “raisin-cakes.” Note the other uses in the Old Testament, which supports the translation of “raisin-cakes” within its context.

2 Samuel 6:19, “And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.”

1 Chronicles 16:3, “And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.”

Song of Solomon 2:5, “Stay me with flagons , comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.”

Hosea 3:1, “Then 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.”

Hosea 3:2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Hosea 3:2 Comments - We see in Exodus 21:32 that the price of a slave was thirty shekels of silver. Thus, Hosea paid part of the price in silver, and part in goods.

Exodus 21:32, “If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.”

Hosea 3:4 For 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:

Hosea 3:4 Comments - The time that Hosea’s wife was gone from him represents the time that Israel is broken off from God.

Hosea 3:5 Afterward 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.

Hosea 3:5 “David the King” Comments - King David represents Jesus Christ.

Hosea 3:5 Comments - Hosea’s prophecy in Hosea 3:5 is of Israel’s return to God. This event will take place at the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period when Jesus returns and defeats God’s enemies and establishes His throne in Jerusalem. At Christ’s Second Coming the Jews will accept Him as the Messiah, and God will restore Israel as His dwelling place.