---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Hosea 3:1. Go yet, love a woman — This is a different command from that mentioned in the first chapter. That denoted the infidelity of the kingdom o"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/hosea/3"
---

Verse [Hosea 3:1](../../../kjv/hosea/3/1). ***Go yet, 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 *reconciled* to him. This was the state and disposition of the Jews under the Babylonish captivity. Though separated from their own *idols*, they continued *separated from their God*. He is still represented as having affectionate feelings towards them; awaiting their *full* *repentance* and *contrition*, in order to renew the marriage covenant. These things are pointed out by the symbolical actions of the prophet.
***Beloved of*****her*****friend*** — Or, *a lover of evil*; or, *loving* *another*: for the Hebrew words אהבת רע mean one who *loves evil* or a *friend*: because רע signifies a *friend*, or *evil*, according as it is *pointed*. The former seems to be its best sense here; רע *rea* is a *friend*; רע ra is *evil*.
***According to the love of the Lord*** — This woman, who had proved false to her husband, was still beloved by him, though he could not acknowledge her; as the Israelites were beloved by the Lord, while they were *looking after other gods*. The *flagons of wine* were probably such as were used for *libations*, or drunk in idol feasts. Others think that the words should be translated *cakes of dried* *grapes, sweet cakes, consecrated wafers*.

Verse [Hosea 3:2](../../../kjv/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.

Verse [Hosea 3:3](../../../kjv/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, that thou wilt be my faithful worshipper, I will receive thee again, and in the meantime support thee with the *necessaries of life* while thou art in the land of thy captivity. This is farther illustrated in the following verses.

Verse [Hosea 3:4](../../../kjv/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 θυσιαστηριου, ουδε ἱερατειας, ουδε δηλων: "Without a sacrifice, without an altar, without a priesthood, and without oracles;" that is, the *urim* and *thummim*. The *Vulgate,* *Arabic*, and *Syriac* read nearly the same. Instead of מצבה *matstsebah*, an *image*, they have evidently read מזבח *mizbeach*, an *altar*; the letters of these words being very similar, and easily mistaken for each other. But instead of either, one, if not two, of *Kennicott's* MSS. has מנחה *minchah*, an *oblation*.
What is called *image* may signify any kind of *pillar*, such as God forbade them to erect, [Leviticus 26:1](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/1), lest it should be an incitement to idolatry.
The *ephod* was the high priest's garment of ceremony; the *teraphim* were some kind of *amulets, telesms*, or *idolatrous* *images*; the *urim* and *thummim* belonged to the *breastplate*, which was attached to the *ephod*.
Instead of *teraphim* some would read *seraphim*, changing the ת *tau* into ש *sin*; these are an order of the celestial hierarchy. In short, all the time that the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon, they seem to have been as wholly without *forms* of *idolatrous worship* as they were without the *worship of God*; and this may be what the prophet designs: they were totally without any kind of public worship, whether *true* or *false*. As well without *images* and *teraphim*, as they were without *sacrifice* and *ephod,* though still idolaters in their hearts. They were in a state of the most miserable darkness, which was to *continue many days*; and it has continued now nearly *eighteen hundred* years, and must continue yet longer, till they acknowledge him as their *Saviour* whom they crucified as a *blasphemer*.

Verse [Hosea 3:5](../../../kjv/hosea/3/5). ***Afterward shall the children of Israel return*** — Shall *repent* of their iniquities, *and seek the Lord*; lay aside their *mock worship*, and serve the true God *in spirit and in truth*.
***And David their king*** — Or as the *Targum*, "They shall obey the Messiah, the Son of David, their King;" and thus look believingly upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn. And then shall their long *spiritual darkness* and *dismal captivity* have an end; but not before. The *Messiah*, as *David*, is promised in [Jeremiah 30:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/30/9); [Ezekiel 24:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/24/23); [Ezekiel 37:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/22); [Ezekiel 37:24-25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/24-25), (where see the notes,) and in this place of *Hosea*. Some think that the *family* of David is intended; but if we go to the rigour of the letter, the *house of Israel* was scarcely ever perfectly submissive to David. And we know that after the death of Solomon they never acknowledged the house of David till they were all carried away captive; and certainly never *since*. And to say that *Zerubbabel* is here meant, is not supportable, as the very *short* and *imperfect obedience* of the Jews to Zerubbabel can never comport with the *high terms* of this and similar prophecies. We are obliged, therefore, from the evidence of these *prophecies*, from the evidence of the above *facts*, from the evidence of the *rabbins* themselves, and from the evidence of the *New Testament*, to consider these texts as applying solely to JESUS CHRIST, the promised MESSIAH, who has been a *light to lighten* *the Gentiles*, and will yet be the *glory of his people Israel*. There is a strange propensity in some men to deny these evidences of Christianity, while they profess to believe its doctrines.

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