Hosea 3

Israel Will Return to God

1 Then the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman whois loved by a *Jer. 3:20lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes ofthepagans."

2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. 3 And I said to her, "You shall *Deut. 21:13stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you."

4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days *Hos. 10:3without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without *Ex. 28:4–12; 1 Sam. 23:9–12ephod or *Gen. 31:19, 34; Judg. 17:5; 18:14, 17; (1 Sam. 15:23)teraphim. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and *Jer. 50:4seek the Lord their God and *Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:24David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the *(Is. 2:2, 3); Jer. 31:9latter days.