CHAPTER III _By the prophet's taking back his wife, for whom he (her friend_ _or husband) still retained has affection, though she had proved_ _unfaithful; by his entering into a new contract with her; and_ _by his giving her hopes of reconciliation, after she should for_ _some time prove, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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, th... [ Continue Reading ]