Oseas 2

1 »En ese día, llamarán a sus hermanos Ammí —“mi pueblo”— y a sus hermanas llamarán Ruhamá: “las que yo amo”.

2 Cargos contra una esposa infiel
»Pero ahora, presenten cargos contra su madre Israel,
porque ya no es mi esposa,
ni yo soy su esposo.
Díganle que se quite del rostro el maquillaje de prostituta
y la ropa que muestra sus pechos.

3 De lo contrario, la desnudaré por completo,
como estaba el día en que nació.
Dejaré que muera de sed,
como en un desierto desolado y árido.

4 No amaré a sus hijos
porque fueron concebidos en la prostitución.

5 Su madre es una prostituta descarada
y quedó embarazada de una manera vergonzosa.
Dijo: “Iré tras otros amantes
y me venderé a cambio de comida y agua,
a cambio de ropa de lana y lino,
también a cambio de aceite de oliva y bebidas”.

6 »Por esta razón la cercaré con espinos.
Cerraré su paso con un muro
para que pierda su rumbo.

7 Cuando corra tras sus amantes,
no podrá alcanzarlos.
Los buscará
pero no los encontrará.
Entonces pensará:
“Mejor me sería volver a mi esposo
porque con él estaba mejor que ahora”.

8 Ella no se da cuenta de que fui yo quien le dio todo lo que tiene:
grano, vino nuevo y aceite de oliva;
hasta le di plata y oro.
Pero ella le ofreció todos mis regalos a Baal.

9 »Sin embargo, ahora le quitaré el grano maduro y el vino nuevo
que generosamente le di en cada cosecha.
Le quitaré la ropa de lino y lana
que le di para cubrir su desnudez.

10 La desnudaré por completo en público,
a la vista de todos sus amantes.
Nadie podrá librarla
de mis manos.

11 Pondré fin a sus festivales anuales,
celebraciones de luna nueva y sus días de descanso:
todos sus festivales establecidos.

12 Destruiré sus vides y sus higueras,
las cuales, según ella, le dieron sus amantes.
Dejaré que crezcan hasta que se conviertan en espesos matorrales
de los que solo los animales salvajes comerán su fruto.

13 La castigaré por todas las ocasiones
en que quemaba incienso a las imágenes de Baal,
cuando se ponía aretes y joyas
y salía a buscar a sus amantes,
olvidándose de mí por completo
—dice el Señor
—.

14 El amor del Señor
por un Israel infiel
»Pero luego volveré a conquistarla.
La llevaré al desierto
y allí le hablaré tiernamente.

15 Le devolveré sus viñedos
y convertiré el valle de la Aflicción
en una puerta de esperanza.
Allí se me entregará
como lo hizo hace mucho tiempo cuando era joven,
cuando la liberé de su esclavitud en Egipto.

16 Al llegar ese día —dice el Señor
—,
me llamarás “esposo mío”
en vez de “mi señor”
.

17 Oh Israel, yo borraré los muchos nombres de Baal de tus labios
y nunca más los mencionarás.

18 En ese día haré un pacto
con todos los animales salvajes, las aves de los cielos
y los animales que corren sobre la tierra,
para que no te hagan daño.
Quitaré de la tierra todas las armas de guerra,
todas las espadas y todos los arcos,
para que puedas vivir sin temor,
en paz y seguridad.

19 Te haré mi esposa para siempre,
mostrándote rectitud y justicia,
amor inagotable y compasión.

20 Te seré fiel y te haré mía
y por fin me conocerás como el Señor
.

21 »En ese día, yo responderé
—dice el Señor
—.
Le responderé al cielo cuando clame por nubes,
y el cielo contestará a la tierra con lluvia.

22 Entonces la tierra responderá a los clamores sedientos
del grano, de las vides y de los olivos.
Y ellos a su vez responderán:
“Jezreel” que significa “¡Dios siembra!”.

23 En ese tiempo yo sembraré una cosecha de israelitas
y los haré crecer para mí.
Demostraré amor
a los que antes llamé “no amados”
.
Y a los que llamé “no son mi pueblo”
,
yo diré: “Ahora son mi pueblo”.
Y ellos responderán: “¡Tú eres nuestro Dios!”».

Oseas 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The idolatry of the people. (1-5) God's judgments against them. (6-13) His promises of reconciliation. (14-23)

Verses 1-5 This chapter continues the figurative address to Israel, in reference to Hosea's wife and children. Let us own and love as brethren, all whom the Lord seems to put among his children, and encourage them in that they have received mercy. But every Christian, by his example and conduct, must protest against evil and abuses, even among those to whom he belongs and owes respect. Impenitent sinners will soon be stripped of the advantages they misuse, and which they consume upon their lusts.

Verses 6-13 God threatens what he would do with this treacherous, idolatrous people. They did not turn, therefore all this came upon them; and it is written for admonition to us. If lesser difficulties be got over, God will raise greater. The most resolute in sinful pursuits, are commonly most crossed in them. The way of God and duty is often hedged about with thorns, but we have reason to think it is a sinful way that is hedged up with thorns. Crosses and obstacles in an evil course are great blessings, and are to be so accounted; they are God's hedges, to keep us from transgressing, to make the way of sin difficult, and to keep us from it. We have reason to bless God for restraining grace, and for restraining providences; and even for sore pain, sickness, or calamity, if it keeps us from sin. The disappointments we meet with in seeking for satisfaction from the creature, should, if nothing else will do it, drive us to the Creator. When men forget, or consider not that their comforts come from God, he will often in mercy take them away, to bring them to think upon their folly and danger. Sin and mirth can never hold long together; but if men will not take away sin from their mirth, God will take away mirth from their sin. And if men destroy God's word and ordinances, it is just with him to destroy their vines and fig-trees. This shall be the ruin of their mirth. Taking away the solemn seasons and the sabbaths will not do it, they will readily part with them, and think it no loss; but He will take away their sensual pleasures. Days of sinful mirth must be visited with days of mourning.

Verses 14-23 After these judgments the Lord would deal with Israel more gently. By the promise of rest in Christ we are invited to take his yoke upon us; and the work of conversion may be forwarded by comforts as well as by convictions. But usually the Lord drives us to despair of earthly joy, and help from ourselves, that, being shut from every other door, we may knock at Mercy's gate. From that time Israel would be more truly attached to the Lord; no longer calling him Baali, or "My lord and master," alluding to authority, rather than love, but Ishi, an address of affection. This may foretell the restoration from the Babylonish captivity; and also be applied to the conversion of the Jews to Christ, in the days of the apostles, and the future general conversion of that nation; and believers are enabled to expect infinitely more tenderness and kindness from their holy God, than a beloved wife can expect from the kindest husband. When the people were weaned from idols, and loved the Lord, no creature should do them any harm. This may be understood of the blessings and privileges of the spiritual Israel, of every true believer, and their partaking of Christ's righteousness; also, of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. Here is an argument for us to walk so that God may not be dishonoured by us: Thou art my people. If a man's family walk disorderly, it is a dishonour to the master. If God call us children, we may say, Thou art our God. Unbelieving soul, lay aside discouraging thoughts; do not thus answer God's loving-kindness. Doth God say, Thou art my people? Say, Lord, thou art our God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 2

This chapter is an explanation of the former, proceeding upon the same argument in more express words. The godly Israelites are here called upon to lay before the body of the people their idolatry, ingratitude, obstinacy, and ignorance of the God of their mercies; and to exhort them to repentance, lest they should be stripped of all their good things, and be brought into great distress and difficulties; all their joy and comfort cease, and be exposed to shame and contempt, Ho 2:1-13, yet, notwithstanding, many gracious promises are made unto them, of their having the alluring and comfortable word of the Gospel; of a door of hope; of salvation being opened to them; of faith in the Lord, and affection to him as their husband; of the removal of all idolatry from them; of safety from all enemies; of their open espousal to Christ; of his hearing of their prayers, and giving them plenty of all good things; and of their multiplication, conversion, and covenant relation to God, Ho 2:14-23.