Hosea 3:2

2 And I delved it to me by fifteen pence, and by a cor of barley, and by half a cor of barley. (And so I bought her back for me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a cor of barley, and for half a cor of barley.)

Hosea 3:2 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 3:5

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber
His nuptial chamber, on which Elias writes ^F25,

``we call the garment (or canopy) spread over the head of the bridegroom and bride, supported by four pillars, in the time of their espousals, (hpx) .''

who looks lovely and beautiful in his nuptial robes, cheerful and pleasant in his countenance, creating pleasure and delight in all his friends that see him and hear his voice: and this simile is expressive of the brightness and glory of the sun when it rises; and of the joy and pleasure which it produces in the minds of men when they behold it: all which sets forth the loveliness and beauty of Christ, as he is held forth in the ministration of the Gospel, and the joy unspeakable and full of glory which his presence yields, after a short departure from his people; see ( Isaiah 61:10 ) ( John 3:29 ) ;

[and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race;
in which he shows his readiness, velocity, and strength; and this denotes the swiftness of the sun in running its course, and its indefatigableness in its constant motion; though it has been employed therein for so many thousands of years, yet every morning rises with the same cheerfulness, pursues its course, and is never weary: all which may point at the readiness of Gospel ministers, their swiftness to run to and fro, and their strength to fulfil the course of their ministry, in which Christ, the sun of righteousness, is held forth in so glorious a manner.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Elias, in his Tishbi, p. 119. The same word is used Isa. iv. 5. and translated "a defence".

Hosea 3:2 In-Context

1 And the Lord said to me, Yet go thou, and love a woman loved of a friend, and a woman adulteress, as the Lord loveth the sons of Israel; and they behold to alien gods, and love the dregs of grapes. (And the Lord said to me, Now go thou, and love a woman loved by a friend, yea, a woman who is an adulteress, like the Lord loveth the Israelites; even though they turn to strange, or foreign, gods, and love the dregs, or the lees, of grapes.)

2 And I delved it to me by fifteen pence, and by a cor of barley, and by half a cor of barley. (And so I bought her back for me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a cor of barley, and for half a cor of barley.)

3 And I said to it, By many days thou shalt abide me; thou shalt not do fornication, and thou shalt not be with an husband, but also I shall abide thee. (And I said to her, For many days thou shalt wait for me; thou shalt not do adultery, or idolatry, and thou shalt not be with a husband, and also I shall wait for thee.)

4 For by many days the sons of Israel shall sit without king, without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without priest's cloak, and without teraphim, that is, images. (And so for many days the Israelites shall sit without a king, and without a prince/yea, without a leader, and without sacrifices, and without altars, and without sacred pillars, and without teraphim, or idols.)

5 And after these things the sons of Israel shall turn again, and shall seek their Lord God, and David, their king; and they shall dread at the Lord, and at the good of him, in the last days. (And after these things the Israelites shall repent, and shall seek the Lord their God, and David, their king; and they shall fear the Lord, and shall receive good things from him, in the coming days.)