Hosea

GOD said to me further, “Go, befriend a woman who, while befriendedabefriend…befriended For this sense, see Deut. 10.19. by a companion, consorts with others, just as GOD befriends the Israelites,bjust as GOD befriends the Israelites See Hos. 2.10. but they turn to other gods and love the cups of the grape.”cto other gods and love the cups of the grape Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “‘to other gods.’ And so I befriended a woman of lust.”

Then I hired her for fifteen [shekels of] silver, a ḥomer of barley, and a lethech of barley;da lethech of barley Septuagint reads “a jar of wine.”

and I stipulated with her, “In return,eIn return Lit. “for me.” you are to go a long time without either fornicating or marrying; even I [shall not cohabit] with you.”

For the Israelites shall go a long time without king and without officials, without sacrificefsacrifice Emendation yields “altar.” and without cult pillars, and without ephod and oracle idols.

Afterward, the Israelites will turn back and will seek the ETERNAL their God and David their king—and they will thrill over GOD and over God’s bounty in the days to come.