Verse 1
the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Go yet = Go again. See notes on Hosea 1:2.
love. Not "take", as in Hosea 1:2, or love again.
a woman. Not "Gomer" (Hosea 1:3) again, but another; hence we must believe that Gomer had died; and that this was a second marriage with its own special signification.
her friend : i. e. Hosea himself.
yet, &c. = though [she has become] an adulteress. Referring to Israel"s present condition in this Dispensation (App-12).
adulteress: i. e. an idolatress; and denotes only a woman of the northern tribes.
according, &c. This is the manifestation of Divine love.
children = sons.
look to other gods. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 31:18, Deuteronomy 31:20).
flagons of wine = cakes of grapes.
Verse 2
fifteen pieces of silver = fifteen shekels (App-51.) The price of the redemption of a slave.
homer. See App-61.
Verse 3
abide . . . many days. See the signification in verses: Hosea 4:5. Compare Jeremiah 3:1, Jeremiah 3:2.
abide. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 21:13). App-92. See the signification of the sign in verses: Hosea 4:5, and compare Jeremiah 31:1, Jeremiah 31:2. Hebrew. yashab = to dwell (sequestered). Same word as in Deuteronomy 21:13. Not the same word as in Hosea 11:6.
many days. In the case of the sign = a full month. The signification is seen now, in the present Dispensation.
man. Hebrew "ish. App-14.
be. Supply ["do"]. The above Structure is according to the order of the words in the Hebrew text, not the Authorized Version.
Verse 4
Israel. Not merely Judah, but the twelve tribes. Not "British" or any other "Israel".
many days. All the days of the present Dispensation; "many" implying length of time; "days" implying their limitation.
without. Note the Figure of speech Anaphora (App-6), emphasizing each point, now fulfilled before our eyes.
without a king. Having rejected Messiah (John 19:15). This cannot therefore be interpreted now of any People which has a king.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton strengthening the emphasis on each point.
prince = ruler. Hebrew. sar, as in Hosea 8:4.
sacrifice. Hebrew. zabach. App-43. Includes all sacrifices where there is shedding of blood.
an image. Hebrew. mazzebah = any upright standing image. Compare Exodus 23:24; Exodus 34:13. Isaiah 19:19.
ephod. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the priest or person who wears it. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 28:4-8). App-92. This was the girdle of the breastplate which contained the "Urim and Thummim", the wearing of which pertained solely to the high priest. Compare 1 Samuel 22:18; 1 Samuel 23:9. Ezra 2:63; and Nehemiah 7:65.
teraphim = idols of any kind. In Hosea 3:3, Jehovah says they shall not "play the harlot": and, now, for (since 426 B.C.) 2,300 years the truth of this has been seen. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:34, Genesis 31:35).
Verse 5
Afterward, &c. This mark of time has not yet been reached. It corresponds with the "many days" of Hosea 3:4. See the Structure above ("4-. ").
return, &c.: i. e. return [to Jehovah]. See Hosea 5:15, and Hosea 6:1.
seek. Compare Hosea 5:6. Jeremiah 60:4, Jeremiah 60:5.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
David. Compare Jeremiah 30:9. Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:24; Ezekiel 37:22, Ezekiel 37:24. Therefore David must rise again, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must; and note the fact of Israel seeking David.
shall fear = shall rejoice in, as in Isaiah 60:6. Jeremiah 33:9. Hebrew. pahad, a Homonym with another meaning (to fear, as in Deuteronomy 28:66. Job 23:15. See notes there).
goodness. Hebrew. tub, as in Hosea 14:2 ("graciously") = Gracious One: i. e. the Messiah. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 33:19). App-92. See the notes on Hosea 8:3; Hosea 14:2.
in the latter days. Rabbi Kimchi (A.D. 1160-1235) and other celebrated Jewish commentators writing on Isaiah 2:2, hold that this expression always means "in the days of the Messiah". Compare Jeremiah 30:24. Ezekiel 38:8, Ezekiel 38:16. Daniel 2:28. Micah 4:1. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:1. Numbers 24:14. Deuteronomy 4:30; Deuteronomy 31:29). App-92.