Hos 2:14-23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Hos 2:14-15: 2:14-15 The third judgment (see note on 2:6-7 ) is completely unexpected. The Lord, who had innocently suffered Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness, announces that he will take the initiative in wooing Israel in order to win her back once again . He will lead her into the desert where he first entered into covenant with her, away from the seductive influences of Canaanite religion. • The Valley of Trouble was the scene of Israel’s first act of disobedience after they entered the Promised Land (Josh 7:24-26 ). The Lord had both the will and the power to grant Israel a new beginning after their sin and trouble (Josh 8:1-22 ), so Israel would again be offered a gateway of hope .

a2:14-15►

b2:6-7►

cJosh 7:24-26►

dJosh 8:1-22►

e2:16►

fJoel 1:15►

g2:1►

hAmos 5:18►

iGen 2:23-24►

j2:17►

k2:18►

l2:19-20►

m2:13►

n2:21-22►

o2:5►

p2:23►

q2:1►

‏ Hosea 2:14-23

Summary for Hos 2:14-15: 2:14-15 ^a The third judgment (see note on 2:6-7 ^b) is completely unexpected. The Lord, who had innocently suffered Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness, announces that he will take the initiative in wooing Israel in order to win her back once again. He will lead her into the desert where he first entered into covenant with her, away from the seductive influences of Canaanite religion.

• The Valley of Trouble was the scene of Israel’s first act of disobedience after they entered the Promised Land (Josh 7:24-26 ^c). The Lord had both the will and the power to grant Israel a new beginning after their sin and trouble (Josh 8:1-22 ^d), so Israel would again be offered a gateway of hope.
2:16 ^e that day: This seemingly unremarkable phrase is actually quite important in the prophets. It refers to the coming day of the Lord (see Joel 1:15 ^f; 2:1 ^g; Amos 5:18 ^h), when the Lord will act decisively in human history on behalf of his people.

• ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master’: In this coming day, Israel will enter into a new relationship with her God. No longer will Israel call God “master” (Hebrew ba‘al), which connotes subservience and was also the name of the chief Canaanite fertility god. Instead, she will address the Lord as “husband,” implying partnership and companionship (Gen 2:23-24 ⁱ).
2:17 ^j To avoid any possible syncretism between the Lord and Baal, God would wipe the many names of Baal from Israel’s lips.
2:18 ^k On that day the Lord would make a covenant with his creation and his people, a covenant of peace and safety.
Summary for Hos 2:19-20: 2:19-20 ^l I will make you my wife: This Hebrew verb, used three times in these verses, can be translated with our seldom-used word betroth. In the ancient world, betrothal entailed all the legal steps of a marriage, including the payment of a bride price by the groom. The only thing missing was the marriage ceremony and sexual consummation. The Lord vowed to betroth Israel to himself forever. To ensure the eternal nature of this new marriage, God provided a bride price that included five priceless qualities: righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion, and faithfulness. As a result, the Lord said, Israel will finally know me (cp. 2:13 ^m).
Summary for Hos 2:21-22: 2:21-22 ⁿ Unfaithful Israel thought her food and clothing were gifts from her lovers, the baals (2:5 ^o), but in that day they will know that the Lord alone is the source of all fertility and blessing. He will answer the sky, the clouds, and the earth, initiating the true cycle of fertility for the land. When the Lord is recognized as the only source of life, then the name Jezreel will regain its true meaning: God plants!
2:23 ^p As God has promised (2:1 ^q), on the coming day of the Lord he will reverse the names of Gomer’s children. He will show love to ‘Not loved.’ To ‘Not my people,’ he will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ The only fitting response from God’s people is “You are our God!”