God as Faithful Husband, Israel as Faithless Wife

God as a Faithful Husband, Israel as Faithless Wife (Hosea 1-3)

In Hosea 1:2, YHWH commands Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a promiscuous wife and bear children of promiscuity, for the land fornicates away from YHWH” (my trans.). Hosea then marries Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and has three children by her: a son Jezreel (the name of a fertile valley meaning “God will sow”), a daughter Not-Pitied, and another son Not-My-People (1:3–9). Each child represents, allegorically, the deteriorating state of the nation. Gomer’s licentiousness brings dishonour not only to Hosea himself but to his whole household. Hence, their offspring become “children of promiscuity” (see also 2:4–5)…