Hosea - Chapter 2 (Verses 1-13)
The chapter starts in an odd manner consider the following text of condemnation in Verses 2-13. Some consider the first verse to actually be the conclusion of Chapter 1 and the confirmation of the Lord’s blessing the people again based on a reconciliation despite the representation of the second and third children of Chapter 1. But it may actually be foreshadowing to the conclusion of this chapter based on a more thorough statement of reiteration in Verse 23.
1. What does Hosea mean by the words “she is not My wife, and I am not her husband”?
2. To what end should truthful accusations (charges) be brought against the children’s mother?
3. How has the mother prostituted herself?
In some way there is a contrast between the blessings the adulteress mother receives from her husband and the gift she receives from her lovers. The resolute point being made by God is that the breaker of the covenant will receive the gifts from neither if repentance is not accomplished. What gifts have been attained will be removed to destruction.
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Blessings from Husband |
Gifts from Lovers |
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Clothing, housing, food and drink (v. 2) |
High grade luxuries (v. 3) |
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Direction and leadership, purpose (v. 6) |
Nothing (v. 7) |
Verses 8 through 11 indicate what God will do concerning the blessings that have been bestowed.
4. To what end and for who has the adulteress used her blessings (v. 8)?
5. What is the consequence of revealing to her lovers they have committed adultery with the wife of the husband (v. 10)?
6. What is the significance of removing her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts (v. 11)?
Verses 12-13 shows the anger of the forsaken and the consequence of the adultery.
7. What is to happen to the gifts that are received from the lovers?
8. What is the significance of the appearance of the adulteress shown in Verse 13?
9. What does the husband represent?
10. What does the adulteress wife represent?
11. What does the broken marriage vow represent?
Christ in the Text
Is Jesus in this as prophecy? No. Is Christ directly represented in this set of verses? No. Is Christ indirectly represented in these verses? No. Is the purpose of Christ shown in these verses? Yes. The purpose of Christ is reconciliation of the repentant to God. There is a call for repentance in the verses. Without repentance there is condemnation. Christ is the only means to life as declared by the Lord himself (John 14:6, Hebrews 5:6-10).
