Hosea and Gomer

“Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms,” the LORD tells Hosea, son of Beeri, “for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.” Hosea takes Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and three children are born, whose names are messages: Jezreel, then Lo-ruhamah (“no mercy”) and Lo-ammi (“not my people”). Their mother runs after her lovers, just as Israel runs after the Baals, forgetting that it is the LORD who gives her the grain, the new wine, and the oil. Yet God promises: “Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.” He then commands Hosea to love an adulterous woman, probably Gomer, whom he buys back for fifteen shekels of silver and some barley. It is a picture of faithful love: to Lo-ammi, God will say, “Thou art my people!”