Examining The Scripture CXXV: A Prostitute Treated Like A Princess

Hosea’s Wife and Oddly Named Children

The Lord commanded Hosea to take for himself a wife that was “from whoredom” and have children of whoredom. This doesn’t necessarily mean she was a prostitute or adulterous at the time of marriage but it is clear she was later unfaithful. He marries Gomer of Diblaim. Why? This relationship will become analogous of Israel’s relationship with the Lord. Israel had committed itself to a covenant long ago and committed itself to the One True God. Since then they had, like an unfaithful adulterous wife, abandoned their faithful covenant in God and had became idolatrous and “whored” after other gods (Baal, etc). In Gomer’s case it was whoring after men licentiously. The product of this adulterous relationship was a generation of bastard children that more or less didn’t really know their Father/father. Hosea’s marriage to a prostitute is analogous to Israel’s apostasy away from God. They flirted and fornicated with nearly every other God except the real one. The one that was faithful to them.

(a) The first child is a son and his name was Jezreel and the Hebrew meaning is “God will sow/scatter”. Its meaning isn’t as important as its association with its location. Jezreel (Valley of) was where Jehu ruthlessly massacred the house of Ahab in 2 Kings 9-10 killing Jehoram and Ahaziah and subsequently Jezebel. In the future it would be the scene of his military demise (Hosea 1:5) where God would break the bow of Israel.

(b) The second child is a daughter and her name was Lo-Ruhamah and the Hebrew meaning is “not accepted/not loved” because the Lord would no longer have mercy on the house of Israel. It is also interesting to add that there is no mention that Hosea is the father of this child. He would not forgive them at all. But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen." The Lord’s love would be cut off from them for a time. The name “Ruhamah” was from the verb “raham” which described tender feelings like those of a parent to a child. God was basically alluding to the fact that he “had loved them like parent” but He would not let the guilty go unpunished

(c) The third child is again as son and his name is Lo-Ammi and the Hebrew meaning is “not my people” and this is because the Lord declared that they were not His people and He was not their God. Once again it is not stated whether or not Hosea is the actual father. This is relating directly to the covenant relationship God had with His people. It was now to be severed because of their disobedience and failure to hold up their end of the deal. They had been unfaithful. The real interesting thing here in verse 9 is the use of the words I am. “…and I am not your God”. If translated correctly from the Hebrew it is actually saying, “and I [am] not I AM (‘ehyah) to you”. He is saying He is no longer the great “I AM” (Greek: ego eimi) to Israel.

Ironically in verses 10 and 11 the Lord says that the effects of the judgment would one day be completely reversed. He promised the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.' The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. No matter what Israel is the people of Yahweh, but He will punish them…and eventually restore them. Tough love.

Longman, Tremper, and David Garland. "Hosea: The Marriage of Hosea to Gomer." Daniel-Malachi (Expositor's Bible Commentary, The). New Rev ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009. 229-231. Print.

Chisholm, Robert B., John Walvoord. "Hosea: A Portrayal of God’s Dealings With Israel" Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 1985. 1380-1381. Print.