הושע ג

GOD said to me further, “Go, befriend a woman who, while befriended by a companion, consorts with others, just as GOD befriends the Israelites, but they turn to other gods and love the cups of the grape.”

Then I hired her for fifteen [shekels of] silver, a ḥomer of barley, and a lethech of barley; of barley Septuagint reads “a jar of wine.”

and I stipulated with her, “In return, you are to go a long time without either fornicating or marrying; even I [shall not cohabit] with you.”

For the Israelites shall go a long time without king and without officials, without sacrifice and without cult pillars, and without ephod and oracle idols.

Afterward, the Israelites will turn back and will seek the ETERNAL their God and David their king—and they will thrill over GOD and over God’s bounty in the days to come.