Hosea 2:2-23

2:5-8 | The Canaanites attributed Baal with providing gifts such as bread, linen, and oil. They also believed that Baal controlled the weather and fertility. Sadly, many Israelites adopted these beliefs (Isa. 54:5-8; Jer. 3:1).

2:7-13 | Israel had not only forgotten God but abandoned Him by choosing to worship idols. A vivid picture of this abandonment can be seen in 2 Kings 17:7-18. Hosea used the word return to describe what Gomer did, what God wanted His people to do, and what God would do when His people truly turned from their sin.

2:15 | The Valley of Achor (“Valley of Trouble”) was where Achan disobeyed God and kept the enemy’s plunder, resulting in great devastation for the Israelites (Josh. 7). Yet God promised to turn this valley into a door of hope for His people. He does this for all His children who actively seek the hope He has provided (Rev. 3:20).

2:16 | In Hebrew, the word husband can be translated using two words – one that means My Husband (denoting affection and intimacy) and one that means My Master (lit., “my Baal”). God was once again urging His people to worship Him for who He is and not to be ruled by false gods.

2:19-20 | God used the word betroth three times to emphasize the intensity of His loyal love for His people. In the future, Israel would be married to the Lord under the terms of righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, mercy, and faithfulness (Jer. 31:33-34).

2:22-23 | Jezreel (“God scatters”) speaks to the way God would transform his people: they would not be scattered in judgment but scattered as seed for God, in their land, where they would enjoy a renewed covenantal relationship with Him (Zech. 13:9; Rom. 9:25-26).