Hosea Is Called On To Take Another Woman As Wife Who Was An Adulteress, But Was Not To Have Sexual Relations With Her. This Was As A Sign That Israel Too Was To Lose Her Relationship With YHWH, Although In The Latter Days That Position Would Be Reversed (Hosea 3:1-5).
There are no grounds for thinking that this is the same wife as before. The symbols do not necessarily have to fit perfectly into what is being illustrated. Two symbols can be combined in making a point. And as we saw at the end of chapter 2 there was a change of symbol there from being married to being betrothed. Hosea is now to take a wife who is beloved by someone else and who is in an adulterous situation with that person, just as YHWH loves Israel in spite of the fact that she is ‘playing the harlot' and loves false gods. This he is to do by the payment of either a bride price or a ransom. The thought in Hosea 2:19-20 of YHWH becoming ‘betrothed' to Israel may suggest that a bride price is in mind here. However, the treatment of her suggests a slave-wife. No other could be refused her conjugal rights prior to having a child without her family protesting. But either way the condition is that she is neither to see her lover again, nor is she to have sexual relations with Hosea. This is to be a picture of the relationship of Israel as over against YHWH. They also are to be separated from their lover (Baal), and abstain from false gods, but without having any kind of relationship with YHWH, until the time comes when they turn and seek God and His king, and YHWH receives her to Himself again.
Analysis of Hosea 3:1-5.
a And YHWH said to me, “Go again, love a woman beloved of her friend, and an adulteress, even as YHWH loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins” (Hosea 3:1).
b So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley (Hosea 3:2).
c And I said to her, “You shall abide for me many days. You will not play the harlot, and you will not be any man's wife (Hosea 3:3 a).
d So will I also be toward you” (Hosea 3:3 b).
c For the children of Israel will abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim (Hosea 3:4).
b Afterward will the children of Israel return, and seek YHWH their God, and David their king (Hosea 3:5 a).
a And will come with fear to YHWH and to his goodness in the latter days (Hosea 3:5 b).
Note that in ‘a' Hosea is to turn to a new wife (his old wife probably being dead) and to love her as a sign of YHWH's love for Israel, and in the parallel Israel is one day to show reverent love (fear) towards YHWH. In ‘b' Hosea seeks out such a wife, and in the parallel Israel will seek YHWH their God. In ‘c' there will be lack of sexual relationship and therefore a situation of separation between the two, and in the parallel Israel were to be in that position with regard to YHWH. Centrally in ‘d' Hosea would also separate himself from her (a sign of what God would do to Israel).