3:1 Yahweh told Hosea to seek out in love the woman whom he formerly loved, Gomer, even though she was an adulteress.37His action would be similar to that of the Lord Himself who loved the Israelites even though they had become spiritually unfaithful to Him. They had turned from following Him to worship other gods, and they loved the raisin cakes that were evidently part of their worship (cf. Jer. 7:18; 44:19).
3:2 Hosea obeyed the Lord and sought out his wife. He had to pay 15 shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley (about 9 bushels) since she had apparently become the property of someone else. Fifteen shekels of silver was half the price of a slave (Exod. 21:32), and barley was cattle food. A homer and a half cost about 15 shekels of silver.38So Hosea evidently paid the price of a slave for his wife.
3:3 After Hosea had brought Gomer home, he told her to stay with him from then on. She was not to play the harlot or to have a lover any longer. He also promised to be faithful to her.39
