1 Then said the Lord vnto me, Goe yet, loue a woman (beloued of her friend, yet an adulteresse) according to the loue of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who looke to other gods, and loue flagons of wine.
2 So I bought her to me for fifteene pieces of siluer, and for an homer of barley and an halfe homer of barley.
3 And I said vnto her, Thou shalt abide for me many dayes, thou shalt not play the harlot, & thou shalt not be for an other man, so will I also be for thee.
4 For the children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King, and without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an Ephod, and without Teraphim.
5 Afterward shall the children of Israel returne, and seeke the Lord their God, and Dauid their King, and shall feare the Lord, and his goodnesse in the latter dayes.
The prophet enters into a new contract, representing the gracious manner in which God will again restore Israel under a new covenant.1-3 The dislike of men to true religion is because they love objects and forms, which allow them to indulge, instead of mortifying their lusts. How wonderful that a holy God should have good-will to those whose carnal mind is enmity against Him! Here is represented God's gracious dealings with the fallen race of mankind, that had gone from him. This is the covenant of grace he is willing to enter into with them, they must be to him a people, and he will be to them a God. They must accept the punishment of their sin, and must not return to folly. And it is a certain sign that our afflictions are means of good to us, when we are kept from being overcome by the temptations of an afflicted state.
4-5 Here is the application of the parable to Israel. They must long sit like a widow, stripped of all joys and honours; but shall at length be received again. Those that would seek the Lord so as to find him, must apply to Christ, and become his willing people. Not only are we to fear the Lord and his greatness, but the Lord and his goodness; not only his majesty, but his mercy. Even Jewish writers apply this passage to the promised Messiah; doubtless it foretold their future conversion to Christ, for which they are kept a separate people. Though the first fear of God arise from a view of his holy majesty and righteous vengeance, yet the experience of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, will lead the heart to reverence so kind and glorious a Friend and Father, and to fear offending him.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.