Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | why did Hosea marry prostitute | Hos 1:1 | kichmon | 108738 | ||
My answer is purely from a cultural standpoint. According to the Bible, the Canaanite peoples had a system of religious prostitution. This is seen, for example, in Genesis 38:21, where Judah asks Canaanite men of Adulam "Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side?". The Hebrew original employs the word "qedsha" in Judah's question, as opposed to the standard Hebrew "zonah". The word "qidsha" is derived from the root Q.D.Sh, which signifies uniqueness and holiness; thus it probably represents a religious prostitute, a term uncommon among the Israelites, but known to them from the neighboring people and used in communication between them. Sacred prostitution was common in Israel albeit forbidden by the priests. We later see another sacred prostitute in Mary Magdelene. Magdela was a hub of Goddess worship(Asherah, God's wife) and prostitution was similar to paying for indulgences. Now Hosea's story is an interesting one and we should take heed to hear its message. The book may be divided into two parts, the first containing chapters 1-3, and symbolically representing the idolatry of Israel under imagery borrowed from the matrimonial relation. The figures of marriage and adultery are common in the Old Testament writings to represent the spiritual relations between God and the people of Israel. Here we see the apostasy of Israel and their punishment, with their future repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. The second part, containing 4-14, is a summary of Hosea's discourses, filled with denunciations, threatenings, exhortations, promises, and revelations of mercy. The first part is what pertains to your question. Hosea represents God and the prostitute represents Israel or man in general. Some may say that Hosea marries the woman to show how God gives undeserved sinners His grace. Perhaps this is a facet but the gnostic or hidden message is much more profound. |
||||||
2 | why did Hosea marry prostitute | Hos 1:1 | Morant61 | 108821 | ||
Greetings Kichmon! Why would you refer to a 'hidden' message in Hosea? God Himself explains the meaning of the marriage to Gomer. Concerning the original marriage, He says: "When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, 'Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.'" - Hosea 1:2. Concerning the 're-marriage', He says: "The LORD said to me, 'Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.' 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. 3 Then I told her, 'You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.' 4 For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. 5 Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days." - Hosea 3:1-5. What is 'hidden' about that? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
||||||