The lesson of infidelity

¹Then the LORD said to me again, “Go, make love to a woman who has a lover and is involved in adultery, just as the LORD loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”

²So I bought her for fifteen pieces of silver, a large amount of barley, and a portion of wine.[#3.2 LXX]

³I said to her, “You must stay with me for many days; you won’t act like a prostitute; you won’t have sex with a man, nor I with you.”

⁴Similarly, the Israelites will remain many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred standing stone, without a priestly vest or household divine images.

⁵Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; they will come trembling to the LORD and to the LORD ’s goodness in the latter days.