Hoshea's wife/2

Hoshea's wife

Exegetical Approaches

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Hoshea married a prostitute

Sources:Bavli PesachimPesachim 87a-bAbout the Bavli, RidHoshea 1:2About R. Yeshayah of Trani, MalbimHoshea Beur HaInyan 1:2About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

Can Hashem command a prophet to sin? These sources offer two possible answers to this question:

• The Rid says explicitly that since Hashem is the one who prohibited the taking of prostitutes, He can also permit marriage to one ("הפה שאסר הוא הפה שהתיר"). The Malbim agrees, pointing out that Hashem sometimes gives a one time command (הוראת שעה) which does not accord with Torah law so as to achieve a larger goal
• The Malbim claims that Hashem's command actually does not involve any prohibition, since a prostitute in only prohibited to a priest and not to a regular Israelite.

Purpose of the command – Bavli Pesachim asserts that the command was meant to teach Hoshea a lesson in mercy, so that he could empathize with Hashem's feelings towards the nation. Despite the fact that the nation "prostituted" with other gods, Hashem did not want to abandon them, since He still loved them.  Hashem forced Hoshea to feel the same when told to abandon his own prostituting wife. This goal could not have been accomplished were the command simply an analogy.

To whom is this prophecy intended? According to the Bavli, the prophecy seems to be aimed more at Hoshea than the nation itself.

Assumptions – The Bavli makes two assumptions, first that Hoshea did not readily defend the nation, preferring that they be punished for their sins, and second, that he was upset about leaving his wife. Neither of these points, however, is explicit in the text.

What is the meaning of this prophecy? This position views the prophecy as mainly one of comfort rather than chastisement.

Other stories where prophets are commanded to sin – The Malbim points to other cases where a prophet transgresses a Torah commandment such as Yechezkel's shaving of his sideburns and Eliyahu's sacrificing on a private altar outside of the Mikdash.¹

Other stories in which prophets are commanded to do weird acts – The Rid maintains that other bizarre acts done by prophets should also be read as having literally taken place, rather than simply being analogies.  Thus, Yechezkel really slept on his side for months and Yeshayahu walked barefoot for three years.²

Hoshea did not marry a prostitute

These commentators hold that this story only happened in Hoshea's dream and he did not really take a prostitute.

Sources:Targum YonatanHoshea 1:2Hoshea 3:1About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Ibn EzraHoshea First Commentary 1:1-3Hoshea Second Commentary 1:1-3About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RadakHoshea 1:2Hoshea 1:3Hoshea 1:6Hoshea 1:8About R. David Kimchi

Would Hashem command a prophet to sin? These commentators hold that Hashem would not command a prophet to do something that is prohibited in the Torah and therefore this story did not happen for real.

What is the meaning of this prophecy?

To whom is this prophecy intended?

Hoshea 3

Other stories where prophets are commanded to sin – These commentators hold that also other stories where we hear that a prophet is commanded to do a prohibition, there too it is only במראה הנבואה. For example: Yechzkel's shaving of his פאות.

Other stories in which prophets are commanded to do weird acts – These commentators hold that also other stories where we hear that a prophet is commanded to do weird acts, there too they are only במראה הנבואה. For example: Yeshayahu's walking barefoot, Yechezkel's sleeping on his side.

¹ It is not clear, however, if Eliyahu was acting on a Divine command or his own initiative.  See Prophetic Actions Without Explicit Divine Sanction.

² He does, however, raise the possibility that both of these  took place only in a vision.