Hosea prophesied against Israel worshipping Baal instead of Yahweh, foretelling their destruction by Assyria. God would allure Israel back into the wilderness to speak tenderly to them, restoring their love through a purifying time of fear. The Valley of Achor represents a door of hope, where Israel's youthful devotion could be rekindled. Ultimately God wants a reciprocal relationship with Israel, not just receiving favors, calling him "My Husband" instead of "My Baal".

1. Hosea 2:13-16
Hosea 2:12-16
13 I will punish her for the festival days of
13 I Baals,
the will punish her for the festival days of 13: Hosea prophesied in the northern Israel
the Baals, offered incense to them
When she Kingdom right before it was decimated by
When she offered incense toring and
and decked herself with her them Assyria. Hosea foretold this destruction, in
and decked herself with her ring and
jewelry, part, because he felt that Israel had betrayed
jewelry, after her lovers,
and went Yahweh by worshipping other Gods, like Baal.
and went after her lovers,
and forgot me, says the Lord. 14. God woos Israel, like a scorned lover who’s
and forgot me, will now Lord. her,
14 Therefore, I says the allure forgiven an unfaithful spouse, and now tries to
14 Therefore, into the wilderness,
and bring her I will now allure her, restore their love. Counter-intuitively, this
and bring her into the her.
and speak tenderly to wilderness, seduction occurs in the wilderness/wasteland—
and speak tenderly to her. her vineyards,
15 From there I will give her the area of fear and uncertainty where Moses
15 From thereValleygive her herdoor of
and make the I will of Achor a vineyards, and the first Israelites forged their covenant with
and make the Valley of Achor a door of
hope. God.
hope. she shall respond as in the days of
There 15. The Valley of Achor=Valley of Trouble/Death.
There she shall respond as in the days of
her youth, God can only strip us of the human arrogance
herat the time when she came out of the
As youth, that has distanced us from Her by leading us
As atof Egypt. when she came out of the
land the time through a purifying state of fear and uncertainty.
land ofthat day, says the Lord, you will call
16 On Egypt. 16. As opposed to Baal worship, where we
16 On that day, saysand no longer will call
me, “My husband,” the Lord, you will you approach the Divine like children looking for
me,me, “My Baal.” and no longer will you
call “My husband,” favors, God wants us to enter into a
call me, “My Baal.” reciprocal, faithful loving relationship with Him.