Hosea 3:2

The Prophet's purchase hath doubtless an allusion to the redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ. It was spoken of as a goodly price, the Redeemer was bought for, Zechariah 11:12. Here the Prophet gave but half that sum. But it is remarkable, that the price of retribution to a man-servant, or maid-servant, hurt by an ox was double this sum. Precious Jesus! was thy precious blood so little set by! Exodus 21:32. And how graciously doth the Lord plead for the Church to be faithful. Jesus cannot admit a rival. If the heart be not given to him, there is nothing else he can accept. Reader! think of the graciousness of the Lord, as set forth under these figures. Fifteen piece of silver was but about the value of one pound seventeen shillings of our money. And as for the homer, and half homer of barley, the coarsest of grain, the value of it must have been inconsiderable indeed. And if the figure here used did refer to Christ, to the price given for him, what a gracious representation of the Redeemer's unequalled humility? Some have thought, that beside this, it had another reference, namely, to the dowry of Christ's Church, in her lost, ruined, and undone estate. Those who are of this opinion suppose, that an allusion was made to it by David. 1 Samuel 18:25.