Hosea 3:1–5 refers once more to Hosea 1:1–11. Again, the difficult marriage between Hosea and Gomer is discussed as a picture of the relationship between God and his people. Hosea has to retrieve his (now) runaway wife and imprison her at home: picture of the coming exile. Only then there is room for a new beginning. This is discussed in more detail in Hosea 4:1–19. In the book Hosea you will find a transition here. The prophet no longer speaks of his own marriage and family. At the same time, the theme of the first chapters (the relationship between God and his people) is further discussed and developed. The Lord still reveals himself here as the God who has a strong desire for his people and for this very reason he can become terribly angry with them.
1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land;