Dear Rabbi,
I'm trying to find the exact source, story and citing of the Midrash or Gemara of Ha'Shem's command to Hosea to divorce his wife and marry a prostitute.
And then some time later, if I have the story correct, Ha'Shem commands Hosea to divorce the prostitute. Hosea protests that he cannot desert her as he has come to love her and has had children with her. Ha'Shem responds that so it is that Hosea cannot divorce his 2nd wife who was a prostitute, so to G-d could no sooner abandon His beloved Jewish people, even though they have transgressed against Him.
Thanks in advance for your help. By the way, in Pesachim 87a & 87b there is something like this story??
Best regards & Good Shabbos,
Stephen Oster, Greenwich, Connecticut USA
Yes, you seem to be referring to the Agadah in Pesachim 87b. What follows is a summary of the story from our Outlines of the Daf.
Be well,
M. KORNFELD
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THE PROPHET HOSEA
(a) Hosea is called the first of the prophets.
(b) Question: There were many prophets from Moshe to Hosea!?
(c) Answer: He was the first among his four contemporaries.
(d) HaShem is displeased when he tells Hosea,"your sons have sinned."
1. Hosea should have responded that they are Your children,
the children of Your beloved ones, have mercy on them.
2. Rather he answered that HaShem can exchange them for others.
(e) To teach Hosea, HaShem will tell him to take a harlot and have
children of questionable birth, and if he can then bear to send
them away, then HaShem will send away His People.
1. The Pesukim dealing with Hosea's marriage are analyzed.
(i) His wife is called "Gomer." [Two explanations]
Daf 87b
(ii) The daughter of "Divlayim." [Three explanations.]
(iii)She has a son whom Hosea is told to call Yizrael.
(iv) She has a daughter to be named Lo Ruchama.
(v) She has a son named Lo Ami.
2. HaShem tells Hosea to divorce her.
3. Hosea protests that he cannot break his ties to her.
4. HaShem makes the point that these questionable children bind
you, yet you maintain the tie, all the more so My ties to My
children, the children of those I have tested, the House of
Israel, one of My four acquisitions!
(i) Torah
(ii) Heaven and Earth
(iii)Beis HaMikdash
(iv) House of Israel
5. Hosea, realizing his error, begins to plea for mercy.
6. HaShem tells him to plea, first, for mercy for His People.
(i) HaShem has issued three bad decrees on Hosea's account.
(ii) Hosea pleads for the People and the decrees are erased.
(iii)Hosea then blesses the People regarding each decree.
(1) Yizrael, the scattering, is reversed.
(2) HaShem will have mercy on a People Lo Ruchama.
(3) HaShem will once again call the People Ami.