They have dealt faithlessly with the LORD refers to Israel’s treachery in deserting Yahweh and worshiping idols. The Hebrew verb translated have dealt faithlessly is used to describe adultery, unfaithfulness in marriage (see Jer 3.20). Here it is a metaphor describing the unfaithful relationship of Israel with the LORD. Good News Translation says “have been unfaithful,” which is an English expression used of an unfaithful spouse, so it expresses the idea here correctly for English speakers.

For they have born alien children: Good News Translation says “their children do not belong to him.” This line continues the figure of adultery since the Hebrew expression for alien children refers to children whose biological father is not the mother’s husband. Here the expression means that the Israelite parents have wandered from Yahweh, so their children do not know him and are strangers to him. This verse clearly relates to the story of Hosea and Gomer, especially in 2.4-5. The topic of children also helps to relate this section B-b′ with section B-b, where children are discussed in 4.6.

Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields: The text and interpretation of this line are uncertain. The new moon may refer to a monthly festival at which there is a feast with plenty to eat (see 1 Sam 20.5, 18, 24). If so, then this line reverses what is expected by saying that the festival will devour them (so Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The statement then is a kind of riddle that requires explanation: their pagan monthly festival will become the cause of their destruction, contrary to the blessing they looked for at the beginning of each month. The problem with this interpretation is that God’s Law also instructed the Israelites to celebrate the New Moon Festival (see Num 28.11-15). An alternate interpretation is that this statement is a threat that they will be destroyed by the time of the next new moon. This interpretation is the one adopted by Good News Translation: “So now they and their lands will soon be destroyed.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is more specific with “Within a single month will they and their land have a downfall.” Similar models are “Now, in less than a month, their country will be ruined” (Bible en français courant) and “But before the new moon they and their fields will be devoured” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling). Compare also King James Version: “now shall a month devour them with their portions.” Some scholars suggest a connection between the New Moon Festival and ritual sex. In that case this line means their own behavior will “eat” them. Others prefer to emend the Hebrew text to read “A new people will eat them with their fields,” which means that people from elsewhere will invade the country, kill the people, and exploit the fields. Others emend the text to read “and now the destroyer will devour them, them and their estates” (Jerusalem Bible) or “Now an invader shall devour their fields” (New English Bible). However, these emendations are uncertain. The preferred interpretation is that the Israelites and their fields will be destroyed by the time of the next new moon.

A translation model for this verse is:

• They have betrayed the LORD,
because they have given birth to illegitimate children.
Soon, before the New Moon Festival
they and their fields will be destroyed.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .