A strict agreement is established between the prophet and the woman, serving as a powerful symbol for the complex relationship between God and the people of Israel during the period of exile. This marks a transition phase defined by distance, waiting, and absolute loyalty. The bond between them remains intact, yet it is not actively lived out. The prophet first demands that the woman wait for him. This period of waiting involves a deliberate delay, likening her to a living widow who refrains from marriage [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. Despite the physical distance between them, she will be called by his name alone and will not belong to anyone else [רד״ק].
The agreement requires her to completely break away from her past in two distinct ways. On a literal level, she must abandon all casual lovers and street prostitution while also avoiding any formal marriage to another man [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. Symbolically, these demands mirror the spiritual state required of the Israelites in exile. The ban on casual affairs represents the strict prohibition against worshipping other gods or engaging in secret idolatry. Meanwhile, the restriction against taking another husband signifies that the nation must never adopt a foreign faith or a new religion from another people [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם].
The conclusion of the agreement shifts to the response of the prophet, which directly mirrors the response of God. The primary approach among commentators is that the restriction applies mutually in terms of distance. Just as the woman is asked to sit alone, the prophet will also refrain from fulfilling the marriage for the time being, maintaining a clear boundary [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, another perspective views this response as a deep promise of mutual loyalty from God. In this light, just as the nation waits for Him, God will separate Himself from all others, remaining entirely faithful as He waits for the future moment to redeem and unite with them forever [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Adding a conditional layer to this dynamic, it is also understood that if the people choose to return to God, He will in turn return to them [אבן עזרא].