Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins."
"And an adulteress ..." The woman in focus here is one who has violated her marriage covenant.  Moreover, the "love" in view here was nothing to be compared with the love of God which is forcefully contrasted with it in this very verse.  If we understand the "friend" here to be the same as the "lovers" in  Hosea 1:13, it would refer to the attachment which the pagan priesthood of the Baalim had for Israel, through which relationship the pagan structure enjoyed all their wealth, preferment, and licentious luxury.  No doubt, Israel was useful to that society; and she was loved of them in the same sense that the farmer may be said to love his cattle or his swine.