Traditional Author: Hosea, son of Beeri.

Approximate Time of Writing: 760-720 B.C.

General Content: Historical Narrative and Prophecy. Hosea was the primary writing of the Northern Kingdom, starting well before and continuing until after its fall. He ministered during the last forty or fifty years of the Northern Kingdom where there was no legitimate priesthood functioning. The existing priesthood in the north was mixed with idolatry and corrupting influences from its inception. (See 1 Kings 12:25-33 & 2 Kings 17) Prophetic ministry was the only true ministry the people of the Northern Kingdom received in those days.

Even though this book is factually historical, most of the is written as an allegory of the Lord’s relationship with Israel. In the first chapter, Hosea is instructed to take a prostitute named Gomer for his wife. The book explains that Gomer is symbolic of unfaithful Israel, and faithful Hosea represents the Lord. The reader is made to understand that this is how the Lord sees His relationship with ancient Israel; with God steadfast in His committed love and Israel often running off to worship other gods, as a prostitute with other lovers.

It also contains the redemptive promises of marriage from God to the Jewish people, recited daily by many observant Jews. Hosea reveals Israel as the OT Wife of God as a type and shadow of the NT Church as the Bride of Christ. Christians need to consider the message of Hosea and understand that, like the Jewish people before us, we often are unfaithful in our devotion toward Him, but He is always faithful toward us.

Chapter 1 The call of Hosea and his prophetic marriage. v. 1 Hosea’s approximate ministry timeline is defined by the kings listed here. v. 2 He is given an odd prerequisite for the start of his long ministry. :2b "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord." NIV v. 3-9 Three Children with prophetic names. v. 4 A son named “Jezreel”, because of the murders of at Jezreel. v. 6 A daughter “Loruhamah” meaning “no mercy” for Israel. v. 9 A son, “Loammi” meaning “not my people” for apostate Israel. v. 10-11 The Lord prophesied a redemptive future for Israel in the same land. Romans 9:25 As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," 26 and, "In the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'children of the living God.'" NIV Chapter 2 God’s displeasure is to be mitigated with a redemptive goal. v. 1-5 God calls Hosea to speak to faithful and unfaithful Israel on His behalf. v. 6-13 The Lord is about to expose Israel’s unfaithful behavior. v. 14-20 Immediately, He looks toward a future reunion and betrothal with Israel. :16 "In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' 17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. 18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. 19 I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. 20 I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. NIV v. 23 God will call a people from the Gentiles along with His people Israel. Hosea 2:23 I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'" NIV

Romans 9:23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," 26 and, "In the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'children of the living God.'" NIV

Chapter 3 Hosea’s prophetic act of God’s faithfulness in marriage. v. 1 The prophet is instructed to go find his adulterous wife and to love her. :1 The Lord said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." NIV v. 4 Because of Spiritual adultery Israel will go many years without a king. v. 5 Messianic prophecy concerning what will come after this period.

Chapter 4 Israel’s adultery. v. 1 There remains no knowledge of Yahweh in the land of Israel. v. 6 God’s people are destroyed for a lack of the knowledge of Yahweh. v. 12 Idolatry is spiritual adultery.

Chapter 5 - 6 A call to repentance and future redemption. 5:1-3 The Northern Kingdom is under judgement and collectively called Ephraim. 5:14-15 God will put Israel under judgement until they repent and say, 6:1-3 Come let us return to Yahweh and He will revive and restore us. Hos 5:15 I will return to My place [on high] until they acknowledge their offense and feel their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction and distress they will seek, inquire for, and require Me earnestly, saying, 6:1 COME AND let us return to the Lord, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him. [Isa 26:19; Ezek 37:1-10.] 3 Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. His going forth is prepared and certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the [heavy] rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth. AMP

Hos 5:15 I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. 6:1 " Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. 2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. 3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." NASU

Hos 5:15 I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favor: 6:1 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3 Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth." NRSV

Hos 5:15 Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me." 6:1 "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." NIV

Chapter 7 God would have protected them, but they turned to Egypt. v. 11 Ephraim sought help from Egypt and Assyria, but not Yahweh.

Chapter 8 Idols have replaced Yahweh, but they cannot help. v. 1-3 Israel will beg for mercy, but judgement is decreed. v. 5-6 Jeroboam’s golden calf idols are specifically mentioned. (1 Kings 12:25-33)

Chapter 9 Israel will be taken captive by the Assyrians. v. 1-3 Bondage to Assyria is compared to bondage in Egypt. v. 16-17 Ephraim is defeated and God has cast them away. Chapter 10 Israel is an unfruitful vine. v. 1-2 Idolatry has destroyed Israel. v. 12 Even now,The Lord admonished them to repent.

Chapter 11 God’s plans will not be eternally thwarted for Israel. v. 1 God called Israel, His son, out of Egypt, as He would one day call Jesus. Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt 14 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." NIV v. 5 Assyria is again portrayed as type of Egypt. v. 9-12 Future mercy and redemption is spoken over Israel and Judah.

Chapter 12 Israel is both the name of a man and his descendants. v. 3-6 Israel/Ephraim is reminded of ’s encounter with God at Bethel. v. 10 God has spoken symbolically concerning Israel through His . v. 12-13 The Lord previously delivered Israel from bondage through a prophet.

Chapter 13 Idolatry is again condemned. v. 1-2 The golden calves as false gods are mentioned again. v. 4 There is no savior and no God but Yahweh. v. 9 Israel’s only hope is Yahweh. v. 14 God will yet resurrect Israel from their graves, and Paul quotes this. Hosea 3:14 I will deliver them out of the power of Hades, and will redeem them from death: where is thy penalty, O death? O Hades, where is thy sting? comfort is hidden from mine eyes. Septuagint Translation

1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" NIV

Chapter 14 The Lord calls Israel to return once again. v. 1-2 Israel will return to the Lord at His invitation. v. 3 They will one day repent for Idolatry and looking to others for help. v. 4 God will forgive their backsliding. v. 8 Ephraim will come to her senses and return to Yahweh. v. 9 The wise will be redeemed but transgressors will fall.