Chisholm, Robert B. Handbook on the Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2002

This prophet’s faithful commitment to his wife mirrors the enduring love and grace God has for his people. Key Terms: Themes:  Hosea: savior; safety  Judgment: 1:4-5; 2:9-13; 4:9-10; 5:6-  Jezreel 1:4-Impending judgment of Israel 12,14-15; 8:7; 9:14-17; 13:15-16  Lo-ruhamah 1:6: not having obtained  Disobedience/harlotry: 1:2; 4:1-8; 4:11-14; mercy; not pitied 5:2-5; 7:13-16; 10:1, 13-15; 13:1-2  Lo-ammi 1:8: not my people (the 2  Redemption/restoration: 1:10-11; 2:14-23; children who came after Jezreel probably 6:1-2,11; 11:10-11; 14 were not Hosea’s; see 2:4-5 and 5:7)  Deliverance: 1:7; 3:1-5  Beth-Aven 10:5: House of wickedness;  Social justice: 12:1,7 Bethel given this name after Jeroboam I  Exclusivity of God: 13:4 placed a calf idol there (1 Kings 12:28-33)  Eschatological Hope: 3:5  Beth-arbel 10:14: House of God’s court  Anchor 2:15: trouble  Yahweh: 2:20  Lord of Hosts: 12:5  Ephraim represents all of Israel/N.Kingdom in book of Hoseai  Gibeah: Location of the rape and murder of the Levite concubine in Judg.19. This event set the tone for the current sinful behavior condemned by Hosea Historical Context: Chapter divisions/summaries:  Time of ministry 784BC-700BC?  1-3: The mirror of Hosea’s marriage to the  Contemporary of Isaiah and Amos relationship between God and Israel  Began ministry in last years of Jeroboam  4-5: The injustice and disobedience that is II (793BC-753BC), King of N.Kingdom consuming Israel Israel  6: Call to national repentance  Judahite kings during ministry: Uzziah’s  7-9: Disobedience and judgment for reign (792BC-740BC) and ended at the Ephraim, Samaria and Israel beginning of Hezekiah’s reign (715BC-  10:1-13:16: Further disobedience and 686BC). Kings between Uzziah and God’s love for his people Hezekiah—(Jotham 750BC-731BC)  14: Repentance and future blessing (Ahaz 735BC-715BC)  Hosea the author 1:1  Admah and Zeboiim-2 towns/cities that were destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah (see Deut.29:23) Literary Devices:

 Paradox: 2:15; 5:7; 10:5  Narrative: 1:1-9; 3  Personification: 2:21-22; 7:10a  Allusion 6:7; 9:9; 10:9,14; 11:1;12:3-4  Imagery: 10:12  Simile: 4:16; 5:12,14a; 6:3;7:4,11; 9:10;11:10a;13:3,7-8 Applications:  God can transform our places of pain and trouble into blessing (2:15)  Leaders in ministry cannot hide behind their position when they are being disobedient (3:9-10; 6:6)  Sin affects people and the rest of creation (4:3a)  God is our security and we must trust Him for deliverance in our pain and storms (5:13; 7:11)  We must not give false testimony or misrepresent the truth (9:7) –also see (2 Tim. 3:13; 4:3)  We must seek God continually (12:6)  When we are comfortable we must beware of spiritual laziness (13:6)  We must choose self-destruction or dependence of God (13:9)  Walk and abide in the truth and righteousness of God (14:9)

References:

Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. Chisholm, Robert B. Handbook on the Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2002 Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers. New American Standard Bible. Anaheim, CA: Foundation Publications, INC 2008 i Bible Knowledge Commentary