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Revision as of 06:55, 9 November 2007
Synopsis: The Book of Hosea is a books of the Old Testament. It is a record of the prophecies of the prophet Hosea to the northern kingdom of Israel (also called Ephraim after its largest tribe) in the 8th century BC. Hosea spoke about the inward moral corruption and spiritual adultery of the people who had been unfaithful to God and worshipped other gods. Hosea repeatedly echoes this message: God abhors the sins of his people; judgement is certain; but God's loyal love stands firm.
Contents
Chapters
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Related topics
Translations of Book of Hosea
Main article
The Book of Hosea is a books of the Old Testament. It stands first in order among what are known as the twelve Minor Prophets. It is a record of the prophecies of the prophet Hosea to the northern kingdom of Israel (also called Ephraim after its largest tribe) in the 8th century BC. Hosea spoke about the inward moral corruption and spiritual adultery of the people who had been unfaithful to God and worshipped other gods. Hosea repeatedly echoes this message: God abhors the sins of his people; judgement is certain; but God's loyal love stands firm.
Authorship
Hosea prophesied during a dark era of Israel's history, the period of the Northern Kingdom's decline and fall in the 8th century BC. The apostasy of the people was rampant, having turned away from God in order to serve the calves of Jeroboam (see 1 Kings 12:26-30 and Hosea 8:4-6) and Baal, a Canaanite god of fertility.
Hosea prophesied some time between 780 and 710 BC, and was a contemporary of the prophets Amos and Isaiah. Along with Amos, Hosea's target audience was the Northern Kingdom of Israel, while Isaiah's prophecies were directed primarily towards the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Hosea was himself a native of the Northern Kingdom, and wrote in a distinctive northern dialect.
Contents
The book may be divided into two parts, the first part (chapters 1-3) describes the marriage of Hosea to a prostitute, symbolically representing the idolatry of Israel. The second part (chapters 4-14), is a summary of Hosea's discourses, filled with denunciations, threatenings, exhortations, promises, and revelations of mercy.
Hosea was directed by God to marry a prostitute, and he did so. Marriage here is symbolic of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. However, Israel has been unfaithful to God by following other gods and breaking the commandments which are the terms of the covenant, hence Israel is symbolized by a prostitute who violates the obligations of marriage to her husband.
The book records that Hosea and his wife, Gomer, had a son and God commanded that the son be named Jezreel. This name refers to a valley in which much blood had been shed in Israel's history, especially by the kings of the Northern Kingdom (See 1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9:21-35). The naming of this son was to stand as a prophecy against the reigning house of the Northern Kingdom, that they would pay for that bloodshed.
The couple next had a daughter and God commanded that she be named Lo-ruhamah meaning "No Pity" to show Israel that, although God still had pity on the Southern Kingdom of Judah, God no longer had pity on the Northern Kingdom of Israel and its destruction was imminent.
The book records that a second son was then born to Gomer who was named Lo-ammi, meaning "Not My People". The child bore this name of shame to show that the Northern Kingdom would also be shamed, for its people would no longer be known as God's People.
Following these births the prophecy is made that someday this will all be changed, and that God will indeed have pity on Israel.
The 2nd chapter of the book describes a divorce between Hosea and Gomer, which is symbolic of the end of the covenant between God and the Northern Kingdom. However, Hosea ended this prophecy with the declaration that God will one day renew the covenant, and will take Israel back in love and in the 3rd chapter, at God's command, Hosea sought out Gomer once more. Hosea was required to buy Gomer back, suggesting that either she had sold herself into slavery for debt, or she was with a lover who demanded money in. This chapter symbolically describes that God will take Israel back, even at a cost to Himself.
The 13th chapter foretells the destruction of the kingdom of Israel at the hands of Assyria, because there has been no repentance. This event eventually occurred in 722 BC. In chapter 14, the prophet urges Israel to seek forgiveness, promising its restoration, while urging the utmost fidelity to God.
Themes
The main theme within Hosea is of God's judgement of a people who have abandoned him, yet his plan to forgive and restore them despite this.
A number of accusations are made of Israel by God in Hosea including
- Idolatory - Throughout the book, the people are shown to have ignored the command of exclusive worship of God, for example in Hosea 8:4
- Ungrateful hearts - The people have forgotten all the good things that God has done, for example in Hosea 13:4-6
- Lack of knowledge of God
- A shallow appearance of religion with no real depth is shown throughout the book, for example in Hosea 8:1-3
Because of these sins, God reveals that he will bring judgement upon Israel, rejecting them and allowing them to be conquered. This occurred in 722 BC when Assyrian armies conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and the people were exiled. Passages that describe this event include:
Despite these sins however, the goodness of God's character as a loving father shines throughout Hosea. In Hosea 11 a picture emerges showing the emotional struggle of God.
God has enduring compassion – like a loving father
- Template:Hosea 11:1 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:2 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:3 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:4 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:5 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:6 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:7 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:8 (WEB) edit
- Template:Hosea 11:9 (WEB) edit
Hosea ends with great hope with Hosea 14:4 stating: Template:Hosea 14:4 (WEB) edit.
Hosea in the light of the New Testament
Hosea reveals an amazing God of love. This theme permeates throughout the New Testament in passages like John 3:16 and 1 John 4:8.
Both the apostles Paul and Peter show, using Hosea, that God's love extends to the Gentiles and that he wants to make them his children.
Quotes
Links
Return to Bible | Prophetic Books of the Old Testament ]]Category:Prophetic Books of the Old Testament]]
