View source for Book of Hosea

{{Infobox_Contents | 
topic_name = Book of Hosea | 
subtopics = [[Hosea]] | 
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} | 
}} 
{{chapters}}
[[Hosea 1|1]] 
[[Hosea 2|2]] 
[[Hosea 3|3]] 
[[Hosea 4|4]] 
[[Hosea 5|5]] 
[[Hosea 6|6]] 
[[Hosea 7|7]] 
[[Hosea 8|8]] 
[[Hosea 9|9]] 
[[Hosea 10|10]] 
[[Hosea 11|11]] 
[[Hosea 12|12]] 
[[Hosea 13|13]] 
[[Hosea 14|14]] 

==Commentary==

The Book of Hosea is one of the "Minor Prophet" 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 hates the sins of his people and judgement is certain, but God's incredible forgiving love stands firm.
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'''Read [[Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary]] on the [[Text:MHC Concise {{SUBPAGENAME}}|{{SUBPAGENAME}}]]'''

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===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 [[Hosea 2|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 [[Hosea 3|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 [[Hosea 13|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 [[Hosea 14|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]]
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|8|4|lang=WEB}}''
* '''Ungrateful hearts''' - The people have forgotten all the good things that God has done, for example in [[Hosea 13]]:4-6
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|13|4|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|13|5|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|13|6|lang=WEB}}''
:'''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
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|8|1|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|8|2|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|8|3|lang=WEB}}''

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:
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|9|17|lang=WEB}}'' ([[Hosea 9:17]])
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|5|14|lang=WEB}}'' ([[Hosea 5:14]])

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
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|1|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|2|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|3|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|4|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|5|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|6|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|7|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|8|lang=WEB}}''
:''{{Bible verse|hosea|11|9|lang=WEB}}''

Hosea ends with great hope with [[Hosea 14:4]] stating: ''{{Bible verse|hosea|14|4|lang=WEB}}''.

====Hosea in the light of the New Testament====

Hosea reveals an amazing [[God is love|God of love]]. This theme permeates throughout the [[New Testament]] in passages like [[John 3:16]] and [[1 John 4:8]].

Both the apostles [[apostle Paul|Paul]] and [[apostle Peter|Peter]] show, using Hosea, that God's love extends to the Gentiles and that he wants to make them his children.
:''{{Bible verse|romans|9|26|lang=WEB}}'' ([[Romans 9:26]])
:''{{Bible verse|1 Peter|2|10|lang=WEB}}'' ([[1 Peter 2:10]])

==Quotes==

'''[[Hosea 8:7]]'''
: '' For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind...''

==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Hosea Wikipedia - Book of Hosea]

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