Hosea prophesied in the middle years of the eighth century, B.C. He was
a prophet speaking to the northern kingdom of Israel in the years
preceding the fall of Samaria to Assyria. Computing the length of his
ministry from the kings listed in 1:1, we can say he prophesied for
forty years. This book is the only information we have concerning him.
He is the only prophet to the northern kingdom to put his message into
written form. All the other writing prophets came from and spoke to the
southern kingdom of Judah.
It should be noted that although Hosea is a prophet to the North, he
dates himself in 1:1, by referring to the kingdom of the South —
Judah. Also, he makes numerous references to Judah (1:7,11; 4:15;
5:5,10,13; 6:4,11; 10:11; 11:12; 12:2). This all suggests that after the
fall of Samaria, he fled to Judah and wrote the book there.
It will help you to feel what Hosea is saying if you know the condition
of the nation during his prophesying. In the southern kingdom of Judah,
Isaiah, Amos and Micah were his contemporaries, and we can glean some
insight of Israel from their prophecies.
When Hosea began his work, Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C.) was the strong
ruler. You can read of his reign in II Kings 14:23-29. Uzziah was king
of Judah, and between them, they had recovered almost the same amount of
land that had been the kingdom of David and Solomon. Living at the end
of Jeroboam’s reign, Hosea’s generation knew nothing of defeat by a
foreign power. They had know peace for many years, and along with it,
prosperity. (II Chron. 26:10; Hosea 8:14; Amos 3:15, 5:11; Isaiah 9:10.
You should note that Samaria, the capital of Israel, is often used to
describe the whole nation, as Washington DC, describes the United States
throughout the world).
Although wealthy and prosperous, the people slid further and further
from God. Extreme poverty existed alongside great wealth. Greed,
dishonesty and cheating described this land where the weak were
victimized by the strong. (Hosea 12:7; Isaiah 5:8; Amos 8:5,6) Widows
and orphans, God’s special concern, were oppressed. the destitute were
bought and sold in public auction. (Amos 8:4,8)
Baal worship, that had been brought into Israel and popularized under
Jezebel, continued to lure the people away from God. (Hosea 2:8; 11:2;
13:1) Prostitutes, under the guise of priestesses to Baal, filled the
land with lust (4:10-18). The people still built high places where they
set up images of Baal and Asherah poles. (II Kings 17:7-12)
After Jeroboam’s death, the nation moved rapidly to disaster. His son,
Zechariah, succeeded him (II Kings 15:8-12) and was killed by Shallum,
after reigning only six months. Shallum ruled for one month and was then
killed by Menahem (II Kings 15:13-15). Menahem then reigned for ten
years (II Kings 15:17-22). His son, Pekahiah, was killed by Pekah (II
Kings 15:23-26). Pekah reigned for twenty years (II Kings 15:27).
Assyria marched on Samaria and put it under siege for two years, until
it finally fell in 722 B.C.
It was during these turbulent days that Hosea pleaded with Israel to
turn to God. The central idea of the book concerns God’s covenant made
with Israel at Sinai. They had broken that covenant and Hosea is sent by
God to plead with them. You will find reference to those early years of
covenant scattered through the book (9:10; 11:1; Exodus 4:22)
Hosea describes the greatness of their sin over against the covenant
(4:1-19; 6:4-11). Yet, although they have broken that covenant, God
loves them and has patience (11:2-4; 14:1-9). He wants Israel to return.
Hosea warns them that, if they do not return, judgment will certainly
fall (4:3; 5:1-15; 9:3; 10:6). In 9:3-6, the land of exile is
symbolically called “Egypt,” reminding them of their bondage before
the covenant of Sinai.
Throughout the book, Hosea sees a time of restoration (1:10; 2:14,15). A
careful reading of I Peter 2:10, shows that the apostle is quoting from
these passages and sees that promised restoration of Israel to covenant
taking place in the Church, where, through the blood of Jesus, we enter
the new covenant.
The prophecy is dramatized by Hosea’s family life. His wife is
unfaithful to him; and he pursues her in love, and finally purchases her
back to himself. As he spoke to Israel of unfaithfulness and covenant
breaking, they knew he spoke from a broken heart. When God commanded him
to seek out his wife and love, her, the people had a vivid picture of
God’s love loving them with infinite patience.
After the major prophets, this is a short book. Read it in several
translations, and let its message of love burn itself on you heart.
OUTLINE OF HOSEA
I. THE ADULTEROUS WIFE, 1:2 – 3:5
THE CHILDREN AS SIGNS, 1:2 – 2:1
THE ADULTEROUS WIFE, 2:2-23
The Lord’s judgment on Israel, 2:2-13
The Lord’s restoration of Israel, 2:14-23
THE FAITHFUL HUSBAND, 3:1-5
II. ADULTEROUS ISRAEL AND THE COVENANT OF GOD, 4:1 – 14:9
ISRAEL’S ADULTERY, 4:1 – 6:3
General statement, 4:1 – 6:3
The cause and the results, 4:4-19
The people and leaders addressed, 5:1-15
The plea, 6:1-3
ISRAEL’S PUNISHMENT, 6:4 – 10:15
The case presented, 6:4 – 7:16
Judgment pronounced, 8:1 – 9:17
The appeal, 10:1-15
THE LORD’S COVENANT LOVE, 11:1 – 14:9
Fatherly love and grief, 11:1-11
Punishment for unfaithfulness, 11:12 – 13:16
Restoration after repentance, 14:1-9