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CHAPTER 28 – Hosea: Approx. 755 B.C.-Approx. 725 B.C.

Hosea is the twenty-eighth book of the Bible. The title of the book in the Hebrew Bible is Hoshea meaning “Yahweh saves.” The English title comes from the Septuagint which has the title Osee, “Hosea”.

Authorship

The prophet Hosea is the author of the book of Hosea. The book was perhaps written during Hosea’s prophetic ministry which lasted from approximately 753 B.C. to about 729 B.C., but written no later than 723 B.C.

Summary

The book of Hosea covers the period from approximately 753 B.C. to about 729 B.C. Hosea begins by stating that he carried out his prophetic ministry during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, who were kings of Judah and during the reign of Jeroboam (Jeroboam II) the son of Joash, king of Israel.

God commands Hosea to go and take a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms, because Israel had committed great whoredom. So, Hosea marries a woman named Gomer who bears three children, a son and two daughters. At the birth of each child, God gives Hosea prophetic messages.

God’s three prophetic messages are, (1) I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of king Jehu and bring an end to the kingdom of Israel, (2) I will no more have mercy on Israel, and (3) you are not my people and I will not be your God.

God then promises to gather together Judah and Israel and accept them in the future. God next compares Israel to the unfaithfulness of Gomer to Hosea. After this, God speaks about Hosea’s love for Gomer and God’s love for Israel. Hosea then goes and buys Gomer back from slavery and God prophesies that, likewise, Israel will return to God.

God next describes the wickedness of the people of Israel, and of their priests and leaders, warning them of coming judgment. After this, God invites Israel to return to him. Next, God shows their willful breaking of His covenant with Israel, the wickedness of their royal house, and Israel’s refusal to return to God.

After this, God prophesies of Israel’s captivity to Assyria because of their sinfulness and idolatry. God then reproves Israel and prophesies of the devastation of their place for idol worship and the destruction of their kingdom.

Next, God speaks of His mercy and love towards Israel. God then reproves Israel and Judah, calling them to repentance. After this, God contrasts Israel’s ingratitude and wickedness with the godly experience of their forefather, Jacob, and declares that their sins have provoked Him, God, to anger.

God then prophesies of His judgment upon Israel, entreating Israel to return to Him, and promising them mercy and His blessing if they turn away from idolatry.

Themes

• The love of God for erring humanity.
• Adultery and whoredom.
• Unfaithfulness to God, idolatry, and wickedness.
• Prophecies.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who has love and mercy for the unfaithful and tenderly entreats them to return to Him.
• God who is provoked to anger by the sins of humanity.
• God who will cast away the nation that persists in wickedness.
• God who is willing to forgive sins.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

Hosea was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah in that Hosea’s prophetic ministry started in about 755 B.C., approximately 10 years earlier than that of Isaiah, and overlapped Isaiah’s ministry by about 20 years.

Hosea’s ministry started during the reign in Israel of Jeroboam II, the biblical “Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:23) during the approximate period 793 B.C. to 753 B.C.

“And he [Jeroboam II] did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD [God]: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat [Jeroboam I], who made Israel to sin.” 2 Kings 14:24. “And…he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel.” 2 Kings 14:28. “And Jeroboam [II] slept with his fathers [Jeroboam II died]…and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.” 2 Kings 14:29.

“Zachariah the son of Jeroboam [II, did] reign over Israel in Samaria six months [approximately 753 B.C. to 752 B.C.]. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD [God]…and Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him…and slew [killed] him, and reigned in his stead.” 2 Kings 15:8-10.

“Shallum the son of Jabesh…reigned a full month in Samaria [752 B.C.]. For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and…slew [killed] him, and reigned in his stead.” 2 Kings 15:13, 14. “Menahem the son of Gadi…reigned ten years in Samaria [752 B.C. to 742 B.C.].” 2 Kings 15:17. “And Menahem slept with his fathers [Menahem died]; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.” 2 Kings 15:22.

“Pekahiah the son of Menahem…reigned two years [742 B.C. to 740 B.C.]…But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him…killed him, and reigned in his room [in his place].” 2 Kings 15:23-25. “Pekah the son of Remaliah…reigned twenty years” (2 Kings 15:27), actually from 740 B.C to 732 B.C. for he seemed to have either claimed the throne or was a rival king over the preceding 12 years, 752 B.C. to 740 B.C.

“And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah…and slew [killed] him, and reigned in his stead.” 2 Kings 15:30. “Hoshea the son of Elah…reign[ed] in Samaria over Israel nine years [732 B.C. to 722 B.C.].” 2 Kings 17:1. “In the ninth year of Hoshea [722 B.C.] the king of Assyria took [conquered] Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” 2 Kings 17:6.

So, Hosea’s ministry ended about 725 B.C., approximately 3 years before Israel was taken captive by Assyria.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Do not commit adultery and whoredom.
• Do not provoke God to anger with your sins.
• Love God who loves you and is willing to forgive your sins.

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