HISTORICAL BACKGROUND HOSEA (745-722 BC) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

He was one of the 8thC prophets who prophesied in the Northern Kingdom which he refers to as Israel, Jacob, or Ephraim. He ministered during king Jeroboam II’s rule. His father was Beeri. He was married to Gomer, daughter of Diblaim.

NAMES OF CHILDREN He had three children all with symbolic names: 1. Jazreel (boy) – God soweth. 2. Loruhamah (girl) – Not pited. 3. Loammi (boy) – Not my people.

THEORIES OF HOSEA’S MARRIAGE (1:2-8, 3:1-5) Hosea was told by God to marry a prostitute and he did as he was told. There have been disagreements about this marriage with some scholars arguing that it was historical while others argue that it was not historical.

Some scholars consider the book of Hosea as a legend, not history. This is so because it is highly exaggerated and the story is spiritual to a large extent.

The circumstances of his marriage are not clear The circumstances of his marriage are not clear. For instance, it is difficult to tell whether Hosea was married twice or once. In chapter one he is told to get a wife and the same is said in Cpt 3. Marrying a prostitute because this was forbidden by God (Deut 22:20-21).

Hosea seems to been aware of the Mosaic law, and if he was a historical person he would not have married Gomer. He condemns prostitution throughout his book, and because of that marrying a prostitute knowingly would make him a hypocrite.

2. ALLEGORY An allegory is an imagined story which is intended to convey a specific message in real life situations. Each detail in an allegory corresponds to a particular situation in real life. Gomer and the names of her 3 children are symbolic. The drama represents the unfaithfulness of Israel and the decision of God to punish her.

SYMBOLISM Hosea - Yahweh. Gomer – Israel. Children – God’s action. Desert – Spiritual dryness. Prostitution – Idolatry. This is an allegory.

3. PARABLE A parable is almost similar to an allegory but there are differences. A parable has one point meaning, although it might have many sub-meanings.

The theory says that Hosea’s marriage was not historical but just a parable used to convey God’s message. The one point meaning was that, although Israel had prostituted her faith with other gods, Yahweh was ready to accept her unconditionally, provided she went back to the covenant.

4. VISION Some scholars have argued that the marriage was not historical, but something which Hosea saw in a vision and then talks about it as if it was historical. There were times when the message of God overshadowed the prophet to the extent of mistaking the vision for a real life situation.

Hosea could have done the same. 5. HISTORY Some scholars have argued that the marriage of Hosea was historical because in ANE priests would engage the services of ritual prostitutes in their fertility rituals (Deut 23:18-19). Hosea could have done the same.

It could be that Hosea married Gomer with the knowledge that she was a prostitute. He then told people that he had done that because God had told him to do it. By saying this he should have silenced his critics. Gomer could have been a prostitute before her marriage to Hosea, but then repented and became a faithful wife.

Hosea has a litany of the areas where the people had failed. THE MESSAGE OF HOSEA Hosea’s concern was the covenant which he claimed had been betrayed (Hos 4:1-3, 6:7-11). The people of Israel had failed to live up to the demands of the covenant. Hosea has a litany of the areas where the people had failed.

1. People lacked fidelity to the covenant because there was idol worship (4:12). 2. There was cult prostitution which was promoted by the priests (4:14, 6:10, 7:4). 3. People had forgotten the law (4:6). 4. There was abuse of wine. 5. People had abandoned the knowledge of God (4:6).

6. People concentrated on rituals and sacrifices at the expense of loving compassion (6:6). 7. There was lying, killing, stealing, adultery, violence, murder, etc. 8. There was selfishness and forgetfulness (4:6). 9. Rulers had gone to ask for Assyria’s help and by so doing failing to rely on God (5:13, 8:9-10, 14:4). 10. Merchants used false balances (12:8).

According to Hosea, judgment was near. Seeking alliances with Assyria would not help. People had to put their trust in God. They had to repent.

1. He proposed a return to Egypt (9:3, 7:16) Egypt is used symbolically as a place of slavery and rependance. All the people knew their ancestors’ nasty experiences in Egypt.

No one would want a repeat of it. This time Assyria would be the new Egypt. People would go into exile, far away from God, where they would be forced to eat unclean food. As exiles they would be mocked in Assyria.

2. Pregnant women would have their wombs ripped open (14:1) Women and children would be the most vulnerable. Ripping open pregnant women is one of the worst cruel war crimes. Children would be dashed to pieces. In modern war laws the non-combatants must be protected during armed conflicts.

Hosea offered some hope of redemption. SALVATION Hosea offered some hope of redemption. God would restore the fortunes of his people, but they must repent (5:15-6:3, 14:2-9).

1. They had to take away the idols which they worshipped. 2. They had to trust God than earthily rulers. 3. They had to be concerned about loyalty and fidelity instead of burned sacrifices. 4. They had to abandon the cultic prostitutes. 5. They had to seek the knowledge of God.