THE BOOK OF HOSEA

THE BOOK OF HOSEA is one of the small books of the Bible the 28th book in the old testament the first book in the list of minor prophetic books in the bible a narrative of a tragic love story

HOSEA Hosea was a minor Prophet in the 8th Century BC “Hosea” means ‘Salvation of the Lord

Background King Jeroboam II was a powerful king of Israel who fought against the Syrians and restored the boundaries of Israel. but he did not lead the Israelites in a spiritual way. After his reign, the people of Israel went in their own ways falling for the sins of he world. God uses Hosea to prophecy to the Israelites and tell them what he feels about them.

God instructs a marriage 1:2 When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the Lord.” 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

God instructs a marriage God asks Hosea to marry a harlot, “Gomer” Hosea can’t understand God’s request but obeys with faith He had 3 children with his wife, who’s names symbolise God’s relationship with His people Israel.

Family tree Hosea Gomer Jezreel Lo-Ruhamah Lo-Ammi (God scatters) (Not-pitied) (Not-my people) Israel are conquered by Assyria while they are weak from not following the true God, but worshiping the idol Baal.

The betrayal 2:5 For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has behaved shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, Who give me my bread and my water, My wool and my linen, My oil and my drink.’

The betrayal Hosea’s wife cheats on him and goes around sleeping with other men in the city Hosea would prophesy in the morning and search for Gomer in the nights because he loved her He was ridiculed because he attempted to guide the nation and he couldn’t control his wife They asked, “How can a holy man like you, love an adulterous woman?”. Hosea answered them by saying, “I love my wife, the same way God loves an adulterous nation like us”

Hosea’s support 2:7 She will chase her lovers, But not overtake them; Yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, For then it was better for me than now.’ 8 For she did not know That I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, And multiplied her silver and gold— Which they prepared for Baal.

Hosea’s support Gomer (like Israel) was looking for love in all the wrong places, Gomer had the love of her husband and Israel the love of her God Israel had begun to worship the pagan god Baal which is the common word meaning husband Hosea continued to buy Gomer her needs by giving them to the men she was sleeping with.

The purchase 3 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.”

Hosea’s support Gomer got to a stage where the men she was sleeping with could not provide for her and sold her to slavery People saw Hosea there and said to themselves, “This is Hosea’s chance to see Gomer get what she deserves” Hosea bid for her and bought her for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley Hosea declared his love to Gomer and start a fresh new life

Review questions What is the meaning of the name “Hosea”? Who was the wife of Hosea? How many chapters are in the Book of Hosea? What is the main theme of the Book of Hosea? What is the resemblance between Hosea’s wife and Israel?