The History of Hosea  Hosea was a prophet in Israel in the 8 th century BCE  He is one of the Twelve Prophets of the Jewish Bible and Minor Prophets of the Christian Old Testament  Hosea’s name in English would translate into “Joseph” but is also related to the name Joshua which means “salvation”  Hosea was a young preacher in the nation of Israel which was than referred to as the Northern Kingdom 

Early Life  Hosea lived in the Northern Kingdom from BCE  Hosea often spoke of judgment and chastisement  He also prophesied about the punishment that God was going to lay down upon the people of the Assyrian nation  Hosea was often ignored by the people which discouraged him 

Middle Life  At God’s command Hosea married the prostitute, Gomer  The couple had two sons and a daughter together  The children’s names such as “not pitied,” “cast-away” and “not for my people” depicted the relationships between God and the Hebrew people 

Later Life  Hosea’s family life reflected on the “adulterous” relationship that the people of Israel had with God  Hosea was often referred to as the “prophet of doom” because of his prophecies of destruction  The Talmud claims that Hosea was one of the greatest prophets of his generation which included Isaiah 

Call  To prophesize in the lands of:  Israel  Judah  Many curses and blessings  Make sure that Israel kept his covenant

Mission  Special mission  Share the Lord’s anguish with the people’s unfaithfulness by experiencing his own anguish at his wife’s unfaithfulness  Urge them to return to God

Message CConnected to the covenant at Sinai GGod was going to punish his people IIsrael will have death and illness AAnother nation will; ddestroy Israel ttake them away

Message GGod will be able to bless Israel again IIsrael will not be able to avoid God’s anger IIsrael has broken the covenant and so the curses are going to happen

 "Israel was a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit" (10:1).  By saying this Hosea meant that Israel is the vine of God’s creation, and should be a sign to the world with its living, producing prophets and right action, as well as spreading the Word of God.

 "The more his fruit increased the more altars he built.”  This means that the more that Israel's people praise God the more that they will be rewarded by God’s gifts of love and appreciation.

 I also think Hosea’s marriage is a picture of God’s relationship with Israel.  It symbolizes an almost perfect being, Hosea and God, and then the sinning people of Israel, as Gomer.

 Hosea is a prophet who had a wife, lost her to other men and then forgave her and took her back.  This relationship symbolizes God’s relationship with his people and with the people of Israel.  He took them in as children, they sinned against him, and in the end God forgives them of all of their sins.

 Hosea’s marriage to the prostitute, Gomer, is a great example of redeeming love in the Bible.  When Gomer becomes unfaithful and goes back to her old ways of prostitution, Hosea is saddened and hurt.  Gomer realizes her wrongdoings and comes back to Hosea.  Hosea shows his unconditional love for Gomer and accepts her into his life again.

 This is the theme of the beginning chapters in Hosea.  Hosea’s unfaithful marriage parallels the relationship between Israel and God.  Israel had turned to the worshipping of other Gods and was constantly involved in war.  Instead of looking to God, Israel sought help from other countries.  Just as Hosea forgave Gomer, God always forgives His people

 Marriage was a big part in God’s plan.  God commanded Hosea to take an unfaithful wife.  This was important because God used Hosea’s story to give a living example of God’s relationship with Israel.  Just as Hosea entered the marriage knowing that Gomer would betray him, God knew that Israel would do the same, yet he chose to love them anyway.

 Names play an important role in the book of Hosea  They each have a figurative meaning  Beeri, Hosea’s father means, “a source of water as a living spring.”(Sweeney)  Hosea has the meaning of “Eternal saves” (Sweeney).  Combining the two meanings together mean, “Eternal is the source of living water that saves” (Sweeney).  This is talking about salvation and its meaning.  “Only the Mighty One is able to save His people Israel”(Isa 45:17: Jer 26:3).