History of the book of hosea

Hosea commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Hosea was a man, but he was a man god used to speak through. A highly complex and rhetorically rich text, the book s backdrop is the rise of the assyrian empire in the mid8th century bce. In the new testament the holy spirit confirms the application of these prophetic names to the state of israel since they have been cast out of their land. When the assyrians overran the land, someone escaped to the south and brought the manuscript to the city of jerusalem. Spanning more than two thousand years of african history, from the african iron age to the collapse of colonialism and the beginnings of independence, hosea jaffes magisterial work remains one of the only books to fully capture the continents complex and diverse past. Hosea prophesied during the latter half of the eighth century b. Adapted from the book of hosea in the bible, we journey with gomer, a harlot lost in her sin until hosea, a prophet of god, offers to marry her and redeem her life from darkness. This summary of the book of hosea provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of hosea. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Throughout the book, the prophet speaks to the people of israel about the critical situation that developed during the.

This does distinguish him from the last king of israel hoshea c. We are currently reading from the book of the prophet hosea at daily mass. The apostasy of the people was rampant, having turned away. The time period of hoseas ministry 750s to 710s bc began during the years of prosperity and false security described in the introduction to amos. The study of the book of hosea is timely for the people of god in the last half of the twentieth century.

It spanned the reign of 4 kings of judah uzziah, jotham, ahaz and hezekiah and of jeroboam ii as king of israel. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription. Epiphanius says that he was of the town of belemoth, in the tribe of issachar. The first fouruzziah, jotham, ahaz, and hezekiahreigned over the southern kingdom of judah from 790 bc to 686 bc, while jeroboam ii ruled the northern kingdom of israel from 782 bc to 753 bc. On the bright side, if you get these two down a little bit, hosea is going to make enough sense to you for you to absorb some of its raw and powerful poetic punch. Its fourteen chapters contain both a warning concerning future events and an interpretation of these events meanings. Prophesying the past focuses on the impact of tradition and history on the construction of the book of hosea. Draws on archaeology and ancient near eastern texts to examine the message of hosea in its historical and geographical context. Book of hosea, also spelled osee, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, considered as one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Hosea, prophet amazing bible timeline with world history.

We do well to recall the story, especially given the great debate among some in the church today over the question of. May 04, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of hosea, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of hosea the new international commentary on the. Sep 10, 2012 hosea 3 god tells hosea to buy back his adulterous wife from her lover, and he did this to illustrate how the people of israel would no longer have a king or to be able to worship false gods. Love her as the lord loves the israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer cakes of raisin. Hosea is the first of the 12 minor prophets called minor not because they are of less importance, but because the books are shorter. Hosea prophesied during a dark and melancholic era of israels history, the period of the northern kingdoms decline and fall in the 8th century bc. In johns gospel, that statement leads to the incarnation. The second part of the book contains longish lamentations of hosea. At the same time he shows the future ways of god with his people. Like the book of amos, the book of hosea is addressed to the people of the northern kingdom israel. When this is true it all too easily leads to compromise, selfish ambition, and lack of integrity in ones personal activities and dealings. The book of hosea is pound for pound as difficult a prophetic book as one can find in the bible, so we appreciate the work of j. Hosea is a book depicting the relationship god desires for us and helps us become aware of ways in which we can stumble.

Hosea was instructed by god to marry a certain woman and experience with her a domestic life which was a dramatization of the sin and unfaithfulness of israel. The book has a long history of formation and transmission. Constables notes on hosea 2020 edition interpreters that if hosea had come from the southern kingdom, he too would have been identified as coming from the southern kingdom. According to the book of hosea, he married gomer, the daughter of diblaim, but she proved to be unfaithful. According to the book, the apostasy of the people was rampant, having turned away from god in order to serve both the calves of jeroboam and baal, a canaanite god the book of hosea says that, during hosea s lifetime, the kings of the northern. In the book of hosea, god sends hosea to israel during king jeroboam iis reign to admonish.

Hosea 1 background information with maps and images. Hosea knew she would be unfaithful, as god says this to him immediately. The book of hosea marriage with an unfaithful wife. Hosea prophesied during a very dark time of israel\s history. The first verse of chapter one provides a historical setting. The book of hosea occurs at a time when israel was divided into two regions israel ephraim to the north and judah to the south jerusalem was in judah. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. Unlike amos, hosea preached to his own people in israel d. Often, we do not recognize the derivation of these bible names, but this prophets name would be joseph in english.

Hosea bible study outlinecontents by chapter and verse. His writings form the first of the old testament books of the minor prophets. The book of hosea was likely written between 755 and 725 b. Hosea, a prophet from the northern kingdom, preached in his homeland, which he addresses as israel, jacob or, frequently, ephraim. This period was an extremely difficult time in israels history, just before the northern kingdom went into exile. Hosea 3 god tells hosea to buy back his adulterous wife from her lover, and he did this to illustrate how the people of israel would no longer have a king or to be able to worship false gods. Hosea was probably a native of the northern kingdom of israel, since he shows familiarity with the history, circumstances and topography of the north 4. In this book, hosea accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and. The book of hosea is one of the books of the hebrew bible and of the christian old testament. Dearman captures well the metaphorical theology of hosea, and his thoughtful reflection on the text attends to the various issues of every passage in the book. By them hosea expresses his deep woe over israels condition. Many people of israel turned away from god to worship pagan idols. Read hosea commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Historical background of hoseaassyria steven hovater.

The nelsons illustrated bible dictionary gives the following outline of the book. Hoseas message was primarily for the northern kingdom of israel. And his name is related to the name joshua, which means salvation. These 12 books are called minor prophets not because their message is less important but because they are so much shorter than the previous five books.

The book of hosea is the first of the 12 books of minor prophets. We find a hidden reference to the incarnation in the name of this prophet. Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. A highly complex and rhetorically rich text, the books backdrop is the rise of the assyrian empire in the mid8th century bce. As a result, in his view, all authority had evaporated. The marital life of hosea and his wife, gomer, provide the rich metaphor which clarifies the themes of the book. They are called minor prophets not because their material is less important or insignificant, but because of the size of the book they wrote was shorter in length. The book of hosea is a narrative history and prophetic oracle. The book of hosea, a minor prophet, is part of the book of the twelve. The book s purpose is to illustrate spiritual adultery as well as faithfulness, forgiveness and love. Hosea s primary audience was ephraim another name for the northern kingdom, israel, which is mentioned 35 times in.

May 02, 2020 hosea is the only prophet of israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life. Hosea was a young preacher in the nation of israel, the northern kingdom, and he was a. Hosea means salvation and is the same as the original name of joshua num. Hosea accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god, and warns them of the tragic consequences to follow. Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets. It is offered as a prophetic oracle as well as a narrative history. It stands first in order among what are known as the twelve minor prophets. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. This however will only be fulfilled in the time of the end. Hosea is the only prophet of israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life. Hosea prophesied during a dark and melancholic era of israels history, the period of the northern kingdoms decline. Hosea son of beeri prophesied about the middle of the eighth century b. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. Little is known about the life or social status of hosea.

Hosea, the son of beeri, prophesied for quite some time, from 785 to 725 b. The book of hosea stands first in the division of the bible called the book of the twelve in the apocrypha cf. Book of hosea biblical studies oxford bibliographies. The book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the lord. Much of the material, in oral form, goes back to hosea himself. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bibles, it is the first of the twelve minor prophets. Outlines of the book vary, but there are several obvious transitions in the book which center on a. Fortunately, the book that bears his name has been preserved. The book of hosea or hosea is a biblical text that forms a part of the jewish bible tanakh, and is included in the section of minor prophets. He called on israel to repent its sins of apostasy and warned of the judgment to come from god. Before we jump into hosea, i think it is so important to understand the context of hoseas time and what got them into the mess they were in again. Hosea prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii of the northern kingdom of israel 7876 7476 bce, which was a period of economic prosperity and political stability.

Author hosea according to tradition date 785 bc approximately theme the apostasy of israel types and shadows in hosea jesus is the faithful husband. King jeroboam ii had just passed away after years of national peace and prosperity and now israel was experiencing rapid moral decline. The book of hosea is one of the books of the old testament, the first book of the minor prophets. Book of hosea of the old testament your bible quotes. The names of his children indicate the attitude of god toward israel. The book of hosea written hundreds of years before daniel and is addressed to the northern kingdom of israel. Before we jump into hosea, i think it is so important to understand the context of hosea s time and what got them into the mess they were in again. Hosea is the first book in the sections of minor prophets. While some interpreters have thought the story to be merely an allegory of the relation between god and israel, others claim, more plausibly, that the story is to be taken literally. The prophets name means salvation, likely a reference to hoseas position in israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to god because of his message. In ancient hebrew manuscripts the collection of the minor prophets was written on one scroll, called the book of the twelve. It is truly an amazing book and, like all of the books of the bible, the holy spirit always rewards the diligent student. The first part of the book of hosea is an account of hosea \s marriage with gomer biographically which is a metaphor for. The story of the prophet hosea s troubled marriage is a powerful testimony to two things.

The prophet hosea personally records his messages to gods people and to the world. The first concerns the nature of the story told inchs. Read today, it still provides a comprehensive outline of jewish history, and also a view of the telling of history as it evolved over the last century. Probably to avoid unnecessary confusion, the king james authorized version gave joshuas original name as oshea, the kings name as hoshea, and the prophets name as hosea. This would make him and jonah the only writing prophets from the northern kingdom. Chapter 14 closes with an appeal to true repentance. Hoseas primary audience was ephraim another name for the northern kingdom, israel, which is mentioned 35 times in. Hosea prophesied during a dark and melancholy era of israels history, the period of the northern kingdoms decline and fall in the 8th century bc. Hosea was the son of beeri and apparently belonged to the upper classes. May 30, 2011 while other historical and cultural factors certainly add color to our reading of hosea, these two simply cannot be ignored if we are to grasp the essence of the books message. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries.

The history of the northern kingdom then spiraled downward quite swiftly. The story of gomer has been performed across the nation, reaching thousands of people with the message of gods faithfulness and love. The collection of sayings and individual accounts, however, was probably done in judah at a much later date. Perhaps among the most surprising of the prophetic insights in hosea is the discovery of the prerequisites for the second coming of jesus christ. The book of hosea was written in the northern kingdom of israel in the eighth century bc, during the reign of jeroboam ii 786746 bc. Best commentaries and books on hosea logos bible software. The northern kingdom of israel enjoyed moderate success from conquering neighboring kingdoms, but they were spiritually bankrupt on the inside. The book reveals the personality of the prophet, an emotional man who in a moment could swing from violent anger to the deepest tenderness.

The blood of jezreel figures prominently throughout israels history and climaxes at armageddon. The book of hosea introduction to the book of hosea in the bible hosea 8. Throughout the book, hosea will show us that salvation is found in turning to the lord and away from our sin. He may have been among the priests in his station in view of his knowledge. The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows. Prophet hosea s wife and children, hope of restoration for unfaithful israel, ephraim, return to god. Israel had become conformed to her cultural environment and had adulterated yahwism with the cultic practices of the religion of the canaanites, hoping to. Powerful love overcomes rebellion in the book of hosea.

Hosea was the last of the prophets of the northern kingdom. Hosea 4 14 the remaining chapters of the book of hosea outlines gods judgments and his call to repentance for the nation of israel. Our people, originally published in 1946, was the first jewish history book for the english speaking reader. If this becomes characteristic of society at large, dishonesty and. In hosea, the faithless actions of israel toward god are illustrated by the relationship between hosea and his adultress wife, gomer. She looks at common views of the book of hosea and presents new methodologies on tradition and redaction. Set around the fall of the northern kingdom of israel, the book of hosea denounces the worship of gods other than yahweh. Hosea began his mission in a period of prosperity, the last years of jeroboam ii 783743 b. Study the bible online using commentary on hosea and more. The prophet hosea had a reallife situation that god used to illustrate his problem with the nation of israel. Biblical scholar holt examines the background of israel to investigate how it is used in hosea.

Read today, it still provides a comprehensive outline of jewish history, and also a view of the telling of history as it. The condition in the churches today is similar to that in israel in the middle of the eighth century b. The book of hosea has at least two perplexing problems. In this book, hosea accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and warns them of the tragic consequences to follow. Abstract the book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the. It comes from the same hebrew root hoshea as the names joshua and jesus.