CIRCUMSTANCES OF WRITING

AUTHOR: According to the first verse, Hosea’s prophetic career spanned at least forty years. It began some time during the reign of Jeroboam II, who ruled Israel, the northern kingdom, as co-regent with his father Jehoash from 793-782 BC, then independently until 753 BC. Hosea’s ministry ended sometime during the reign of Hezekiah, who ruled Judah from 716 to 686 BC.

Although the southern kingdom of Judah was not neglected in Hosea’s prophecy (e.g., 1:7,11; 6:11; 12:2), his messages were directed primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel, often referred to as “Ephraim” (5:3,12-14; 6:4; 7:1), and represented by the royal city, Samaria (7:1; 8:5-6; 10:5,7; 13:16). Hosea apparently lived and worked in or around Samaria, probably moving to Jerusalem at least by the time Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC.

BACKGROUND: The reign of Jeroboam II, the northern kingdom’s greatest ruler by worldly standards, was a time of general affluence, military might, and national stability. The economy was strong, the future looked bright, and the mood of the country was optimistic—at least for the upper class (Hs 12:8; Am 3:15; 6:4-6). Syria was a constant problem to Israel, but Adad-nirari III of Assyria had brought Israel relief with an expedition against Damascus, the Syrian capital, in 805 BC.

After Adad-nirari’s death in 783 BC, Israel and Judah expanded during a time of Assyrian weakness (the time of Jonah). But after Jeroboam’s death in 753 BC, Israel sank into near anarchy, going through six kings in about thirty years, four of whom were assassinated (Zechariah, Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah). Since Assyria also regained power during this time, Israel was doomed. Of course the real reason Israel crumbled was God’s determination to judge the people for their sins, as Hosea and Amos made clear. Most of Hosea’s messages were probably delivered during these last thirty years of Israel’s nationhood.

MESSAGE AND PURPOSE

INDICTMENT: According to Hosea, Israel sinned in four ways. First, they were violating basic covenant requirements of faithfulness and kindness, rejecting knowledge of God and his law. They had become self-satisfied and proud and had forgotten God’s grace. They even spoke contemptuously against him. Second, they were engaging in idolatry and harlotry or cult prostitution. Third, they were trusting in human devices (kings, princes, warriors, and foreign covenants) rather than in God. Finally, they were guilty of injustice and violence, including murder, theft, lying, and oppression of the defenseless.

INSTRUCTION: Through Hosea the Lord told the people of Israel to stop their promiscuity, idolatry, and iniquity and to return to him in humility and faithfulness toward the law of the covenant.

JUDGMENT: Hosea informed Israel that their present distress was because the Lord had abandoned them and that further discipline would come. This would include foreign domination, exile, destruction, desolation, and death.

HOPE: Hosea reminded Israel of the Lord’s grace and love in making them a people and in blessing them in the past with his attentive and patient care and his abundant provision. He was their only hope, and his ways were right. The Lord also assured them that in response to their repentance and faith he would again have compassion on them and redeem them; he would remove unrighteousness and restore the covenant, bringing righteousness and the knowledge of God; and he would rebuild and beautify Israel.

STRUCTURE

The first three chapters of the book establish a parallel between the Lord and Hosea. Both were loving husbands of unfaithful wives. Hosea’s three children, whose names served as messages to Israel, represent an overture to the second main division of the book, which presents its accusations and the call to repent in groups of three. Just as chap. 1—a third-person account of Hosea’s family—is balanced by chap. 3—a first-person account—so the final main division of the book alternates between first-person announcements of God’s message and third-person reports from the prophet.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLE

Hosea compared the relationship between God and his people to that of a husband and his wife, drawing a parallel between spiritual and marital unfaithfulness. “The Bible is very clear in its moral code that the sexual act can only legitimately take place within the context of the marriage relationship. Thus the image of marriage and sex, a relationship that is purely exclusive and allows no rivals, is an ideal image of the relationship between God and his people” (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 778). Yet nothing can quench God’s love for his covenant people. Like a marriage partner, God is deeply involved in our lives and is pained when we go our own way. God demands love and loyalty from his own. Often God’s people have failed to demonstrate whole-hearted love for him, but he stands ready to forgive and restore those who turn to him in repentance. In buying Gomer’s freedom, Hosea pointed ahead to God’s love perfectly expressed in Christ, who bought the freedom of his bride, the church, with his own life.

OUTLINE

I.The Pain and Persistence of Divine Love (1:1-3:5)

A.God’s message to Israel through Hosea’s family (1:1-2:23)

B.Hosea’s testimony to his restored marriage (3:1-5)

II.Threefold Accusation and Call to Repent (4:1-7:16)

A.Indictment and warning (4:1-5:15)

B.Call to repent and God’s grief at Israel’s refusal (6:1-7:16)

III.Alternating Lament of the Lord and Hosea (8:1-14:9)

A.Failure of false hopes (8:1-10:15)

B.Israel’s punishment for rebellion (11:1-13:16)

C.Final call to repent (14:1-9)

850-775 BC

Jehu, king of northern kingdom 841-814

Jehoahaz, king of northern kingdom 814-798

Jehoash, king of northern kingdom 798-782

Jeroboam II, king of northern kingdom 793-753

Uzziah, king of southern kingdom 792-740

Amos is called to prophetic ministry. 783

775-740 BC

Zechariah, king of northern kingdom 753-752, assassinated by Shallum

Shallum, king of northern kingdom 752, assassinated by Menahem

Menahem, king of northern kingdom 752-742

Pekah, king of northern kingdom 752-732, assassinated by Hoshea

Micah is called to be a prophet. 750

Jotham, king of southern kingdom 750-732

Hosea’s prophetic ministry 750-710?

Pekahiah, king of northern kingdom 742-740, assassinated by Pekah

740-730 BC

Isaiah is called to be a prophet. 740

Ahaz, king of southern kingdom 735-716

Damascus and Israel attack Jerusalem hoping to replace Ahaz with a king favorable to their alliance. 735

Tiglath-pileser’s continued expansion takes territory along the Mediterranean coast, destroys Damascus, and captures most of the northern kingdom. 733-732

730-675 BC

Hoshea, last king of northern kingdom 732-722

Tiglath-pileser III’s successor, Shalmaneser V besieges Samaria. 725-722

Samaria falls to the hands of Shalmaneser’s successor, Sargon II. 722

Sargon’s inscriptions say that nearly 28,000 captives were deported from Israel. 722

Hezekiah, king of southern kingdom 716-686