Much of the material, in oral form, goes back to hosea himself. Its fourteen chapters contain both a warning concerning future events and an interpretation of these events meanings. The book of hosea introduction to the book of hosea in the bible. In his prophetic oracles hosea repeatedly addresses ephraim. The marital life of hosea and his wife, gomer, provide the rich metaphor which clarifies the themes of the book. Watch our overview video on the book of hosea, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
The collection of sayings and individual accounts, however, was probably done in judah at a much later date. Original bible history online visit the original site 19992016. Happily, the book of the twelve opens with hosea, one of the four exceptions. In this article, i want to discuss how you can discover the treasure of scripturethat is, jesus christin the book of hosea. The compassionate heart of god with no diminishing of his holy standard is seen in this book. This period was an extremely difficult time in israels history, just before the northern kingdom went into exile. While some interpreters have thought the story to be merely an allegory of the relation between god and israel, others claim. The book of hosea is the first of the 12 books of minor prophets. Since ephraim is the largest tribe in the northern kingdom, sometimes the kingdom is referred to a s ephraim. 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. The book of hosea written hundreds of years before daniel and is addressed to the northern kingdom of israel. His writings form the first of the old testament 1 books of the minor prophets. Many people of israel turned away from god to worship pagan idols. And i want to give you three questions that hosea answers for our lives today.
The apostasy of the people was rampant, having turned away from god in order. This is the holy book of hosea, known simply as hosea. See all of our coronavirus resources here toggle navigation. Study the bible online using commentary on hosea and more.
Hosea son of beeri prophesied about the middle of the eighth century b. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful. The book of hosea, a minor prophet, is part of the book of the twelve. In this solid midtoupper level commentary on the book of hosea, j. Our people, originally published in 1946, was the first jewish history book for the english speaking reader. 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.
Hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of israel and spoke the messages of the lord. When this is true it all too easily leads to compromise, selfish ambition, and lack of integrity in ones personal activities and dealings. Hosea was active as a prophet over the 25 years or so of. Historical background of hoseaassyria steven hovater. The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead urge students to study to understand scripture. Hosea is the only prophet of israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life. The short book of powerful prophetic poetry accompanied by two brief narrative sections, cannot be read in strict isolation. Read hosea commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. The book of hosea is one of the books of the hebrew bible and of the christian old testament. It stands first in order among what are known as the twelve minor prophets.
As i said in the first intro post a few days ago, the book of hosea is god revealing his mind and his heart to a man and then to a nation. Hosea prophesied during the latter half of the eighth century b. At the same time he shows the future ways of god with his people. 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. The books purpose is to illustrate spiritual adultery as well as faithfulness, forgiveness and. By them hosea expresses his deep woe over israels condition. Hoseas primary audience was ephraim another name for the northern kingdom, israel, which is mentioned 35 times in. The prophets name means salvation, likely a reference to hosea s position in israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to god because of his message. The first concerns the nature of the story told inchs. Hosea is the first book in the sections of minor prophets. If this becomes characteristic of society at large, dishonesty and corruption become endemic. Hosea, prophet amazing bible timeline with world history.
Abstract the book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the lord. He prophesied to the people of israel during the years that uzziah, jotham, ahaz and kezekiah were kings of judah and when jeroboam ii was king of israel. Hosea prophesied during a very dark time of israel\s history. Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries. 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. Like the book of amos, the book of hosea is addressed to the people of the northern kingdom israel.
There are difficulties, however, and a little context relating to history and proper nouns is needed. Book of hosea biblical studies oxford bibliographies. As a contemporary of isaiah, micah and amos, hosea writes over a forty to seventy year stretch of history. The story of gomer has been performed across the nation, reaching thousands of people with the message of gods faithfulness and love. Scholars, pastors, and serious bible students will welcome the. Hosea means salvation and is the same as the original name of joshua num. The book reveals the personality of the prophet, an emotional man who in a moment could swing from violent anger to the deepest tenderness. Chapter 14 closes with an appeal to true repentance. 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. 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 first verse of chapter one provides a historical setting. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. 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. The second part of the book contains longish lamentations of hosea.
A harmony of the life of jesus four gospel accounts in harmony. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. The book of hosea covers approximately 40 years of his prophetic ministry. Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets. Ephraim originally referred to one of the twelve tribes of united israel. Hosea is a book depicting the relationship god desires for us and helps us become aware of ways in which we can stumble.
Hosea, the son of beeri, prophesied for quite some time, from 785 to 725 b. Abstract the book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the. The book of hosea is one of the books of the old testament, the first book of the minor prophets. 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. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. It contains virtually no historical context, and without at least some knowledge of the setting the prophetic words are almost impossible to consider rightly.
The first part of the book of hosea is an account of hosea\s marriage with gomer biographically which is a metaphor for the relationship with yahweh and israel. In johns gospel, that statement leads to the incarnation. The prophet hosea personally records his messages to gods people and to the world. The book of hosea has at least two perplexing problems. 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 was likely written between 755 and 725 b. Provides an analysis on the historical, literary, theological, and contemporary hermeneutical interplay of ideas in the book of hosea, and focuses. Before we jump into hosea, i think it is so important to understand the context of hoseas time. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription.
Hosea, a prophet from the northern kingdom, preached in his homeland, which he addresses as israel, jacob or, frequently, ephraim. Hoseas name means salvation or gods salvation but many people refer. 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. Hosea commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
A living parable hosea is part of that strange section of our bibles known as the minor prophets. Probably to avoid unnecessary confusion, the king james authorized version gave joshuas original name as oshea, the kings. This name refers to a valley in which much blood had been shed in israels history, especially by the kings of the northern kingdom see 1 kings 21 and 2 kings 9. Hosea began his mission in a period of prosperity, the last years of jeroboam ii 783743 b. He appears on the bible timeline poster around the 8th century b. History old testament overview general survey of the old testament. The book has a long history of formation and transmission. Intro to hosea biblica the international bible society. Andrew dearman considers the prophetic figures historical roots in the covenant traditions of ancient israel, includes his own translation of the biblical text, and masterfully unpacks hoseas poetic, metaphorical message of betrayal, judgment, and reconciliation. Honestly guys, the book is a beautifully written mix of prose and poetry, metaphor and simile and a whole bunch of other intertwining poetic devices as. New testament overview general survey of the new testament. Hosea paints a powerful portrait of the coming revelation of the love and holiness of god perfectly revealed in christ.
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