God is a jealous husband and his people are his bride. Hosea son of beeri prophesied about the middle of the eighth century b. Gomer gomer was the wife of the prophet hosea 8th century bc, mentioned in the hebrew bible s book of hosea. The book of hosea is the written record of the prophecies that ho sea son of beeri 1, gave to the nation of israel in the eighth century b. The incredible scandal of gods perfect love found in hosea. Wood books, 1987, 9 observes there appears to be a basic if not total chronological arrangement of hoseas prophecies in 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 short book of powerful prophetic poetry accompanied by two brief narrative sections, cannot be read in strict isolation. Questions from the book of hosea hosea 1 english standard version the word of the lord that came to hosea, the son of beeri, in the days of uzziah, jotham, ahaz, and hezekiah, kings of judah, and in the days of jeroboam the son of joash, king of israel. He was a prophet to the northern kingdom of israel, as the content of the book reveals. The book of hoseaits a deeply personal and passionate love story, yet its a difficult story. Minor refers to the brevity of the prophecies, as compared to the length of the works of isaiah, jeremiah, and ezekiel. Because they were all contemporary with hosea, he mentions them all. Historical background for hosea the church of christ in.
Gomer gomer was the wife of the prophet hosea 8th century bc, mentioned in the hebrew bibles book of hosea. The marital life of hosea and his wife, gomer, provide the rich metaphor which clarifies the themes of the book. Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. Set around the fall of the northern kingdom of israel, the book of hosea denounces the worship of gods other than yahweh.
Little is known about him, and even less about his father, beeri. First, since he refers to the king of israel as our king 7. A thoughtcloset makeover jennifer became blind when she was 15 years old and has experienced firsthand how. The book of hosea has been annotated and commented upon in such works as abraham cohen, ed. 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, a prophet from the northern kingdom, preached in his homeland, which he addresses as israel, jacob or, frequently, ephraim. 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. This was apparently told to judah, thereby providing reassurance to judah that the day of the lord v. The book primarily denounces israel for apostasy against god and. His writings form the first of the old testament books of the minor. All together the 16 prophets are called the latter prophets, as they began writing after the division of the. Their life is a love story, but not the fairy tale kind. Bible notes hosea intro and background for hosea authorship hosea means salvation and is the same as the original name of joshua num.
Gomer doesnt care anymore and begins to engage in relationship after relationship with other men. A highly complex and rhetorically rich text, the books backdrop is the rise of the assyrian empire in the mid8th century bce. In the 1611 king james bible, the book of joel is formed by three chapters. Hosea s primary audience was ephraim another name for the northern kingdom, israel, which is mentioned 35 times in the book. Some of those teachings pertain to the role of jesus christ in his life here on earth. While one could do this study without the accompanying video series, i strongly recommend getting jennifer rothschild is an excellent author and teacher. Hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of israel and spoke the messages of the lord. Outlines of the book vary, but there are several obvious transitions in the book which center on a. This unfaithful behavior will lead to israels destruction by assyria, but gods love will have the last word. This summary of the book of hosea provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of hosea. Title the title is derived from the main character and author of the book. Hosea continues to pursueat times gomer would return to the safety and comfort of hosea but would leave him again. Hosea mentions the four kings of judah first, and then he mentions the king of israel, the northern kingdom. Hosea was called to the ministry of a prophet early in his life, and the book of the bible devoted to his name spans almost the duration of his lifetime.
The old testament contains the creation of the universe, the history of. An acceptable estimated time of composition would be about 760750 bc basically the same time as jonah. Since gomer after her marriage became an unfaithful wife of harlotry, it is possible. Hoseas primary audience was ephraim another name for the northern kingdom, israel, which is mentioned 35 times in the book. Joshua is a story of conquest and fulfillment for the people of god. These twelve prophets are comprised in one single book in the hebrew bible and are called the twelve. May 30, 2011 historical background of hoseaassyria over the next month ill be working through hosea in sermons and some blog posts. She ventures outside of the book of hosea to tie in supporting scripture from other books of the bible and invites us to see gods love in his word. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. The book of the twelve follows the writings of the four major prophets, isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, and daniel. Unfailing love changes everything is jennifers fifth videobased bible study with lifeway it follows her popular bible studies, missing pieces. We will never again say our gods to what our own hands have made, for in you the. Hosea 14 repentance to bring blessing return, bible gateway.
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. He prophesied to the people of israel during the years that uzziah, jotham, ahaz and kezekiah. Hosea is a book depicting the relationship god desires for us and helps us become aware of ways in which we can stumble. Historical background of hoseaassyria over the next month ill be working through hosea in sermons and some blog posts. The words of hoseas prophecy concern the wrath of a spurned husband and the forgiveness of true love. Book after hosea is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 7 times. Despite warnings from the prophet amos around 760 b. Books of the bible list order complete new and old testament. Historical background of hoseaassyria steven hovater. Overview of the book of hosea reformed answers to bible and. Book of hosea, 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.
Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries. 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. After many years of slavery in egypt and 40 years in the desert, the israelites were finally allowed to enter the land promised to their fathers. Israel is the lords bride, but israel has instead joined itself to baal, the false god worshiped in syriapalestine. The book of hosea is a deeply personal and passionate love story, yet its a difficult story. The back and forth movement from doom to salvation is typical of the book of hosea. Hosea prophesied during a dark and melancholic era of israels history, the period of the northern kingdoms decline. Unfailing love changes everything video rent by jennifer rothschild includes 7 individual, rent sessions from the womens bible study. Hebrew text, english translation and commentary 1948, and george a. Hosea s name means salvation or gods salvation but many people refer. Hosea was a contemporary of amos, another prophet to israel. The old testament also known as the jewish tanakh is the first 39 books in most christian bibles.
To the east, the assyrians were rising in power and expanding westward after jonahs visit around 770 b. Hosea would be a younger contemporary and successor of amos. The name stands for the original promise with god to the descendants of abraham in particular prior to the coming of jesus christ in the new testament or the new promise. The meaning of his name, salvation, is the same as that of joshua cf. Intro to hosea biblica the international bible society. Author and date the book of hosea is the sole source of information about the author. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bibles, it is the first of the twelve minor prophets. Hosea began the old testament tradition of describing the relation between the lord and israel in terms of marriage e. 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 began his mission in a period of prosperity, the last years of jeroboam ii 783743 b. Book of hosea biblical studies oxford bibliographies. It was likely after his return to the southern kingdom that he committed to writing this summary of his prophecies.
Hosea, an oldtestament prophet, preached his own life message using his marriage as the sermon illustration. His writings form the first of the old testament 1 books of the minor prophets. To explain that the turmoil of the northern kingdom was gods just judgment leading to exile and to assure gods people that a great restoration would take place after the exile. Hosea, prophet amazing bible timeline with world history. Before we jump into hosea, i think it is so important to understand the context of hoseas time. The structure of the book has been well argued by patterson and longman. Hosea is the first of the prophets in the book of the twelve prophets in hebrew. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. After that, at the beginning of each of these major sections, there is a thematic statement concerning judgment and deliverance 1. Repentance to bring blessing return, israel, to the lord your god. The theme of this book is that of the latter days in hosea 3 45, that statement is made, clearly and plainly. The twelve include hosea, joel, amos, obadiah, jonah, micah, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah, haggai, zechariah, and malachi. The book of hosea covers approximately 40 years of his prophetic ministry.
Whether hosea himself authored the book that preserves his prophecies is not known. Sep 10, 2012 hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of israel and spoke the messages of the lord. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bible s, it is the first of the twelve minor prophets set around the fall of the northern kingdom of israel, the book of hosea denounces the worship of gods other than jehovah, metaphorically comparing israels abandonment of jehovah to a. The book of hosea, a minor prophet, is part of the book of the twelve. Bible, about israel and its endtime affairs, are to be found within this book. Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. Israel is the lords bride, but israel has instead joined itself to. 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. The book of hosea stands first in the division of the bible called the book of the twelve in the apocrypha. As an account full of harsh judgment unfolds, we find in its midst a rare and pure gem. The book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the lord.
Hosea his name meaning to save, salvation is the first of the socalled 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. He appears on the bible timeline poster around the 8th century b. Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Though the book does not identify its author, tradition has ascribed it to the prophet himself, jonah son of amittai. 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 stands first in the division of the bible called the book of the twelve in the apocrypha cf. Judges the book of judges depicts the life of israel in the promised landfrom the death of joshua to the rise of the monarchy. Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers.