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. This book tells about the prophet hosea and his unfaithful wife gomer which he was to love unconditionally as a sign of gods unconditional love to the nation of israel. Why did god tell hosea to marry a prostitute hosea 1. Set around the fall of the northern kingdom of israel, the book of hosea denounces the worship of gods other than yahweh.
During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Choose from 500 different sets of hosea flashcards on quizlet. Nov 07, 2014 hosea is considered a minor prophet, not because he or his message is less important than any of the other prophets, but because he only wrote 14 chapters instead of 66 chapters like isaiah or 52 chapters like jeremiah. We do well to recall the story, especially given the continue reading the story of hosea and what it teaches about. Division amongst israelite tribes invites disaster. In chapters, god gives hosea instructions to marry an unfaithful woman and he obeys. Account of hosea s marriage with gomer biographically which is a metaphor for the relationship with yhwh and israel. By them hosea expresses his deep woe over israels condition. Hoseas life itself was an illustration of the peoples refusal to obey god and went after other gods and false idols.
But of course the real story of this book isnt the story of hosea and gomer, its the story of god and israel. Hosea is the only prophet of israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life. I know what youre thinking and yes, gomer is a girls name. Summary of the book of hosea the story of the bible. Structured around five cycles of judgment and restoration, the book of hosea makes clear its repetitious theme. The book of hosea illustrates that no one is beyond the offer of our forgiveness because no one sits outside gods offer of forgiveness. Mar 18, 2020 book of hosea bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. This summary of the book of hosea provides information about the title, authors. Demonstrate how god stays in one place and we either walk with him or walk on our own. Giving through stock transfers wills and estate planning giving history. The material found in the books third chapter suggests what hosea regards as the meaning of his experiences in relation to yahwehs dealings with the people of israel.
If this becomes characteristic of society at large, dishonesty and corruption become endemic. Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy. 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. Hosea questions and answers mary janes drops of grace blog. The first concerns the nature of the story told in chs. The book has a long history of formation and transmission. These little gems can be difficult to interpret, but once unlocked, you find treasure.
Hoseas wife, gomer, whom he married in good faith, proved to be an adulterous woman. Hosea mentions the four kings of judah first, and then he mentions the king of israel, the northern kingdom. This however will only be fulfilled in the time of the end. 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. The book of hosea written hundreds of years before daniel and is addressed to the northern kingdom of israel. Hosea 1 the word of the lord that came to hosea bible gateway. Hosea continues to love his wife, despite her unfaithfulness to him and so his marriage is a picture of gods covenantal love for his people and israels continual unfaithfulness to him. Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries. The first part of hosea records the tragic story of the prophets unhappy marital experiences.
Jan 29, 2016 hosea was the last prophet sent to israel. The book of hosea was likely written between 755 and 725 b. In amos, the prophetic discourses are very pronounced, while in hosea, because of the intense personal involvement of the prophet, they are not very distinctly defined from one another, a fact that makes the book difficult to outline. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. Hosea is part of that strange section of our bibles known as the minor prophets. The book of hosea is a narrative history and prophetic oracle. This man, in his wickedness, magnifies his own name while attempting to diminish the lord god. Like amos, hosea was a prophet who was active in the northern kingdom of israel hosea also refers to israel as ephraim and samaria. Hosea was a citizen of the northern kingdom and his personal experience was designed by. Theres a curious protochristian moment at the beginning of chapter 6. Hosea is the first book in the sections of minor prophets.
Hosea 1 niv the word of the lord that came to hosea bible. How are people destroyed from a lack of knowledge hosea 4. Hosea 8 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. Study the hosea passage for this lesson, by reading the verses and studying the notes. Chapter 14 closes with an appeal to true repentance. The second greatest love story ever exposition of hosea 3. Hosea we are currently reading from the book of the prophet hosea at. In chapter three, at gods command, hosea seeks out gomer once more. Watch the story of prophet hosea in this new episode where he. Gods love for israel, a nation of people more interested in themselves than in gods direction for their lives. Hosea dates his prophecy 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 1. This love is shown in chapter 3 to be a reclaiming love, a redeeming love, a renewing love and a restoring love.
It may surprise you to know that hosea was alive during the book of 2 kings, as was isaiah. 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. Not only does the book of hosea provide an example of gods love to a people who have left god behind, but it also shows us what forgiveness and restoration look like in a close relationship. What are the most commonly asked questions about the book of hosea. In a sense this chapter could have been the beginning of the book of hosea. Hosea wrote to the northern kingdom israel, and isaiah wrote to the southern kingdom judah. Book of hosea bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. 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. Hosea was a contemporary of amos, another prophet to israel. 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. It is a short book, and reading it many times will help you understand the story much better.
God spoke through both hosea and isaiah to send messages to the children of israel, warning them of gods impending judgement. The material found in the book s third chapter suggests what hosea regards as the meaning of his experiences in relation to yahwehs dealings with the people of israel. The cult of the golden bullcalves at bethel and bethaven will have corrupted ephraim and this corruption will be responsible for terrible punishments. There are two unequal sections in the book of hosea, composed of chapters and 414.
Thus, his active ministry ceased a few years before assyria carried the northern kingdom into captivity in 722 b. Because they were all contemporary with hosea, he mentions them all. When this is true it all too easily leads to compromise, selfish ambition, and lack of integrity in ones personal activities and dealings. Hosea is considered a minor prophet, not because he or his message is less important than any of the other prophets, but because he only wrote 14 chapters instead of 66 chapters like isaiah or 52 chapters like jeremiah. He was a man who experienced the depth of gods love, and the bitterness of betrayal. But r eal love is on display in this chapter in the story of hoseas love for gomer which is itself a reflection of gods love for israel. Hosea was a citizen of the northern kingdom and his personal experience was designed by god to be an example to his nation. In this book, hosea accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and warns them of the tragic consequences to follow. Love surely doesnt mean the same thing in all of these situations. Hosea 1 the word of the lord that came to hosea bible. Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor. Whether this story is to be regarded as a parable or as a record of actual experiences in hosea s home life is a question concerning which there are different opinions. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south.
Hoseas love for gomer is only a picture of gods love for israel, because all the while that israel was unfaithful to god, he was providing for them, and they took his blessings and used them for their idol worship. Chapter 3 sees hosea instructed to love a woman who is also an adulteress probably gomer again but not to be intimate with her for a number of days to symbolise the time that israel would be without a king before they repented of their ways and returned to the lord who had been loyal and faithful. Hoseas wife and children when the lord began to speak through hosea, the lord said to him, go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty. This chapter begins with threatening some hostile invasion in short and broken sentences, full of rapidity, and expressive of sudden danger and alarm. The book of hosea is the first of the 12 books of minor prophets. Have you ever realized that god used the love story of hosea and gomer to compare to his relationship with us. The book of hosea is one of the books of the hebrew bible. The prophecy of hosea was realized when the northern kingdom was crushed by the assyrians in 722 bc, while the southern kingdom of judah survived. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. Abstract the book of hosea portrays the dangers of the observance of religious ceremony without genuine devotion and commitment to the lord. Home content index books of the bible hosea questions about hosea. Under these strained and trying circumstances, hosea performed his mission as a spokesman for yahweh. Hoseas wife and children when the lord began to speak through hosea, the lord said to him, go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this.
The story of hosea and what it teaches about god and holy matrimony. Hosea redeems his unfaithful wife, paying the price for her freedom. We are currently reading from the book of the prophet hosea at daily mass. Hosea s life itself was an illustration of the peoples refusal to obey god and went after other gods and false idols. See how many words students can make from the phrase the prophet hosea e. Book of hosea read, study bible verses online bible study tools.
Three children were born to her, but they were not hoseas. We do well to recall the story, especially given the great debate among some in the church today over the question of. The story of hosea and what it teaches about god and holy. We do well to recall the story, especially given the continue reading the story of hosea and what it teaches about god and holy matrimony.
Hosea, the son of beeri, prophesied for quite some time, from 785 to 725 b. Hosea 1, new international version niv the bible app. Apr 08, 2020 it may surprise you to know that hosea was alive during the book of 2 kings, as was isaiah. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Hosea cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. The story of the prophet hoseas troubled marriage is a powerful testimony to two things. Hosea chapter 10 kjv king james version 1 israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself. The first three chapters use hoseas life to illustrate his prophetic message, as he marries gomer, who is repeatedly unfaithful to him. He was a prophet to the northern kingdom of israel, as the content of the book reveals. Chapter 11 is a beautiful expression of old testament theology, gods undying love for his people israel. And like the book of amos, the book of hosea somehow made its way south to jerusalem where it was copied, edited, and preserved to serve as gods word for future generations. Whether this story is to be regarded as a parable or as a record of actual experiences in hoseas home life is a question concerning which there are different opinions. Hosea 1 3 hosea was a young prophet in the northern kingdom of israel, which had been ruled by a succession of wicked kings. A brief outline of the concepts presented in the book of hosea exist below.
The second part of the book contains longish lamentations of hosea. Jan 02, 2020 hosea is the only prophet of israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii. Summary like the book of amos, the book of hosea is addressed to the people of the northern kingdom israel. The story of the prophet hosea s troubled marriage is a powerful testimony to two things. The book of hosea may feel complex, but interpretative help is found when we realize that it is intended to be approached as a living parable. When the lord began to speak through hosea, the lord said to him, go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this. Be sure to read any other bible passages that are called out in.
At the same time he shows the future ways of god with his people. This outline and bibliography are offered with the prayer that they will enhance the study of the book of hosea for the busy pastor who must take time from an already busy schedule to make preparation for a weeks study in his church. The book of hosea has at least two perplexing problems. Feb 03, 2017 hosea redeems his unfaithful wife, paying the price for her freedom.
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