The biographical data in chapters two and three is designed to teach about israel, therefore, little more can be learned about hosea from that. Hosea probably made only 10 shekels a year, so 30 shekels was a large price to pay. The theme of israels indifference to gods love is translated in. Some of the early jewish writers believed that hosea was the son of a prophet. Imagine the prophet walking up to the slave master with 430 pounds of grain.
Powerful love overcomes rebellion in the book of hosea. Hosea was a contemporary of amos, another prophet to israel. Hoseas prophetic ministry to the northern kingdom of israel likely began soon after the ministry of the prophet amos ca. By the time of the prophet hosea, in the middle of the eighth century, b. The lord speaks of israel, still using the example of hoseas wife. Isaiahs dates taken from the bible knowledge commentary. Conditions of israel outwardly there was prosperity. The following are five of the most helpful commentaries on the book of hosea. For this very reason, the biblical book of hosea has frustrated and intrigued scholars for over two millennia. Ellison was read as a paper to the society for old testament study during the year that the editor was president. 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.
I,my,are not hosea, and the things of hosea, but god and what belongs to god. Hebrew and english lexicon of the old testament by francis brown, s. The sages say only one prophet stands out whose impact on ancient israel as well as on gods people until the end of the ages is second to moses himselfthe prophet hosea. Since ephraim is the largest tribe in the northern kingdom, sometimes the kingdom is referred to a s ephraim. And his name is related to the name joshua, which means salvation. What is the significance of the message of salvation proclaimed by the prophet hosea for peoples and nations during this age. As a result, in his view, all authority had evaporated. Blind to their own spiritual bankruptcy, israel was coasting along. But reading hosea is like looking into a kaleidoscope with the tumbling profusion of images that emerge and merge into new patterns and tropes. He was a prophet to the northern kingdom of israel, as the content of the book reveals. Hoseas message and marriage society of biblical literature. 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.
Hosea accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god, and warns them of the tragic consequences to follow. The prophet hosea the prophet hosea arno clemens gaebelein. The book of hosea is one of the most passionate of the minor prophets. Throughout the book you will see that he refers to israel and ephraim. Hoseas dates taken from the bible knowledge commentary. It is based on the german lexicon by william gesenius. Ephraim was the largest tribe in israel and sometimes the whole nation was referred to as ephraim. Often, we do not recognize the derivation of these bible names, but this prophets name would be joseph in english. 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.
The lord has yoked himself to israel in the most intimate way, likened to the most. The prophets marriage to gomer by divine command, and the three children who are given prophetic names, 1. The book is clearly written by hosea during the days jeroboam ii king of israel. Join facebook to connect with hosea prophet and others you may know.
The global message of hosea hosea in redemptive history. Hosea mentions the four kings of judah first, and then he mentions the king of israel, the northern kingdom. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bibles, 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. Timeline of hosea the prophet created by steve clark nov 7, 2008 bc dates for kings taken from niv chart of kings. He was a contemporary of the prophets isaiah, micah, and amos. According to the christian tradition, hosea was a native of beelmoth ephraem syrus or belemoth pseudoepiphanius and isidorus or belemon pseudodorotheus, and belonged to the tribe of issachar. In four verses only of these chapters does the prophet himself apparently address his own people israel, in two expostulating with them 9. God ordered hosea to marry an adulterous wife, gomer, and their three children were each given a symbolic name representing part of the ominous message. The same spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in christ through scripture.
If so, it is likely that hoseas father knew elisha. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. This makes it particularly important as it sets the tone for the entire collection commonly referred to as the twelve. It is suggested based on certain clues within the book that hosea was from the northern kingdom. Often, we do not recognize the derivation of these bible names, but this prophet s name would be joseph in english. Then came loruhamah, a daughter, and finally a second son, loammi. For while hosea is a prophet of the living god, his wife gomer was a prostitute, a harlot, an adulterous and unfaithful woman. The book reveals the personality of the prophet, an emotional man who in a moment could swing from violent anger to the deepest tenderness. Hosea marries a prostitute when yahweh first spoke to hosea, yahweh told him, marry a prostitute, and have children with that prostitute. Hosea is the first of the 12 minor prophets called minor not because they are of less importance, but because the books are shorter.
The prophet s marriage to gomer by divine command, and the three children who are given prophetic names, 1. The traditional characterization of amos as a prophet of justice as opposed to hosea as a prophet of love not only oversimplifies matters but in fact overlooks an important aspect. Close to the end of jeroboams reign to early in hezekiahs reign. Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the lord.
Hoseas name means salvation or gods salvation but many people refer. Chapters 1 and 3 of the book of hosea tell us a bit about hoseas marriage and children. This was followed by a period of internal instability, with intrigues at the royal court leading. Hosea tells us of the nature of god, by showing us this sorrow. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bibles, it is the first of the twelve minor prophets. Hosea s days were likely around 760 to 725 bc the dates that the kings of israel and judah occupy as listed at hosea 1. The message of hosea this lies behind his best known words, for i desire. It is as great a pleasure now to present it to readers. Hosea was a prophet who lived and prophesied just before the destruction of israel in 722 bc. We can hardly read it without being gripped by the deep emotional and personal involvement of the prophet. Chapters 1 and 3 of the book of hosea tell us a bit about hosea s marriage and children. Hosea is the first prophet to use the metaphor of marriage to describe the relation between god and israel and the first and only prophet to be. A word from the prophet hosea today, we consider hosea. The story of the prophet hosea and his troubled marriage are a powerful testimony to us of our own tendency to be unfaithful to god but also of gods passionate love for us.
It also means that hosea s ministry extended beyond the fall of samaria in 722 b. Israels adultery, chapters hosea and gomer god and israel. 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. The book of hosea depicts gods relationship with his people through a metaphor that occurs throughout the bible, though nowhere as strongly and pervasively as in hosea. These words from a brief statement of faith, adopted. Lexical there are several excellent lexicons available for ancient hebrew. The gospel according to hosea wooed in the wilderness, part 3 hosea 2. Sep 10, 2012 hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of israel and spoke the messages of the lord. Prophet hosea hosea was a prophet who lived and prophesied just before the destruction of israel in 722 bc. The book of hosea is the longest of the minor prophets. The theme of israels indifference to gods love is translated in the experience of the prophets own unhappy marriage. Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries.
This meant that hoseas ministry was an urgent plea for the return of israel to the true worship of god under the humble acquiescence to the various systems of. The prophets prayer for barren womb and dry breasts in hosea 9, 191202. Osee was the son of beeri and a prophet in israel in the eighth century before the birth of christ. The message of hosea in the light of his marriage by h.
Hosea commentary hosea is the first of the twelve books of the minor prophets. Hosea, prophet amazing bible timeline with world history. The book of hosea is one of the books of the hebrew bible. Hosea, however, knew nothing of her character at the time of his marriage, on the contrary, it was made manifest to him only afterward, as if through a special intervention of god, in order to serve to the prophet as a symbol of israels unfaithfulness to the lord. See more ideas about book of hosea, old testament and bible. Hosea s prophetic ministry to the northern kingdom of israel likely began soon after the ministry of the prophet amos ca.
The people in this land have acted like prostitutes and abandoned yahweh. Hosea s wife, gomer, whom he married in good faith, proved to be an adulterous woman. Hosea began his mission in a period of prosperity, the last years of jeroboam ii 783743 b. 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. The talmud claims that he was the greatest prophet of his generation. The prophet hosea yahweh spoke his word to hosea, son of beeri, when uzziah, jotham, ahaz, and hezekiah were kings of judah and when jeroboam, son of joash, was king of israel. He appears on the bible timeline poster around the 8th century b. Hosea 1 niv bible the word of the lord that came to hosea. 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.
This meant that hosea s ministry was an urgent plea for the return of israel to the true worship of god under the humble acquiescence to the various systems of truth. Into the story 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. Although little is known about the prophet himself outside of what can be learned from the book that bears his name, his basic message of judgment and hope is clear. Hosea was a young preacher in the nation of israel, the northern kingdom, and he was a. The metaphor of marriage in hosea leif fredheim go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the lord hosea 1. Little is known about the life or social status of hosea. The lord has yoked himself to israel in the most intimate way, likened to the most profound of human relationships. Because they were all contemporary with hosea, he mentions them all. Hosea, a prophet from the northern kingdom, preached in his homeland, which he addresses as israel, jacob or, frequently, ephraim. Hosea is often seen as a prophet of doom, but underneath his message of destruction is a promise of restoration. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the.
The precise details of hoseas troubled marriage are sketchy and we are left to fill in some of the details with our continue reading the story of hosea and a glimpse into the heart of god. The theme of israels indifference to gods love is translated in the experience of the prophet s own unhappy marriage. Iesed and not sacrifice, the knowledge of god rather than burnt offerings 6. Hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of israel and spoke the messages of the lord. Lessons to learn 1 faithfulness can be fleeting and emotional your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. We know virtually nothing about hosea beyond the fact that he was the son of beeri, that he was married to a woman of questionable repute, and that three children were born to her. The first part of hosea records the tragic story of the prophet s unhappy marital experiences. Hosea prophesied, approximately, during the years 753 to 687 b. The authorship and compilation of hosea few scholars today doubt that the bulk of the book comes from the messages of hosea himself, but many attribute the actual commit ment of his words to writing not to the prophet but to a group of dis. Top 5 commentaries on the book of hosea ligonier ministries. Hosea gives his readers very little information about himself, although viewed in the context of jewish life in his day, we can get to know him a little better. This would mean that the prophet s ministry lasted perhaps 45 years ca. He is one of the twelve minor prophets of the old testament.
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