06.29.

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The Book of Hosea

Wh o is wi s e ? H e wi ll r ea liz e t h e s e t h in g s. Wh o is d i s c ern i n g ? He w ill u n d er st an d th e m. Th e way s of th e L ord ar e r ig h t; th e r igh te ou s w alk in th e m, b u t th e r eb e lli ou s stu m b le in th e m . Hos e a 1 4: 9

The Book of Isaiah General Info, Authorship, and Genre:

Hosea depicts Israels unfaithfulness; yet Israels unfaithfulness and obstinacy are not enough to exhaust Gods redeeming love that outstrips the human capacity to comprehend. The opening verse, The word of the Lord that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, identifies Hosea with other OT prophets and follows the same general pattern of naming the book after its author (cf. Joel 1:1; Jonah 1:1; Mic. 1:1; Zeph. 1:1; Mal. 1:1). 1 The overall genre of the book is poetic-prophecy containing many oracles of judgment, with some interspersed oracles of salvation and restoration. Its main literary form is satire (in this case, sharp and bitter). Virtually the entire book is embodied in poetry. The overall format is that of a legal or judicial indictment, as God presents a detailed case against his covenant people. 69 times Yahweh says, I will... revealing his straightaway judicial actions. Also, the imagery Hosea uses is quite extensive - striking metaphors are his specialty. Watch how Yahweh is lion, leopard, bear, eagle (vulture), trapper (5:14; 11:10; 13:78; 8:1; 7:12), as well as husband, lover, parent, green pine tree (2:1423; 14:37; 11:89; 14:8). And Israel in her sins is even more vividly described: adulterous wife, stubborn heifer, snare and net, heated oven, half-baked bread, senseless dove, faulty bow, headless stalk, a baby refusing birth (2:2; 4:16; 5:1; 7:4, 8, 11, 16; 8:7; 13:13); she will disappear like mist, dew, chaff, and smoke (13:3); she will float away like a twig on water (10:7); she has sown the wind and will reap the whirlwind (8:7). It is hard not to get the picture.

The Near East at the Time of Isaiah - c. 740 B.C.

Hosea is set against the backdrop of the rising Assyrian Empire. This ancient nation posed a great threat to Israel and Judah, and it would eventually engulf nearly the entire Near East for almost of century (see map) until the rise of the next world power, the Babylonian Empire.

The Book of Hosea Historical Context:

You can reference 2 Kings 14:2318:16 to better understand the historical setting of Hosea. According to 1:1, Hosea began his prophetic calling toward the end of the relatively tranquil and prosperous days of Jeroboam II but the list of Judean kings, as well as Hoseas own oracles, suggest that most of them were delivered during the years of rapid decline following the death of Jeroboam II (753). The nation had six kings within about 30 years, a period filled with intrigue and violence. Zechariah (753 B.C.) was murdered after only six months in power. The usurper, Shallum, was assassinated one month later. The next king, Menahem (752742 B.C.) survived for a decade only by paying a burdensome tribute to Tiglath-pileser. His son, Pekahiah (742740 B.C.), was assassinated by an army officer, Pekah (740732), after only two years reign. Subsequently, Pekah was disposed of by Hoshea, whose rebellion (i.e., his unwillingness to pay tribute) against the Assyrians led to the end of the northern kingdom as it was overthrown by Assyria in 722. So, in the end, Yahweh uses Assyria as his rod of punishment (10:67).

Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Book of Isaiah Overview and Outline2

Hosea is the longest book in the Book of the Twelve and it can be divided into two major divisions: Part #1 - Chapters 13 Part #2 - Chapters 414 Part #1 seems intentionally introductory with its alternating pattern of judgment (1:29; 2:213; 3:4) followed by promises of future restoration (1:102:1; 2:1423; 3:5). And it probably serves as a pattern for part #2. Another pattern in part #1 is Israels adultery vs. Gods enduring love. The judgments are predicated on Israels adultery (= idolatry, 2:8, 13, 17), and the restoration on Yahwehs unfailing love for his people (2:1, 14, 23; 3:1). Indeed, the tension in the book, as in Micah later, is between Yahwehs love for his people and his justice in carrying out the curses for covenantal unfaithfulness. So, images from Hoseas marriage to Gomer both mirror Yahwehs long relationship with Israel (marriage, unfaithfulness, divorce, enduring love, and restoration) and serve as a pattern for the rest of book). As we venture into Part #2, we see the first cycle of oracles (4:110:15) tells the sordid story of Israels unfaithfulness, both religiously and politically, along with Yahwehs (necessary) coming judgments; while 11:111 promises future restoration based on Yahwehs love and compassion. The story of unfaithfulness and judgment is repeated with even greater intensity in a second cycle (11:1213:16), while 14:18 concludes the book with Yahwehs final love song for his people.

The Book of Hosea Theological Context: 3

Although Hosea regularly mentions Judah (the Southern Kingdom), his passion is for Israel. Picking up where the reforming prophets Elijah and Elisha had left off a century earlier, he is both astounded and incensed at Israels propensity to abandon Yahweh in favor of Baalor to mix the two in syncretistic fashion (2:11, 13). Just as marriage is simultaneously both absolutely exclusive and deeply personal, so is Yahwehs covenant with Israel. Thus Hosea repeatedly reminds his hearers/readers of their beginnings (2:15; 9:10; 11:14; 13:4), while he also recalls Israels history of unfaithfulness (9:10, 15; 10:9). The peoples present unfaithfulness, reflected primarily in their idolatry, also finds expression in breaking most of the Ten Commandments, as 4:13 spells out so forcibly. At stake in all of this is Yahwehs own character. In turning to Canaanite fertility gods (the Baals and Asherahs), Israel has attributed fruitfulness of both crops and people to them (2:5, 12) and thus has abandoned Yahweh, the Creator of all, who alone provides the crops and opens the womb (2:8, 18, 2122; 9:11, 14). At the same time the Israelites have become like the gods they worshipfull of lies, deceit, and caprice. Thus the bottom line for Hoseaand the reason for the coming judgmentis that although it should be otherwise, the people simply do not know Yahweh (4:1, 6, 14; 8:23); they have come to think of Yahweh, not in terms of their own story of redemption, but in terms of Canaanite religion and the result is deadly. Ultimately, they have forgotten from where they came from and the story behind Gods covenant with them (see Deut. 6:10-25).

2 3

Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. K. (2002). How to read the Bible book by book : A guided tour. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. K. (2002). How to read the Bible book by book : A guided tour. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan.