Book introduction
The book of Hosea
Hosea is told to marry a woman who will be unfaithful to him, and to take her back. His marriage becomes a living picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God and God’s refusal to give up on them.
Who wrote Hosea?
Hosea son of Beeri, a prophet to the northern kingdom. The book was likely gathered and edited in Judah after Israel fell.
When was it written?
Hosea’s ministry was about 755–715 BC.
Main themes
- God’s faithful love
- “How can I give you up?”
- Unfaithfulness
- Worshiping other gods is pictured as adultery.
- Knowing God
- God wants steadfast love and knowledge of him more than sacrifice.
Outline of Hosea
Key verses
For it is loyalty I desire, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within me; all my compassion is stirred.
I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him.
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Read chapters 1–3, then chapter 11.
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Questions about Hosea?
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