Meet the Minor Prophets (Part One)

Hosea

The prophet Hosea has the honor of opening the Minor Prophets with the longest of the twelve books. He begins his work with one of the more informative introductions, letting us know among other things that (PP) his father's name was Beeri, which means "man of the well," and perhaps metaphorically, "expounder" or "enlightener." (PP) We later find out that his wife's name was Gomer and that (PP) they were the parents of two sons—Jezreel and Lo-Ammi—and a daughter, Lo-Ruhamah. Yahwah Himself names the children, giving them prophetic names to foretell the fate of the unfaithful nation of Israel. (vs 4,6,9)

(PP) The prophet also tells us that he served Yahwah during the reigns of four Judean kings—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—and one Israelite king, Jeroboam II. This would seem to put his ministry within the bounds of Jeroboam II's prosperous 41-year reign (c. 793 to 753 BC). However, since Hezekiah did not come to the throne as co-regent of Judah until 719 BC, it appears that the mention of Jeroboam II is included only to give the reader the starting point and context of Hosea's message. (PP) Most Bible historians date Hosea's ministry from about 755 to 710 BC, a period that essentially covers the entire downfall of Israel from the last days of her wealth and power to her destruction by Assyria and a few years beyond.

(PP) Hosea means "help" or "salvation," and despite the recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness to Yahwah, the eventual salvation of Israel is the main subject of the prophecy. Yahwah uses the prophet's marriage to Gomer, "a wife of harlotry," to illustrate the relationship between Yahwah and His people. Gomer is not faithful to Hosea, yet Yahwah commands the prophet to take her back, just as He would restore Israel to Himself:

(PP) Hosea 3:4-5

The remainder of the book expounds and expands on this pronouncement, making intermittent calls for repentance. Several sections include Judah within the prophecy (PP) Hosea 5:5, 10-15; 6:4, 11; 8:14, etc., showing that Hosea's prophecy, though preached primarily to the northern ten tribes, is in reality aimed at all twelve tribes of Israel. Yahwah accuses both Ephraim (Israel, also called Samaria) and Judah of running to other nations, particularly Egypt and Assyria (PP) Hosea 5:13; 7:11, when threatened rather than to Yahwah. In the same way, all Israel loves to pursue idols—Baal seems to have been a favorite—rather than their Maker (PP) Hosea 4:12-14; 8:14; 12:11; etc.

Hosea also contains a well-known Messianic prophecy, found in Hosea 11:1: "And out of Egypt I called My son." This foretells of Joseph and Mary being warned by an angel to take the newly born Messiah Yahwah to Egypt to avoid the cruelty of King Herod, and once Herod died, the family returned to live in Nazareth (see Matthew 2:12-23). The Minor Prophets contain several of these "obscure" prophecies, many of which are highlighted in Matthew's gospel.