Lesson01-HoseaIntroduction
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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson01,Introduction
ItisnotpossibletoproperlyteachthefascinatingandimportantBookofHosea
withoutestablishingahistoricalandtheologicalbackgroundascontext.Thatis
whatweshallbeginwithtodayinourIntroductiontotheBookofHosea.
Ifyouhaven’tstudiedtheTorahwithme(orsomeoneelse),beginningwith
Genesis,youwillbeatadecideddisadvantagetothosewhohavebecauseno
matterwhichBiblebooksyoumightstudy,notbeginningatthebeginningofthe
Bibleleavesyouunprepared.Eachbookassumesyoualreadyhavecertain
knowledgeofwhatcameearlier;thereisnoremedialtrainingintheScriptures.
HoseaisnodifferentespeciallybecauseIsrael’shistorical,religious,andpolitical
situationatthetimehewroteisnearlyasimportanttograspasisIsrael’s
problematicrelationshipwithGodthathaddeveloped.
Iwillindeedofferyousomeofthathistoricalinformationtobuildthecontextof
Hosea’swritings;butitwillberelativelybriefandnecessarilyincomplete.So,if
youhavethetimeandinterest,andhavenotstudiedtheTorah,Iurgeyouto
stopnowandgodosoandthencomebackinthefuturetothisstudyofHosea.
However,ifyouprefertocontinuewithoutthatfoundation…thenwelcome!
ThebestplacetostartisprobablybydefiningwhatHoseawas;hewasknownas
aProphetofYehoveh…theGodofIsrael;althoughnowhereinthebooknamed
forhimdoesheoranyoneelsemakethatclaim.Infact,hisnameisonly
mentionedtwiceintheentirebook.Ratherheiscalledprophetbecauseheticks
offtheboxesnecessaryforhispeersandforthosewhofollowedhimtorightfully
declarehimaprophetofGod.What’saProphet?Thatmaysoundratherbasic
andsimplisticforthosewhohavespentatleastalittletimeinChurchor
Synagogue,butIassureyouitisnot.WhataProphetwasanddidevolvedover
thecenturies.
Fromapurelytheologicalviewpointthetermprophetspeaksofsomeonewho
hasaspecialconnectionwiththedivinethatiswellbeyondtheordinary.Mostof

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theknownpaganreligionshadprophets,sotheofficewasn’tlimitedtothe
Hebrewfaith.Sometimesthatdivineconnectionseemsasbasicasbutagood
relationshipbetweenahumanandtheirgodorgods.Biblicallyitoftencomesat
timeswhensucharelationshipisinshortsupply.Sometimesitcanbethe
prophetusedasthatdivinity’searthlymouthpiecetodeliveramessage,oras
onewhocarriesoutcertainactionsonthedivinity’sbehalf.Atothertimesa
prophetisatellerofthefuture;aseer.ThefirstpersoncalledProphetintheBible
wasAbraham;let’sseeinwhatwayhewasaprophet.
CJB
Genesis20:1-7AvrahamtraveledfromtheretowardtheNegevandlived
betweenKadeshandShur.WhilelivingasanalieninG'rar,
2
Avrahamwas
sayingofSarahhiswife,"Sheismysister";soAvimelekhkingofG'rarsentand
tookSarah.
3
ButGodcametoAvimelekhinadreamonenightandsaidtohim,
"Youareabouttodiebecauseofthewomanyouhavetaken,sincesheis
someone'swife."
4
NowAvimelekhhadnotcomenearher;sohesaid,"Lord,will
youkillevenanuprightnation?
5
Didn'thehimselfsaytome,'Sheismysister'?
Andevensheherselfsaid,'Heismybrother.'Indoingthis,myhearthasbeen
pureandmyhandsinnocent."
6
Godsaidtohiminthedream,"Yes,Iknowthat
indoingthis,yourhearthasbeenpure;andItoohavekeptyoufromsinning
againstme.ThisiswhyIdidn'tletyoutouchher.
7
Therefore,returntheman's
wifetohimnow.Heisaprophet,andhewillprayforyou,sothatyouwilllive.
Butifyoudon'treturnher,knowthatyouwillcertainlydie-youandallwho
belongtoyou."
HerethetermprophetindicatesAbraham’sclosepersonalone-on-one
relationshipwithhisGod,andthereforewhateverAbrahamisdoingheandhis
familywillbedivinelyprotectedanddirectedbyhisGod.Ifweretoreadalittle
moreaboutAbrahamwe’dfindthathehasaudible2-wayconversationwithGod,
andthatGodinstructsAbrahamtodocertainthings,andAbrahamevendebates
withHim.
Next(chronologicallyspeaking)wereadofAaron,Moses’sbrother,being
describedasaprophet.
CJB
Exodus7:1-2ButADONAIsaidtoMoshe,"IhaveputyouintheplaceofGod
toPharaoh,andAharonyourbrotherwillbeyourprophet.
2
Youaretosay

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everythingIorderyou,andAharonyourbrotheristospeaktoPharaohandtell
himtoletthepeopleofIsra'elleavehisland
So,atthispoint(perhaps500yearsafterAbraham),Aaronisdescribedas
Moses’sprophetandnotGod’sexceptbyindirectmeans.Moseshastheclose
divineconnection,andnotAaron.InthisparticularcaseMosestellsAaronwhat
tosaytothePharaoh.Moses,asaMediator,hashisownprophet…hisbrother
(wellbeforeAaronbecameHighPriest).Whatdoesthisprophetdo?Hesimply
passesalongwhatMoses,God’sMediator,tellshimtopassalong.So,Aaronas
prophetisquitedifferentfromAbraham.
Skippingforward(chronologically)wereadinDeuteronomyageneralinstruction
fromGodthroughMosesaboutprophets.Thebroadimplicationisthatprophets
ofallkindsandvarietiesaregoingtoariseandbegintoplayanincreasingrolein
thelivesofGod’speople,Israel.
CJB
Deuteronomy13:2-4
2
"Ifaprophetorsomeonewhogetsmessageswhile
dreamingarisesamongyouandhegivesyouasignorwonder,
3
andthesignor
wondercomesaboutashepredictedwhenhesaid,'Let'sfollowothergods,
whichyouhavenotknown;andletusservethem,'
4
youarenottolistentowhat
thatprophetordreamersays.ForADONAIyourGodistestingyou,inorderto
findoutwhetheryoureallydoloveADONAIyourGodwithallyourheartand
being.
AsBiblehistoryunfoldsweareledtothepersonwhowouldtransitionIsraelfrom
thetimeofJudges(whichwasshortlyfollowingIsrael’sarrivaltoCanaan)tothe
timeoftheKingsafewhundredyearslater:Samuelisintroduced.Raisedbya
priest,andattimesoperatinglikeone,wereadthisaboutSamuel:
CJB
1Samuel3:20-21
20
AllIsra'elfromDantoBe'er-Shevabecameawarethat
Sh'mu'elhadbeenconfirmedasaprophetofADONAI.
21
ADONAIcontinued
appearinginShiloh,forADONAIrevealedhimselftoSh'mu'elinShilohbythe
wordofADONAI.
Samuel’sroleisastrangehybridofpriestandprophet.Notquiteamediatorlike
Moses,butofamuchhigherrecognizedstatusthanastrangenewgroupofmen

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thathadsprungupcalledtheNevi’im.Nevi’im(whichinbiblicalHebrewis
usuallytranslatedasprophets)weremenwhoserolesinIsraelitesocietyare
hardtopindown.Theyweren’tprophetslikeSamuel,Moses,AaronorAbraham.
There’snoactualmentionofdirectcommunicationbetweenthemandGod,nor
aretheylikeHosea,Isaiah,Jeremiahorthemorefamiliarprophetsthatwould
comelater.TheNevi’imtendedtooperateingroups,andtheirmaincallingcard
wastogointotrancesortospeakecstatically(thatis,speakinginverymystical
wayswhileinastateofhighemotion).Theywereconsideredtheholymenofthe
time,livedincommunes,andtheywererespectedbythepeople.Whatreligious
authoritytheycarriedisn’tclear,andhowsomeonewasselectedandaccepted
intothecommunityofNevi’imisn’tcleareither.
CJB
1Sam.10:5-8
5
Afterthat,youwillcometoGiv'ahofGod,wherethe
P'lishtimaregarrisoned.Onarrivalatthecitythere,youwillmeetagroupof
prophetscomingdownfromthehighplace,precededbylutes,tambourines,
flutesandlyres;andtheywillbeprophesying.
6
ThentheSpiritofADONAIwill
fallonyou;youwillprophesywiththemandbeturnedintoanotherman!
7
When
thesesignscomeoveryou,justdowhateveryoufeellikedoing,becauseGodis
withyou.
8
ThenyouaretogodownaheadofmetoGilgal,andthereIwillcome
downtoyoutoofferburntofferingsandpresentsacrificesaspeaceofferings.
Waittheresevendays,untilIcometoyouandtellyouwhattodo."
Whateverthepurposeandfunctionofthese“groupsofprophets”were,clearlyat
leastsomeofthemweredoingthewillofGodandhadsometypeofrelationship
withHim.BythetimeofDavidtheseNevi’imseemedtoplayanincreasingrole
inworship,spiritualdiscernment,andinbringingthewordoftruthtoIsrael’s
leaders.Infact,atthispointwefindprophetslikeNathanbeingassignedto
specificIsraeliteKingstobringthemGod’sinstructions.
AfterthereignsofKingsDavidandSolomon,andtheimmediatecivilwarthat
followedSolomon’sdeath,Israelwassplitapartinto2Kingdoms.TheNorthern
KingdomwascalledIsrael(althoughitwasmoreoftencalledEphraim),andthe
SouthernKingdomwascalledJudah.TheNorthernKingdomconsistedof10of
the12Israelitetribes,withtheSouthernKingdomrepresentingtheremaining2.
Itisatthistime,duringthereignsofKingsAhabandAhaziah,thatthevery
strangeandenigmaticElijahappeared.Elijahwasalsocalledprophet.

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Elijahwasquitedifferentfromanyprecedingpersoncalledprophet.Hewasnot
assignedtobeasourceofGodlywisdomtoanIsraeliteking.Healsowasn’tatall
likethemysticalmenoftheNevi’im.Hedidn’tperformpriest-likedutiesnordid
hefadeawayintotrances.Rather,Elijah’sjobwastoforcefullyandbluntlytell
IsraelthatGodwasveryunhappywiththembecausetheyhadforsakenHimand
wereworshippingCanaanitegods;particularlyBa’al.AndthatassuchIsraelwas
onacollisioncoursewithYehovehthatwouldresultinacatastrophe.
NextwecometothegroupofprophetsthatmostBiblestudentsarefamiliarwith.
MenlikeJonah,Amos,Isaiah,Ezekiel…andHosea.Thesearecalledbyscholars
“thewritingprophets”.Inotherwords,thesemenwrotedowntheirprophetic
wordsforposterity.ThewritingprophetshaveBiblebooksnamedforthem.The
writingprophetsarefurtherdividedintotheminorandthemajorprophets.
What’sthedifference?Onlyinthelengthoftheirwritings;theirimportance,
religiousstatus,orsignificanceplaysnorole.Theshorterbooksarecalledminor;
thelongerbookscalledmajor.So,ourHoseais,onthatbasis,classifiedasa
minorprophet.
Althoughprophetsthatcamelater,afterHosea,alsohaddifferentrolesthan
theirpredecessorswewon’tgoanyfurtherasitisn’tpertinenttoourstudy.The
importantpointisthatProphetisaverybroadtermandcannotbeeasilyshoved
intoacommonmoldordefinition.HoseawasmostsimilartoElijah,andprobably
couldbecalledElijah’ssuccessor,becausehewastaskedbyGodwithbringing
Israelamessagetheydidn’twanttohear;astrongmessageofchastisement
followedwithguaranteedimpendingdoom.Itwasadoombroughtaboutfrom
theirfaithlessnesstoYehoveh.Adoomthatwasalreadyinmotionandfrom
whichnothingtheycoulddocouldpreventit;inGod’sjudgmentofthemthey
hadpassedthepointofno-return.Alltheycoulddowastoacceptit,preparefor
it,andunderstandwhyitwasgoingtohappen.
I’lltakeafewminutestopauseandhopetoimpressuponyousomethingthatI
thinkiscriticalforourdayandtime,andIbelieveyouwillagreewithmethat
itisimportant.BeforeIdothat,inordertoconcludethegeneralsubjectof
prophets,letmesaythatalthoughinnowaydoIclassifymyselfasaprophet,in
someways(especiallyasweseeitappliedintheNewTestament)Iam.Thisis
becausebyNewTestamenttimesthetermsprophetandprophesyhadcontinued

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toevolveuntiliteventuallycametomeanapersonoffaithintheGodofIsrael
whostudied,interpreted,andspokeabouttheHolyScriptures.So,todaywhile
mostanyBibleteachercouldlegitimatelybethoughtofasaprophetinthat
narrowNewTestamentsense,becausethattermismuchtoooftenmisused,
misunderstood,andmisappropriated,itismyopinionthataPastor,Rabbi,or
Bibleteacherisbesttosteerclearofanointingoneselfwithsuchatitle;and
furtherheorsheshouldn’tallowotherstocallthemprophet.
ForhundredsofyearsChristians,duetomisunderstandingsoftheNew
TestamentandwithlittleknowledgeoftheOld,haveabelief(oratleastafeeling)
thatGodwillsomehowalwaysstrivewithuspersonallyasindividuals,andalso
onalargerscalewithmankindingeneral,andavoidpouringoutHiswrathupon
us.Thislineofthinkingisprimarilyduetothedoctrinethat“Godislove”,and
thereforehowcouldalovingGodeverintentionallycauseharmtohumans,
whichHecreated?EspeciallytothoseindividualswhoclaimtoworshipHim?
Further,thatwhateveroutpouringofGod’sdisfavorandwrathmight
theoreticallyevercome,itwillalwaysbewellintosomehazyfutureorhappento
someotherpeopleornationthanoursbecausewe’regoodenoughthatitought
nottohappentous…atleastwe’regoodwhencomparedtoothers.Another
almostinstinctivebeliefisthatsufficientrepentance,orevenjustbeing
especiallycompassionate,canalwaysdeterGod’sangerandtheconsequences
ofpastsins.TheBibletellsusthatGoddealswithhumanityintwodistinctbut
relatedspheres:firstHeweighsoutourindividuallives,andsecondHejudges
accordingtowhatevergroup(corporate)associationswemighthave,withthe
entiregroupreceivingacommonjudgment.Themostcommon“group
association”thattheBibledealswithisone’stribe,kingdomornation.
Anothermistakenbelief(thatinnowayisbackedupbiblically)isthatwiththe
adventofChrist,thewayGoddealswithdisobedientandfaithlesshumanityhas
changed.Hisseverityhaschangedtomercy.Thatis,sincethedivineMessiah
Yeshuaisconsideredastheepitomeofloveandmercy,thenhowGoddealtwith
IsraelintheOldTestamentera(harshly)hasnobearingonhowGodwilldeal
withusinthepresentorthefuture.
IfwewillopenourmindsandourheartstoGod,whatwewilllearninHoseais
thatwearetodaylivinginanerathatisnearlyidenticaltotheconditionofIsrael

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inHosea’sera.God’swrathisnearandinevitable(exactlyhownearnoneofus
know);andonacorporatelevelHiswrathisnotgoingtobesatisfiedbya
communityofanysizeornaturesimplybeingnicerpeople.Thatis,whileour
individualrepentancealongwithtrustinJesusismostcertainlywelcomedby
GodandindeedturnsawayHisangerfromusatJudgmentDay,humanityasa
groupisalreadyjudgedasfaithlessandidolatrous;doomedjustaswasthe10
tribesoftheNorthernKingdom.Humanity’simprovementfromanearthly
perspectivehascyclicallyinchedupandslidbackdownovertheages,butalways
theoveralltrajectoryseemstobedownward.Asarace,wehavenotbecomeless
violent,lessgreedyormoremoral.God’sjudgmentisnotbasedonhuman
standardsorhowwejudgeourselves,butratherbyHisstandardsthatnever
change.Hisjudgmentforourentireplanetisalreadywritteninstonebecauseof
humanity’spersistentfailings.ThereisnoholdingoffHiswrathandthetimeof
ithasalreadybeendeterminedinHeaven.Noamountofourpleadingorthe
newfoundgoodnessofarelativefewwillwarditoff(evenifthatfewamountsto
afewmillions).
WhatwewilllearnfromHoseaisthatevenwhatwasthoughttobethe
communityoftheHebrewfaithful…acommunityof10Israelitetribes…that
insisteditworshippedYehovehandlivedtheirlivesrighteously,hadthoroughly
deceivedthemselvesandinsteadwerelivingawickedlie.Theyhaddriftedsofar
fromGod’slawsandcommands,andhadinsteadtakenuptheworthless
manmadedoctrinesoftheirleaders,thattheywerelivinglivesofimmoralityand
faithlessnessallthewhilesteadfastlybelievingtheywereinGod’sgoodstead.In
fact,it’snotasthoughthe10tribesHoseaisspeakingtoeventhoughtaboutit
much.Noonetoldanother“Weneedtoexaminewhatwebelieveandseeifitis
inaccordancewiththeTorahandtheLawofMoses”.Rather,theytoldone
anotherhowgoodtheyknewtheywereandhowtheirworshipwaspleasingto
God.
ThevastspectrumoftheJudeo-Christianfaithtodayasreligiousinstitutions(not
necessarilyasindividualhousesofworship)isequallyself-deceivedinmany
ways.I’mspeakingingeneralofcourse,alwaysacknowledgingthatthereare
pocketsofGodworshipperseverywherewhododiligentlyseekHimandstriveto
beobedientasbiblicallyprescribedasopposedtodoctrinallyprescribed.The
twomainbranchesoftheseancientreligiousinstitutionstodayoperateprimarily

Lesson01-HoseaIntroduction
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onmanmadetraditions,notnecessarilyrealizingit.Thenearlyuniversalaction
ofagentile-ledChristianitysolongagoseveringitselffromtheTorahwould
inevitablyleadtothisfaith-calamitybecausethestandardforGodlinesswasset
asideandnolongerknown.ThatoneeventofstrippingtheTorahfromourfaith
(thatwasformalizedinthe4thcentury)leftBelieversrudderless,witheach
personanddenominationdeterminingtodowhatwasrightintheirowneyes
whilealways,ofcourse,thinkingit“good”.Likewise,thenearlyuniversalaction
ofJudaism(beginningwellbeforethebirthofChrist)increatinguntoldvolumes
ofmanmadereligiousrulesthatveryoftencollidewithorevenusurpGod’splain
commandsintheScriptures,haveresultedinthesameproblematicmuddleas
Christianityfindsitself.NeitherreligiousinstitutionreallyservesYehovehasHe
demands,eventhoughbothinsisttheydo.Instead,bothserveonlythemselves
havingbecomedisobedientandidolatrous.Whyidolatrous?Ichoosethatterm
becausewe’regoingtofindthatidolatryistheprimaryoffenseofIsraelagainst
God(inHosea)thatresultsinGod’swrathofexilingthemfromtheLandby
meansofinvasionfromAssyria.InmoderntimesGodworshippersthinkof
idolatryonlyasworshippingwoodenorstonefigurinesofvariousgods.Butto
Goditmeanssomethingfarbroader.TodayinthenameofJesusmanyservethe
godsofhumanismandpopulismallthewhilepleadingthatwedon’t.Wedothat
duetoaself-inducedblindnesstotheHolyScripturesandbecausetheChurch
andSynagoguehavebeenalltoohappytoaccommodateourtrendypersonal
wants,desires,dreamsandpleasuresbyconcoctingdoctrinesthatseemtomake
ourbehavioracceptabletoGod.
Fromourdiet,toourobservancesofholydays,tothedefinitionofmarriage,to
genderissues,muchoftheChurchandSynagoguehasdecidedtosetaside
biblicalordinancesandinsteadhasadoptedthelatestfashionabledemandsof
ourever-evolvingnationalculturesinordertokeeptheseatsandtreasuriesof
ourhousesofworshipsufficientlyfilledwithhappypeople.Wewilllearnquickly
intheBookofHoseathatthisispreciselywhatthe10tribesthatformedthe
NorthernKingdomhaddoneandasaresulttheirfatewassealedwithoutthem
havinganinklingofit.
Anotherthingwe’llseeinourHoseastudyisthatwhenaprophetofYehoveh
attemptstotellhisIsraelitebrotherssuchthings,theprophetisdespisedforit.
Hiswarningsfallmostlyupondeafearsandhardenedhearts.Peopleofalleras

Lesson01-HoseaIntroduction
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likewhattheylike.Peopleofallwalksoflifesinbecausetheyliketosin.People
nearlyuniversallydon’twanttruechangeinourselves,wejustwantour
circumstancestoimprove.Peoplegenerallygetangrywhentoldwearewrong.
Andespeciallyreligiouspeopledon’twanttobetoldthatsomuchofwhatwe
mightbelieveandpracticeisn’tofGod,butratheritisofmen.Myprayeraswe
goforwardinthisstudyisforGod’swordsthroughHoseatofalluponlistening
earsandsoftenedhearts.Andthatwemakethemessagepersonaland
contemporary;notmerelyanintellectualrecollectionofastarkwarningmeant
foranancientpeopleinalong-agotime(eventhoughitwasthataswell).
Thereisoneoutstandingdifference(terrifying,really)betweenHosea’smessage
toIsraelandwhatGodwasabouttobringuponthem,versuswhatGodissoon
goingtobringuponus,aspartoftheentireglobalcommunityofmen.God’s
intentionforIsraelwastopurifythemfromthefatalgermofBa’alworshipthat
hadsodeeplyinfectedthemthatitdestroyedtheirrelationshipwithGod.He
woulddothisbypunishingthemseverelyforbreakingHiscovenant,and
removingthemtofaroffplacesfromthenowruinedLandofPromisethathehad
giventothemcenturiesearlier.But…HealsoreassuredIsraelthat(afteralong
time)HewouldredeemthemanddrawthembacktoaregeneratedLand.This
dramarevealsGodbattlingfortheverysoulofIsrael.
Ontheotherhand,God’sintentionforglobalhumanityinthenearfutureisto
purifytheearthfromthosehumanbeingswhoareinfectedwiththefatalgermof
humanismandidolatry.ItwillbeverymuchliketheGreatFlood.Mostof
mankindwasnotinNoah’stime,andwillnotinthenearfuture,besavedfrom
thepurificationofGod’swrath.TheLordwillnotpushhumanityawayforawhile
inordertodrawthembacklater,asHedidwiththe10tribes.Soratherthan
redeemandreturn,Godwilldestroy.Theonlyexceptionstothatdestructionwill
betheremnantofmankindwhich,throughsincererepentanceandan
acceptanceoftheLordshipofourMessiahYeshua,areredeemedonaspiritual
levelindividualbyindividual.Althoughmanyoftheseredeemedexceptionsmay
stilldieaphysicaldeathascollateraldamageduringthetimeofdivine
planet-widepurification(God’swrath),nonethelesstheserelativefew…the
repentantfaithful…willliveoneternallyintheclosestpossiblerelationshipwith
God.Thatlastpartistheonlyhopethereis.Thisisthehopethatwearetostrive
forandclingtoastheEndTimescalamitydrawsnearerandwhenwefinallyallow

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therealityofitscertaintyanditshorrortopenetrateourdulledsenses.Isuspect
thatofthemanypeoplelisteningtothislessonrightnow,thismaynotbewhat
youhadhopedtohear.Thisisnotparticularlyupliftingandjoyful,isit?Itwasnot
intendedtobe.Itwasintendedtobesoberingandtobethetruth.Thatisthe
toneofHosea’smessage,andsothatisthetoneImeantoimparttousallofthe
21
st
century.Let’stalknowabouttheeraandthecircumstancesthatHosealived
inthatledtothismessageofdoom.
Theeraandcircumstancesinwhichwe(andeverygeneration)liveareenormous
influencersofhowwethink,howourworldviewsareshaped,andthushowwe
liveourlives.Inourbusylivesweprobablydon’tcontemplateitveryoften
becauseourcurrentrealityiswhatitis,evenifwemightwishitwassomething
else.Weonlyinfrequentlypauselongenoughtothinkabouthowwegothere
fromthereinourlivesasindividuals,letalonereflectingonthefarlargerpicture
aboutthelongjourneyournationorglobalsocietyhastakentogettowhereitis
atthismoment.Nor,whenitcomestoourfaith,doweusuallyaskourselvesthe
all-importantquestion:whydowebelievewhatwebelieve?But,Hoseais
acutelyawareofhowhistoricallyandreligiouslyIsrael’scurrentcircumstances
cametoarriveatsuchasorrystate,andheexplainsit.
Hosealivedandprophesiedduringthe8
th
centuryB.C.Israel(meaningthe10
tribesformingtheNorthernKingdom)wasextremelyprosperousandgenerally
atpeacewithitsneighbors.ThispeacewasenabledbythekingsofIsraelinthe
fewdecadespriorto,andduring,Hosea’slifetimebymakingtreatieswiththeir
gentileneighbors.Theyalsoencouragedintermarriageforthesakeofahappy
co-existence,andadoptingtheirneighbors’gods(alongwithmanyoftheir
worshippractices)becauseitwasaveryattractivereligionthatthesepagans
practiced.TheIsraeliteswereperfectlyhappytoacceptandassimilateallthese
thingsintotheirHebrewculturebecauseofthepeaceandprosperitythatderived
fromthosepolicies.YehovehremainedIsrael’snationalgod,buttheIsraelites
boweddowntoothergodsaswell.Theseothergodsseemedtobeofpractical
useforthem.Onegodwasforrain;anotherforvictoryinbattle;anotherfor
fertility,andsoon.JeroboamIIwastheKingofIsraelwhenHoseafirst
prophesied.Thatwouldhavebeenintherangeof793–753B.C.

Lesson01-HoseaIntroduction
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ItiscriticalthatwhenreadingHosea(oranythingintheOldTestamentafterthe
timeofSolomon)thatwegraspthatIsraelhadceasedtobeasingleunited
nationunderoneking.Infact,Israelasasingleunifiednationonlyeverexisted
underKingsDavidandSolomon…fortheveryshorttimespanofabout70years.
ByHosea’sday,Israelhadbeenexistingformorethan150yearsastwo
separatenations(Kingdomsinreality)under2separategovernmentswith2
separatekings.Inbiblicalterms150yearsdoesn’tseemallthatlongtous.But
togetabettersenseforjusthowlong150yearsis,that’sabouthowlongithas
beenfromthetimeoftheAmericanCivilWaruntiltoday.Andwhocanrelateto
muchofanythingaboutthatwar?Weonlyknowwhatlittlewemightknowabout
thatwaranderaifweweretoreadahistorybook.So,byHosea’sdayallthatany
livingIsraelitehadexperiencedwasthatsomeoftheirtribesmadeupone
kingdom,andtheothertribesanother.Itwasnormal;it’showitwas.
TheSouthernKingdomofJudahandtheNorthernKingdomofIsraeldidn’thave
particularlygoodrelationswithoneanother.Skirmishesbrokeoutoccasionally,
andmoreseriousconfrontationsfromtimetotime.Judahtendedtoremaina
littlemoreisolatedintheirdealingswiththeirgentileneighbors,whileIsraelin
thenorthreadilyembracedtheirlocalneighbor’swaysandevenmoreimportant
theysoughttoappeaseAssyria.
AnothercrucialbitofknowledgeweneedaswepreparetostudyHoseaisthat
Israel(theNorthernKingdomof10tribes)moreoftenthannotwentbythename
ofEphraim.Thiswasbecauseofthe10tribesoftheNorth;Ephraimwasbyfar
themostdominantone.So,Hoseawillswitchbackandforthbetweencallingit
IsraelorEphraim.It’snodifferentthanourswitchingbackandforth(eveninone
conversation)betweenthetermsAmericaandTheUnitedStates.Whilethey
mighttechnicallymeansomethingdifferent,incommonusagetheyarejust2
waysofexpressingthesamething.
HosealivedintheNorthernKingdom;whereexactlywedon’tknow.Duetoits
peaceandprosperity,Israelwasasatisfiedandcomplacentpopulation.However,
whentheirKing,JeroboamII,diedin753B.C.itendedIsrael’slongestserving
dynastythathadbegunwithKingJehunearlyahundredyearsearlier.Whena
dynastyends,itleavesapowervacuumthatsomeoneisgoingtofill,usually
throughviolence.ThefirsttofillitwasZechariah(nottheProphet).Hebecame

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thenewkingoftheNorthernKingdombutwasneverabletoimplementhis
familyasadynasty.Insteadofhissonsandgrandsonsascendingtothethrone
insuccessionasitwaswithJehu’sdynasty,Zechariahwasassassinatedwithin
onlymonthsaftertakingoffice.Nofewerthan6IsraelitekingsruledoverIsrael
duringthenext30years,eachbeingmurderedbytheonetofollow.This
producedchaosandinstabilityandalongwithit,Israel’seconomysank.Thus,
Israelwentfromprosperitytodesperationwithinageneration.Hosea
prophesiedduringthelastfewyearsofJeroboamII’sreignandthenthroughout
thisperiodofrapiddeteriorationofIsrael;wecanseethisprogressionreflected
inhiswords.
So,onethingwemusttakefromthisisthatHoseawroteoveralongperiodof
time;decades.Nodoubthewrotenarrativesaboutwhateverthecurrent
situationwas,thentimewouldpassandhewouldwritemore,butinlightofthe
changedsituation.Thiswouldrepeatafewtimes.Theresultisthatweseea
numberofwhatlanguagescholarscall“styles”ofwritingreflectedinhis
propheticbook.Thesestylechangeshavecausedmuchconsternationand
disagreementwithintheBibleacademiccommunity.Someconcludethateach
differentstylereflectsachangetoadifferentauthor.Otherssaydifferenteditors
overtheyearsredactedwhatwasoriginallywrittenandthisaccountsforthe
differentstyles.YetsomeBiblecommentatorslikeDouglasStuartandJames
LutherMayestakealittlemorebalancedviewthatnaturallyHosea’swritings
overthecourseofperhaps35yearswouldlookandsoundalittledifferentas
theywentalong,oftenwithmanyyearspassingbetweensegments.Iagreewith
that.Icanlookbackonly20yearstomyownwritingsandcomparethemtomy
mostrecentandnoticeadefinitedifferenceinstyle.Butmore,itisunthinkable
thattherehadnotbeensomelevelofredactionoverthecenturiesbecauseall
theancientbiblicalwritingswerehandcopied.Anditisclearthatashistory
progressedlanguagetermsandtheirmeaningschanged,evenplacenames
changed,andsoaneditormighttakethelibertytochangesomeoftheoriginal
wordstoreflectthat;thisprocesslikelyhappenedmorethanonce.
Thegoodnewsisthatwedohavesomemanuscriptfragmentsfromthetimeof
theDeadSeaScrollstomakesomecomparisons.Thebadnewsisthatthese
fragmentsarenotfromtheBookofHoseaitselfbutratherfromacommentary
madeonthebookprobablybysomeEssenewriterwellbeforethetimeofChrist.

Lesson01-HoseaIntroduction
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InHebrewsuchasworkiscalledapesher.Itisnotsomuchthat
thispeshergivesusinformationofexactlyhowtheBookofHoseaexistedin
thosedays,butrathersimplythatitDIDexistatthattime,itwasalreadywell
circulated,anditwasconsideredasauthoritativeHolyScripture.
SinceintellectualhonestyandfranknessaboutwhattheBibletellsushasalways
beenafundamentalprincipleofSeedofAbrahamTorahClass(whereveritmight
leadus),thenitisimportanttodiscussanothercontroversialaspectaboutHosea.
Itisthis:manyfineBiblescholarsclaimthatHoseawaswrittenbeforetheBook
ofDeuteronomy,andperhapsevenbeforetheLawofMoseswasestablishedas
wefinditinExodus,LeviticusandNumbers.Infact,thisviewextendstoa
contentionthattheBookofHoseaverylikelyaffectedthecreationoftheTorah
andBooksofLaw.ThisnotionisalsogenerallyappliedtoalltheOTprophets
includingAmos(whowroteaboutJudah’ssituationaroundthesametimeas
HoseawaswritingaboutEphraim/Israel).Ofcourse,suchanunderstanding
completelyobliteratesanynotionofthehistoryandevolutionofIsraelaswefind
itintheScripturesasbeingaccurateortrue.So,tobeclear:thenotionisthat
thelegalprinciples,morals,andthefundamentalideaofacovenantrelationship
(TheCovenantofMoses)beingestablishedbetweenIsraelandYehovehdidnot
(intheirview)comecenturiesbeforeHosea’sera.Ratheritisthatthemere
thoughtoftheselegalprinciples,societalmorals,andofaspecialcovenant
relationshipwasactuallyanoriginalthoughtofHosea,andonlylateronwasthat
thoughtadoptedandexpandeduponbyotherIsraelites,eventuallywindingup
asacomplete,writtenlegalcodecalledtheLawofMoses.Theevidencesimply
doesn’tvalidatethisworldview.Ratherthisbeliefcomesfromacoupleofnotions
thatbecamequitepopularamongtheologiansasearlyasthelate19
th
century.
ThosenotionsarethattheBibleismostlyreligiousfictionandmythdisguisedas
actualhistory.And,eventhoughthesescholarsarearguingfromapositionof2
to4thousandyearsafterthefact,somemodernacademicsbelievethatdueto
theirunquestionablyhighintellectandadvancededucation,theymayjust
understandmoreofwhattheseancientbiblicalwritersbelievedandmeantby
whattheysaid,moreofwhatwasactuallyhappeningtothemandaroundthem
duringthosetimes,andhaveabettergraspofthelanguagenuancesthansome
whowroteandlivedatthattime.Whenapersonbelievesthatway,thenthe
evidenceforthemamountstoothersoftheirrespectedprofessionagreeingwith
them.YettheonlyhardevidencethatexistsisthattheOldTestamentProphets…

Lesson01-HoseaIntroduction
14/13
andasconcernsuspresently,theProphetHosea…wrotetheirprophecieswithin
thepreceptsofthealreadylong-standingbackgroundoftheCovenantofMoses,
andnottheotherwayaround.
Thismattersbecauseaswewillsee,Hoseabaseshispropheciesontheprinciple
thatYehovehandIsraelhadanexistingcovenantagreement(TheCovenantof
Moses).Andthat,astypicalofallancientcovenants,thereweregood
consequencesforfollowingthecovenanttermsandbadconsequencesfor
breakingthem.TheHolyScripturescallsthesetheblessingsandthecurses.We
aregoingtoseethatHoseawilltakeeverydivinecomplaintandattachittoone
oftheLawsofMoses…ormoreaccurately…tooneandthenanotherofthe10
Commandments.HoseawillthenproceedtoexplainGod’sresponsetoIsrael’s
violationofthesevariouscovenanttermsbyreferringtotheappropriatecurse
thateachviolationbringson.
There’sstillmoreweneedtoknowtobepreparedtostudyHosea’swords,but
thisisenoughfortoday.