The Chapters – Quick Access

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14

Basics

BOOK: Hosea

Description: Based on his painful family life, prophecies about unfaithful Israel & faithful God

Author: probably Hosea but maybe another.

Date written: uncertain but possibly after 722BC

Chapters: 14

Brief Synopsis

• Hosea speaks mostly to the ten northern tribes, mainly in the period of Jeroboam II (“during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel)
• Hosea takes a wife who proves unfaithful but has sons with significant names (Ch.1)
• This is taken as a picture of the Lord and Israel. (Ch.2)
• Hosea is then told to take back his wife (Ch.3)
• Prophecies follow, mostly about Israel ‘s unfaithfulness.

Outline

• Ch.1-3 The Unfaithful Wife and the Faithful Husband
  • Ch.1 The Children as Signs
  • Ch.2 The Unfaithful Wife & the Lord’s judgment and restoration of Israel
  • Ch.3 The Faithful Husband
• Ch.4-14 The Unfaithful Nation and the Faithful God
  • Ch.4-6 Israel ‘s Unfaithfulness
    • Ch.4.The general charge, the cause declared, and the results described
    • Ch.5 A special message to the people and leaders   
    • Ch.6:3 A sorrowful plea      
  • Ch.6-10 Israel’s Punishment
    • Ch.6-7 The case stated   
    • Ch.8-9 The judgment pronounced
    • Ch.10 Summary and appeal
  • Ch.11-14 The Lord’s Faithful Love
    • 11:1-11 The Lord’s fatherly love
    • Ch.11-13 Israel’s punishment for unfaithfulness 
    • Ch.14 Israel ‘s restoration after repentance  

Concluding Comments

• The early chapters are moving, with Hosea being called to use his family life as a picture of the Lord and His relationship with Israel.
• Beyond that the book is in many ways a depressing picture of the hopelessness of the northern kingdom (although Judah does get mentioned as well) that is given over to idolatry which was institutionalized from the outset (see 1 Kings 12:26-29). No king had the courage to change this and so the days of Israel (the northern kingdom) and Samaria were numbered, and Samaria fell in 722BC and the people exiled.
• If we can see past the impending judgment because of the stubbornness of Israel, see the Lord’s heart that desires to restore the people, if only they will be restored. Sadly, they wouldn’t! But remember the Lord’s word through Ezekiel, “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezek 18:32) Destruction only comes with the willfulness of sinful men, not with the desire of God!