Hoses prophesied in the reign of several kings, and contemporaneously with Isaiah. (Compare Isa. 1:1 with Hosea 1:1.) He deeply felt the corrupt condition of God’s people, distinguished between Judah and Israel, he prophesied perhaps over the space of fifty years, and gives us a very enlarged account of the ways of God with His people. The wife he was ordered to take, and the names he was commanded to give his children, show how feelingly he must have entered into the fallen and depraved state of the people. Jezreel, the name of the eldest, means seed of God; Lo-ruhamah, not having obtained mercy; Lo-ammi, not my people.
Still, bad as the people were, sovereign mercy would come in, and bless the children of Israel—the ten tribes—and unite them in one head with the children of Judah; and blessing also would be extended to the Gentiles. “It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall it be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” (Compare Hosea 1:10 with Romans 9:25.) Peter, who writes to converted Jews, only quotes chapter 2:23. The prophet is therefore instructed to say unto his brethren, Ammi, that is, my people; and Ruhamah, that is, having obtained mercy; and that God will bring her into such blessing that she shall sing as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt: “I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.” (chapter 2:19, 20.)
The present state of God’s ancient people, as well as the goodness in store for them, is plainly set forth in the third chapter: “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.”
The terrible sins of the people are then pointed out—swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery; and no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. They are destroyed for lack of knowledge, and likened to a backsliding heifer; and, according to the old proverb, it will be, “Like people, like priest.” “The pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.” God declares that He will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah, and adds, “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they shall seek me early.” (chapter 5)
The next three chapters are principally taken up with the prophet’s lamentations over Judah and Israel, calling for the judgment of God for sin. “They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will He remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” (chapter 6, 7, 8.)
The people are then solemnly called on to consider their sinful ways. Even the watchmen had corrupted themselves. They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, but shall return to Egypt, and eat unclean things in Assyria. “God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto Him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.” (chapter 9)
Israel is likened to an empty vine, bringing forth fruit to himself, and as having sinned from the days of Gibeah. But God loved His people, and He taught Ephraim, taking them by their arms; He drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and He says that he shall not return to the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king. But, notwithstanding their sin, God’s compassion for them comes out most touchingly every now and then. He says, “My people are bent to backsliding from me ... How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repenting’s are kindled together ... They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses saith the Lord. Yet Ephraim compasseth me about with lies; he feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind..... The Lord also hath a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob ... therefore turn thou to thy God ... But Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly.” (chapter 10, 11, 12).
The sinful and self-destroying ways of Israel, so loudly calling for God’s interference in judgment; the frequent utterances of God’s compassion for them, and promise yet to be their help and king, are touchingly set forth in the thirteenth chapter. While the book concludes with a fine description of their restoration and blessing when they really have a repentant mind toward Jehovah, and return unto Him, in heartfelt need saying, “Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.”
This book reads us most solemn warnings against pride, self-confidence, and departure from God; while we learn much of His governmental ways, His faithfulness, and patient grace toward His own. As usual, the prophecy concludes with a bright prospect of blessing yet in store for the nation of Israel.