An Introduction to the Old Testament - Hosea

Dillard, Raymond B. & Longman, Tremper III. "Hosea."  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1994. 353-362.

Hosea seems to be among the earlier of the prophets, roughly contemporaneous to Amos, Micah, and Isaiah, in the later portion of the eighth century B.C.  Some scholars suggest that Hosea has some composite authorship based on some irregularities in the lists of kings of the northern and southern kingdoms.  In recent years scholarship has generally affirmed the idea of a single author for the book, and that single author seemingly at the time period of Hosea himself.

Hosea makes his prophecies at a time when there was increasing prosperity in the land.  Unfortunately the increased prosperity seems to have led to rejection of God and his promises.  Hosea's prophecies indicate that the nation of Israel will undergo judgment due to their sin, a situation which subsequently came about.  One of the most troubling issues in Hosea is that the prophet seems to be commanded by God to enter into sin by taking a promiscuous woman as a wife.  Dillard and Longman do not suggest a good way of dealing with this conflict, but they do suggest several alternatives.

The book of Hosea is mostly poetic, with only a bit of prose at the beginning.  As a collection of oracles Hosea is a bit unclear.  He does not make very tidy delineations between the different oracles, particularly in chapters 4-14.  Similarly, the overall structure is a bit muddled.

Hosea tends to use a great deal of metaphor and simile in his poetry.  

Hosea's theological message seems to be centered around the ideas of the strength of God's covenant, the theme of marriage as an allegory for the spiritual life, and the idea that people face judgment for sin and salvation out of that sin.

As we look to the New Testament we see allusions to or quotations from Hosea as Romans and 1 Peter use the names of Hosea's children, Paul cites Hosea in 1 Corinthians 15.55, and throughout the New Testament Jesus is presented as the Son of God who is obedient to the Father.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com