UNDERSTANDING HOSEA | VITAL STATISTICS

0. Introduction

a) The Bible Book Introductions are divided into 4 parts (Overview, Vital Statistics, Blueprint, Mega-themes) for easy-to-understand.

1. Vital Statistics

@1. Purpose:

a) To illustrate God's love for his sinful people. 

@2. Author:

a) Hosea son of Beeri ("Hosea" means "salvation"). 

@3. To Whom Written:

a) Israel (the northern kingdom) and God's people everywhere. 

@4. Date Written:

a) Approximately 715 B.C., recording events from about 753-715 B.C.

@5. Setting:

a) Hosea began his ministry during the end of the prosperous but morally declining reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (the upper classes were doing well, but they were oppressing the poor). He prophesied until shortly after the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. 

@6. Key Verse:

a)  Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” (Hosea 3:1 NKJV) 

@7. Key People:

a) Hosea, Gomer, their children.

@8. Key Places:

a) The northern kingdom (Israel), Samaria, Ephraim. 

@9. Special Features:

a) Hosea employs many images from daily life - God is depicted as husband, father, lion, leopard, bear, dew, rain, moth, and others; Israel is pictured as wife, sick person, vine, grapes, early fig, olive tree, woman in childbirth, oven, morning mist, chaff, and smoke, to name a few.