Hosea 1-7

Hosea prophesied in Israel for a long time, spanning from Uzziah to Hezekiah, who were kings in Judah, and also prophesying to the northern kingdom of Israel during the days of Jeroboam II, spanning a ministry time of almost 70 years. His name means “salvation”, and in the Hebrew it is the same as Joshua, as well as the Hebrew form of Jesus. Hosea prophesied to Israel in the north, while his contemporary Isaiah prophesied to Judah.

God tells Hosea to take a wife who is a harlot, and she bears three children who God names, indicating that each of their names are prophetic of his workings with Israel. Hosea’s wife (Gomer) represents Israel as the wife of God, who is repeatedly unfaithful, and she even sells herself back into prostitution after marrying Hosea, but he goes and buys her back, for her to be his wife alone. The Lord promises to bring a very long judgement upon Israel, which will last (for some) until the very last days, when they finally repent and return to the Lord forever, and accept Jesus as Israel’s Messiah.