Additionally, since Isaiah's ministry lasted 54 years, Jeremiah's lasted 42 years, and Ezekiel's ran for 27 years, Hosea is the longest serving of any Old Testament prophet!
Hosea's incredibly long ministry overlapped those of fellow Minor Prophets Amos (c. 762 B.C.) and Micah (740 to 711) as well as Isaiah (740 to 686).
Animals
Three vicious animals are mentioned in Hosea 13. They are a lion, leopard and a female bear deprived of her cubs.
[What Do Vicious Animals Symbolize?]
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them (Hosea 13:7 - 8).
Names from God
God, though rarely, has given names to people after they were born like in Hosea or, in some cases, before they were conceived!
The Lord, after Hosea's three children of a whore were born, gave them the names Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi (Hosea 1:4, 6, 9).
John the Baptist (Luke 1:13) and Jesus (Luke 1:31) were named just before they were conceived in their mother's wombs.
[The Life of John the Baptist]
During the reign of Israel's King Jeroboam (930 to 909 B.C.), an unknown prophet of God proclaimed that a man of royal birth named Josiah would someday be born. Josiah was prophesied to defile Jeroboam's pagan altar in Bethel with the remains of the false priests who served it.
O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee . . . (1Kings 13:2).
Josiah, the last righteous king of Judah, was born in 632 B.C. His birth was more than 275 years after the prophecy of 1Kings 13:2! He fulfilled the prophecy of defiling Israel's pagan altars in 2Kings 23:15 - 20.
Jeroboam's Prosperity
Hosea 1:1 mentions the prophet served during the reign of Israel's Jeroboam who ruled from 793 to 753 B.C. Biblical commentaries label him Jeroboam II to distinguish him from the Jeroboam who first ruled the Kingdom of Israel from 930 to 909.
Jeroboam II's lengthy reign, the longest of any ruler over Israel, gave him the perfect opportunity to make the nation prosperous.
God allowed the king to restore the boundaries of the kingdom which had been previously occupied by Israel's enemies (2Kings 14:25). Jeroboam also took Damascus and Hamath, which were last controlled by Israel under the reign of King Solomon (verse 28).
It is during Jeroboam II's reign, during which the ministry of Hosea began, that Israel's kingdom likely reached its most prosperous period since it had split from Judah in 930 B.C.
[Why Did Ancient Israel Split in Two?]
"Jeroboam's long reign of over 40 years gave time for the collected tribute of this greatly increased territory to flow into the coffers of Samaria, and the exactions would be ruthlessly enforced.
". . . wealth to which the Northern Kingdom had been unaccustomed flowed in to its treasuries." (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
New Testament References
Hosea is quoted, referenced or allude to at least ten times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul and the gospels reference him the most with four occurrences each. Jesus, of the four gospel occurrences, directly quotes Hosea three times.
Hosea 1:9, where God names one of the prophet's children after his judgment to reject his people, is referenced in 1Peter 2.
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1Peter 2:10).
[Life of Apostle Peter Timeline]
Hosea 1:10, which discusses God's future reconciliation with his people, is quoted in Romans 9.
And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God (Romans 9:26).
Hosea 2:19 - 20, which mentions God's spiritual marriage with his people, is allude to in Revelation 19.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready (Revelation 19:7).
Hosea 2:23, which mentions God's gracious mercy, is quoted in Romans 9.
As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved (Romans 9:25).
Hosea 6:6, which underscores God's ultimate goal in setting up the Old Testament sacrificial system, is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 9 and 12.
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13).
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless (Matthew 12:7).
[Meaning of Biblical Sacrifices!]
Hosea 10:8, which states Israel's punishment will be so severe that they will want to be covered by dirt in order to escape detection, is referenced in Luke 23.
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us (Luke 23:30).
Hosea 11:1, which references God saving Israel out of Egypt, is quoted in Matthew 2.
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son (Matthew 2:15).
Hosea 13:14, which describes God saving his people from death, is loosely referenced in 1Corinthians 15.
[Best Verses About Life After Death]
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1Corinthians 15:55).
Hosea 14:2, which mentions Israel's future acknowledgment of its sin and subsequent praise of the Lord, is referenced in Hebrews 13.
[Did Apostle Paul Write Hebrews?]
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).
Vivid Imagery
God, through Hosea, uses vivid imagery to describe the spiritual condition and foolish behavior of his people.
Ephraim's (Israel's) godly behavior is likened to a morning cloud or early dew that appears only briefly and then disappears (Hosea 6:4).
Israel's alliances with foreign nations is compared to a half-baked cake that is soon burned and discarded (Hosea 7:8). Their irrational attraction to powers such as Egypt or Assyria is likened to a silly dove (verse 11). The negative effects of such pursuits have caused the nation to unknowingly grow weak, like an old man unaware he has gray hairs (verse 9).
In the end, Israel's hostility toward the Lord and unwillingness to repent made it like a faulty bow that is unreliable in battle (Hosea 7:16).