The book of Hosea contains 14 chapters, 197 verses and 5,174 words in the KJV. It is tied with Zechariah as the longest of the Minor Prophets in terms of chapters. It is additionally the second largest of this set of twelve prophets in terms of verses and total word count.
Date Written, Location
Hosea's ministry ran from around the start of Judah's King Uzziah's (Azariah) reign in 792 B.C. to the start of Hezekiah's rule in 715 (Micah 1:1). He would live long enough to witness the Assyrian Empire's initial attack of Israel in 734 B.C. and its final campaign in 723 which ended the existence of the kingdom.
[What Were Israel's Royal Dynasties?]
Hosea's uniquely long period of service, which took place in Israel, made him the longest serving of any Old Testament prophet.
The Author
Hosea's name means "salvation" or "deliverer" (Strong's Concordance #H1954). We know almost nothing about the prophet other than he was likely a resident of the Kingdom of Israel (northern ten tribes).
The Bible is additionally silent regarding the death and burial of Hosea. Although one tradition states that the prophet's grave is located in a cemetery in Safed, located northwest of the Sea of Galilee, it is generally considered historically worthless.
Hosea 1 to 7 Outline
Chpt. 1: God commands the prophet Hosea to marry a woman who is a prostitute. The purpose of this marriage, and the children it would produce, was to dramatically symbolize the status of God's covenant relationship with Israel (Israel and Judah).
The three children of Hosea, whom the Lord personally named, are called Jezreel (meaning "God sows"), Lo-Ruhamah ("no mercy") and Lo-Ammi ("not my people").
The chapter closes with the Lord promising to one day reunite, restore and bless his people.
Chpt. 2: Hosea 2, starting in verse 2, begins to delineate the chastisement of spiritually adulterous Israel.
The people are first called upon to repent of their idolatrous ways. If they choose not to repent, however, they will be "stripped naked" and made an object of ridicule and shame. The nation will no longer be a recipient of God's mercy.
Because Israel foolishly attributed her blessings of food, drink and wealth to pagan deities, God promised to take all those things away since he is their true provider.
Hosea 2:16 to the end of the chapter references the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ when Israel will have its relationship with God restored.
Chpt. 3: God commands Hosea to reconcile with his adulterous wife. The prophet is forced to purchase his wife from someone else who possibly owned her as a slave. After Gomer returns to Hosea she is commanded to no longer act the harlot.
Chpt. 4: God criticizes Israel for being void of truth, mercy and knowledge of his ways. He also chastises them for breaking his commandments with their cursing, lying, stealing, adultery and violence.
Because Israel has broken its covenant with God it will suffer from severe drought that will lead to death. No one, even if they are priests or princes, will be immune from such punishments!
[Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth]
The Lord also condemns Israel's stubborn refusal to give up its useless and unprofitable worship of foreign deities. Such sinful behavior is considered spiritual adultery.
Chpt. 5: In chapter 5 God takes direct aim at Israel's spiritual leaders with the Kingdom of Judah warned to avoid their behavior (Hosea 5:5).
Israel's leaders are accused of leading the people astray into spiritual adultery which has corrupted the nation. Part of the Lord's punishment of His people will be to withdraw his aid and blessings as well as to allow their enemies to attack and make them desolate.
Israel is additionally warned not to make the misguided mistake of relying on Assyria to bring it stability.
Chpt. 6: The first three verses of Hosea 6 are a prophecy that someday Israel will finally recognize the Lord as their only God and seek his truth.
Verse 6 of the chapter reveals that God's ultimate goal is for his people to adopt the spiritual traits of mercy and knowledge of his ways.
Israel is further condemned for transgressing God's covenant and indulging in violence and bloodshed.
Chpt. 7: Hosea 7 continues to condemn Israel for its pursuit of wickedness, especially idolatry. Israel's pride is a stumbling block to her repentance which will lead to utter destruction.