Hosea 1 – “Hosea’s Children”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Hosea begets three children with a prostitute named Gomer and names them Jezreel, “not pitied,” and “not my nation” because Samaria will fall in Jezreel, is not pitied by Yahweh, and is not Yahweh’s nation.

II. Photo
God has a message for Hosea: ““Go, get yourself a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land will stray from following the Lord.”  (v. 2b)

III. Important Verses
1: The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the reign of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel.
2-4:  When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, get yourself a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land will stray from following the LORD.” So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She conceived and bore him a son, and the LORD instructed him, “Name him Jezreel; for, I will soon punish the House of Jehu for the bloody deeds at Jezreel and put an end to the monarchy of the House of Israel.
6-9: She conceived again and bore a daughter; and He said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah; for I will no longer accept the House of Israel or pardon them. (But I will accept the House of Judah. And I will give them victory through the LORD their God; I will not give them victory with bow and sword and battle, by horses and riders.)” After weaning Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then He said, “Name him Lo-ammi; for you are not My people, and I will not be your [God].”

IV. Outline
1. Introduction to the book
2a. Superscription
2b. God tells Hosea to beget children with a prostitute
3. Hosea marries Gomer who gives birth to a son
3-5. God tells Hosea to name him Jezreel, the place where Israel will be defeated
6a. Hosea and Gomer have a daughter
6b. God tells Hosea to name her “not pitied”
7. Judah will be spared
8a. Hosea and Gomer have a son
8b. God tells Hosea to name him “not my nation”

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
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