Editing Book of Hosea (section)

== Summary ==
The Book of Hosea contains a number of prophecies and messages for both [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] and [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Northern Israel (Samaria)]] said ([[Hosea 1|verses 1:1, 1:2]]) to come from [[God]]. These are delivered by the prophet [[Hosea]]. Their context is predominantly in the Northern Kingdom, but there are several references to Judah.{{efn|See, for example, Hosea 4:15, 6:11 and [[Hosea 11:12|11:12]]}} The editors of the [[Jerusalem Bible]] comment that there has been a tendency among [[biblical scholars]] to treat all the references to Judah as later additions, but argued from the 1960s that "more sober conclusions are being urged today". In their opinion, while some references may have been additions, such as Hosea 1:7, 2:1-3 and 14:10, others may indicate that Hosea continued to preach in the southern kingdom after the fall of the north.<ref name=jbintro />

===General outline===
* Chapters 1–2: Hosea's marriage to Gomer is described [[biography|biographically]] (''"The {{Lord}} said to Hosea"''),<ref>{{bibleverse|Hosea|1:2|NKJV}}</ref> which is a metaphor for the relationship between God and Israel.
* Chapter 3: Hosea's marriage is described [[autobiography|autobiographically]] (''"Then the {{Lord}} said to me"''):<ref>{{bibleverse|Hosea|3:1|NRSV}}</ref> this is possibly a marriage to different women.{{efn|The editors of the Jerusalem Bible argue that she is the same woman, "Gomer herself".<ref>Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote a at Hosea 3:1, p. 1455</ref>}}
* Chapters 4–14:9/14:10: [[Oracle]] judging Israel, [[Ephraim]] in particular, for not living up to the [[covenant (biblical)|covenant]].
No further breakdown of ideas is clear in 4–14:9/14:10.<ref>Coogan, Michael (2009). ''A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament.'' Oxford University Press. pp. 262–63</ref> Following this, the prophecy is made that someday this will all be changed, and that God will have pity on Israel.
Chapter two describes a [[divorce]]. This divorce seems to be the end of the covenant between God and the Northern Kingdom. However, it is probable that this was again a symbolic act, in which Hosea divorced Gomer for infidelity, and used the occasion to preach the message of God's rejection of the Northern Kingdom. He ends this prophecy with the declaration that God will one day renew the covenant, and will take Israel back in love.

In chapter three, at God's command, Hosea seeks out Gomer once more. Either she has sold herself into slavery for debt, or she is with a lover who demands money in order to give her up, because Hosea has to buy her back. He takes her home, but refrains from sexual intimacy with her for many days, to symbolize the fact that Israel will be without a king for many years, but that God will take Israel back, even at a cost to himself.

Chapters 4–14 spell out the allegory at length. Chapters 1–3 speaks of Hosea's family, and the issues with Gomer. Chapters 4–10 contain a series of oracles, or prophetic sermons, showing exactly why God is rejecting the Northern Kingdom (what the grounds are for the divorce). Chapter 11 is God's lament over the necessity of giving up the Northern Kingdom, which is a large part of the people of Israel, whom God loves. God promises not to give them up entirely. Then, in Chapter 12, the prophet pleads for Israel's [[repentance]]. Chapter 13 foretells the destruction of the kingdom at the hands of [[Assyria]], because there has been no repentance. In Chapter 14, the prophet urges Israel to seek forgiveness, and promises its restoration, while urging the utmost fidelity to God.

The capital of the Northern Kingdom fell in 722 BC. All the members of the upper classes and many of the ordinary people were taken captive and carried off to live as prisoners of war.

===A summary of Hosea's story===
First, Hosea was directed by God to marry a [[promiscuous woman]] of ill-repute, and he did so. Marriage here is symbolic of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. However, Israel has been unfaithful to God by following other gods and breaking the commandments which are the terms of the covenant, hence Israel is symbolized by a harlot who violates the obligations of marriage to her husband.

Second, Hosea and his wife, Gomer, have a son. God commands that the son be named Jezreel. This name refers to a [[Jezreel Valley|valley]] in which much blood had been shed in Israel's history, especially by the kings of the Northern Kingdom.<ref>See 1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9:21–35</ref> The naming of this son was to stand as a prophecy against the reigning house of the Northern Kingdom, that they would pay for that bloodshed. Jezreel's name means "God sows".

Third, the couple have a daughter. God commands that she be named [[Lo-ruhamah]], meaning "unloved", "pity" or "pitied on" to show Israel that, although God will still have pity on the [[Kingdom of Judah|Southern Kingdom]], God will no longer have pity on the [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Northern Kingdom]]; its destruction is imminent. In the [[New International Version|NIV]] translation, the omitting of the word "him" leads to speculation as to whether Lo-Ruhamah was the daughter of Hosea or one of Gomer's lovers. [[James Luther Mays|James Mays]], however, says that the failure to mention Hosea's paternity is "hardly an implication" of Gomer's adultery.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mays|first=James L.|author-link=James Luther Mays|title=Hosea|year=1969|publisher=SCM|page=28}}</ref>

Fourth, a son is born to Gomer. It is questionable whether this child was Hosea's, for God commands that his name be [[Lo-ammi]], meaning "not my people". The child bore this name of shame to show that the Northern Kingdom would also be shamed, for its people would no longer be known as God's people. In other words, the Northern Kingdom had been rejected by God.