Editing Book of Hosea (section)

===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.