Chapter 1
2023 - Looks like MSB intro is embedded.
(2022 - The chronological Bible puts this book after Isa 27, after 2Kgs 18 and 2Chron 29. So this has moved way back from the time of Daniel, which immediately precedes it in the OT.)
Believed to be from the Northern Kingdom based on references he makes, but he is not mentioned except in this one book that he himself authored. Prophesied from about 755-710 BC, during the reigns of the last six kings of Israel. The times during his prophetic ministry are covered in 2K14-20 and 2Chron16-32. All this per MSB. Verse 1 says he prophesied during Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah - so contemporary with Isaiah, Amos, possibly Obadiah. In the North, it was during the reign of Jeroboam, son of Joash - so Jeroboam II. So even though only one Northern king is named, it must be there were actually six in the north coinciding with the 4 named in the south.
Hosea is told to marry a whore, and have children with her, because Israel has become a whore by forsaking God. He marries Gomer. Her first son was to be named Jezreel, because the house of Jehu was about to be punished and the promise in the valley of Jezreel undone. Jehu had done some nasty things when he became king, personally killing his predecessor after he was told that he was the new King, I think he also killed the then current King of Judah, he asked/commanded the eunuchs to throw Jezebel from the tower, and he murdered all of his predecessor's sons and stacked their severed heads by the town gate. However, because he killed so many Baal-worshipers, God told him his family would reign to the fourth generation. That time is about to be over. Only God understands how this works.
The phrase "Valley of Jezreel" is used here:
5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." [Hos 1:5 ESV] Here are two other places we have seen that phrase:
16 The people of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel." [Jos 17:16 ESV]
33 Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. [Jdg 6:33 ESV]
The name is worth remembering by its other name also. This is the valley of Megiddo. Armageddon will be fought here also. Found this link to more information about it:
https://www.biblestudy.org/biblepic/megiddo.html
Hosea's wife also has a daughter named Lo-ruhama, which means "no mercy", because God was going to show Israel none. But it says He would show mercy to Judah - but not by human action. Remember that the Assyrian army lost 185,000 overnight at the siege of Jerusalem. This is like the third prophet who has foretold that event.
2022 - These verses are long, but interesting:
"She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, "Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all." [Hos 1:6 ESV]
"But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen."" [Hos 1:7 ESV]
God withdraws his mercy from Israel, but not from Judah. He will save Judah by the Lord their God. Remember that Jerusalem is besieged by Assyria also during Hezekiah's time, and that 80,000 Assyrians die overnight by the hand of an angel, and the Assyrians go home. Here in Hosea, that supernatural event is prophesied.
2022 - Wow. Look at this:
"And the LORD said, "Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God."" [Hos 1:9 ESV]
This is a broken covenant. It has fallen under its own terms. Israel did not keep their side of it, so God cancels the covenant, and is no longer obliged to continue as their God.
2023 -Since we saw 1:7, where the mercy is withdrawn from Israel but not Judah, this prophecy is directed toward the northern kingdom. This would be some of the evidence that Hosea was in the north, since his prophecies seem directed exclusively at them.
Then Gomer has a second son, named Lo-ammi, meaning "not my people". vs 11 though:
11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel. [Hos 1:11 ESV]
This is referring to some future time, the Millennial most likely, when Israel and Judah will be gathered back to Canaan, and Jesus shall rule over both. Also seems to say that God is keeping up with where all the scattered and exiled of the ten lost tribes are located. The Great day of Jezreel is likely the battle of Armageddon. At this battle also, God will do the fighting, not men.
2023 - Wow...Doesn't Ez 37 and the dry bones coming to life speak of the north and south joining together? And then there is Dan 12 where the Jewish nation is resurrected - doesn't that also talk about how north and south will be joined together again? This prophecy in Hosea predates both of those by many many years, yet seems to be saying that very same thing. The interesting thing here is that it places the event ON the day of Jezreel - that is Megiddo - and just screams that all these things occur....wait wait...I decided that Dan 12 is about the GWT. There is that post-Millennial last battle in Rev 20:7-10...it talks about a broad plain, which might be Megiddo...but it does not name it there. But if we tie all these things together, then we make that battle at Megiddo also, we make these events all post-Millennial, including the resurrection of all Israel. This part of it is really starting to gain some momentum.
Checked and Daniel 12 does not have anything about Jewish union. Ezekiel 37 does talk about reuniting but in the last part of the chapter, AFTER the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is finished. It surely does all seem to be connected though.
2023 - We might also make a case from this chapter that none will be saved among the 10 tribes until the very very end. It is very clear that they are "out" until the final gathering - perhaps only after the 144,000 begin their crusade.