00:00:02
An introduction to the book of Hosea.00:00:04
00:00:06
Hosea served as a prophet00:00:08
00:00:08
to the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel,00:00:10
00:00:10
and his prophecies were directed
mainly to that nation.00:00:14
00:00:15
His contemporaries Micah and Isaiah00:00:18
00:00:18
served as prophets
to the southern kingdom of Judah.00:00:21
00:00:22
Hosea began his service00:00:24
00:00:24
no later than 804 B.C.E.,00:00:27
00:00:27
during the reign of King Jeroboam II.00:00:30
00:00:30
His career as a prophet00:00:32
00:00:32
continued for about 60 years00:00:34
00:00:34
until sometime after 745 B.C.E.00:00:37
00:00:37
when he completed the book bearing his name.00:00:40
00:00:41
Hosea prophesied amid00:00:43
00:00:43
great political turmoil.00:00:45
00:00:45
Four kings of Israel00:00:47
00:00:47
were assassinated during this period.00:00:49
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The book of Hosea has 14 chapters.00:00:56
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Chapters 1 to 3 use Hosea’s family life00:01:00
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to dramatize Jehovah’s dealings with Israel.00:01:02
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Jehovah tells Hosea to marry a woman00:01:06
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who would later commit adultery repeatedly.00:01:09
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Hosea marries Gomer,
who becomes unfaithful to him.00:01:13
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Hosea’s marriage to Gomer00:01:16
00:01:16
pictures Jehovah’s marriage to Israel00:01:18
00:01:18
by means of the Mosaic Law covenant.00:01:20
00:01:21
Gomer’s unfaithful conduct00:01:23
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pictures Israel’s betrayal of Jehovah00:01:27
00:01:27
by turning to the worship of false gods00:01:29
00:01:29
and forming political alliances
with pagan nations.00:01:33
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Chapter 3 contains
Jehovah’s instructions to Hosea00:01:37
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to take back his unfaithful wife.00:01:40
00:01:41
This symbolizes Jehovah’s willingness00:01:43
00:01:43
to show mercy to the Israelites00:01:46
00:01:46
if they repent of their idolatry
and obey Jehovah.00:01:49
00:01:50
Hosea foretells that Israel00:01:52
00:01:52
will look for Jehovah
and for David their king,00:01:57
00:01:57
a prophecy ultimately fulfilled
with Jesus as heavenly King.00:02:01
00:02:04
Did you know?00:02:06
00:02:06
The northern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel00:02:08
00:02:08
was at times called Ephraim or Samaria.00:02:12
00:02:12
Ephraim was the dominant tribe
of the kingdom,00:02:15
00:02:15
and Samaria was the kingdom’s capital city.00:02:18
00:02:20
Chapters 4 to 13 contain judgments
against unfaithful Ephraim.00:02:25
00:02:27
These were fulfilled
when Assyria overthrew the nation00:02:30
00:02:30
and its capital city, Samaria.00:02:32
00:02:33
Chapter 14 contains00:02:35
00:02:35
a heartwarming invitation to Israel
to return to Jehovah,00:02:40
00:02:40
who reassures the people of his mercy.00:02:43
00:02:45
As you study the book of Hosea,00:02:48
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note how Jehovah
requires unhypocritical worship,00:02:52
00:02:52
is merciful toward repentant wrongdoers,00:02:55
00:02:55
and is loyal to his promise00:02:57
00:02:57
of providing a heavenly King
from the line of David.00:03:01
Introduction to Hosea
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Introduction to Hosea
An introduction to the book of Hosea.
Hosea served as a prophet
to the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel,
and his prophecies were directed
mainly to that nation.
His contemporaries Micah and Isaiah
served as prophets
to the southern kingdom of Judah.
Hosea began his service
no later than 804 B.C.E.,
during the reign of King Jeroboam II.
His career as a prophet
continued for about 60 years
until sometime after 745 B.C.E.
when he completed the book bearing his name.
Hosea prophesied amid
great political turmoil.
Four kings of Israel
were assassinated during this period.
The book of Hosea has 14 chapters.
Chapters 1 to 3 use Hosea’s family life
to dramatize Jehovah’s dealings with Israel.
Jehovah tells Hosea to marry a woman
who would later commit adultery repeatedly.
Hosea marries Gomer,
who becomes unfaithful to him.
Hosea’s marriage to Gomer
pictures Jehovah’s marriage to Israel
by means of the Mosaic Law covenant.
Gomer’s unfaithful conduct
pictures Israel’s betrayal of Jehovah
by turning to the worship of false gods
and forming political alliances
with pagan nations.
Chapter 3 contains
Jehovah’s instructions to Hosea
to take back his unfaithful wife.
This symbolizes Jehovah’s willingness
to show mercy to the Israelites
if they repent of their idolatry
and obey Jehovah.
Hosea foretells that Israel
will look for Jehovah
and for David their king,
a prophecy ultimately fulfilled
with Jesus as heavenly King.
Did you know?
The northern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel
was at times called Ephraim or Samaria.
Ephraim was the dominant tribe
of the kingdom,
and Samaria was the kingdom’s capital city.
Chapters 4 to 13 contain judgments
against unfaithful Ephraim.
These were fulfilled
when Assyria overthrew the nation
and its capital city, Samaria.
Chapter 14 contains
a heartwarming invitation to Israel
to return to Jehovah,
who reassures the people of his mercy.
As you study the book of Hosea,
note how Jehovah
requires unhypocritical worship,
is merciful toward repentant wrongdoers,
and is loyal to his promise
of providing a heavenly King
from the line of David.
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