Reference: Hosea, Book of
Hastings
The Book of Hosea formed the first section of a collection of prophetic writings which was formed after the Exile, probably towards the close of the 3rd century b.c., and entitled 'The Twelve Prophets' (see Micah [Book of]). The greater part of the Book of Hosea clearly consists of the writings of Hosea, the son of Beeri, who prophesied in the 8th cent. b.c. (see preced. art.), but it also contains the annotations or additions of editors who lived between the 8th and the 3rd centuries. It is not always possible to determine with certainty these editorial portions of the book.
Though we have no positive evidence to this effect, there is no reason to doubt that Hosea himself committed to writing the prophetic poems by which he gave expression to his message and of which the greater part of the Book of Hosea consists (chs. Ho 2:4-14), and that he prefixed to these the prose narrative of his life (chs. 1, 3, see Hosea) with which the hook now opens. It is possible, of course, that Hosea first circulated in writing single poems or a collection of two or three; but the complete collection, though scarcely made later than 735, since the prophecies make no allusion to the Syro-Ephraimitish war which broke out in that year, cannot be much earlier than 735, since the prophecies make allusions to the circumstances of the period that followed the death, in about b.c. 746, of Jerohoam ii. (anarchy, Ho 7:3-7; 8:4; cf. 2Ki 15:8-26; factions favouring appeal to Egypt and Assyria respectively, Ho 5:13; 7:11; 8:9; 12:1), and probably in particular to the payment of tribute by Menahem to Tiglath-pileser [= Pul, 2Ki 15:19], which took place in b.c. 738 (Ho 5:13; 10:5-6). Again, the opening narrative (ch. 1), though it describes Hosea's life and teaching before the death of Jeroboam ii. (Ho 1:4, see Hosea), was not written until some years later, for it also records the birth of Lo-ammi (Ho 1:9), which was separated by hardly less and possibly more than 5 years from the date of Hosea's marriage.
In its earliest form, then, the Book of Hosea was published by the prophet about the year 736 in the Northern Kingdom. Now, in common with all literature of the Northern Kingdom, Hosea owes its preservation to the care of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It is tolerably certain that the Jews who preserved the book adapted it for Jewish use; in other words, that the Book of Hosea as we have it is a Jewish edition of the writings of an Israelite prophet. The hand of a Jewish editor (and in this case a somewhat late one) is perhaps clearest in the title (Ho 1:1), for Hosea, a citizen of the Northern Kingdom and addressing himself to the North, would scarcely date his prophecy by kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, nor would a contemporary be likely to equate the days of Uzziah and his successors with the days of Jeroboam, since Uzziah himself outlived Jeroboam. With more or less reason, additions to or modifications of Hosea's work by Jewish editors have been suspected in Ho 1:7,10 to Ho 2:1; 3:5 ('and David their king') Ho 4:15 a, Ho 5:5 (last clause) Ho 6:11; 8:14; 10:11; 11:12 b. In several other cases (Ho 5:10,12-14; 6:4; 12:2) it is possible that the editor has pointed the original prophecies at his own people of the South by substituting 'Judah' where Hosea had written 'Israel'; thus, although at present Jacob-Judah are mentioned in Ho 12:2, the terms 'Jacob' and 'Israel,' synonyms for the people of the Northern Kingdom, were certainly in the mind of the writer of Ho 12:2-3, for in Ho 12:3 he puns on these names: 'In the womb he Jacobed his brother, and in his manhood Israeled with God.'
Another whole group of passages has been suspected of consisting of additions to Hosea's prophecies. These are the passages of promise (Ho 1:10 to Ho 2:1,14-23; 3 [regarded as an allegory of restoration] Ho 5:15; 6:3; 11:10-12). There is little doubt that such passages were added to ancient prophecies, but it is not yet by any means generally admitted that the early prophets made no promises of a brighter future beyond judgment.
Apart from the intentional modifications of the original words of Hosea by later editors, the text has suffered very seriously from accidents of transmission. To some extent the Greek version allows us to see an earlier Hebrew text than that perpetuated by the Jews from which the English Version is made. The English reader will find the translation from a critically emended text by Dr. G. A. Smith (Book of the Twelve Prophets, vol. i.) of great assistance. The best English commentary is that by W. R. Harper in the International Critical Commentary.
G. B. Gray.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Zechariah son of Jeroboam to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned six months. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, as did his fathers, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit. read more. Then conspired against him, Shallum son of Jabesh, and smote him before the people, and slew him, - and reigned in his stead. Now, the rest of the story of Zechariah, behold it! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. That, was the word of Yahweh, which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons, to four generations, shall sit on the throne of Israel. And it was so! Shallum the son of Jabesh, began to reign, in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah, king of Judah, - for the space of a month in Samaria. Then came up Menahem son of Gadi, from Tirzah, and entered Samaria, and smote Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, - and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Now, the rest of the story of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold them! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel! Then, Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the boundaries thereof, from Tirzah, because they opened not, therefore he smote them, - all the women therein that were with child, he ripped up. In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Menahem son of Gadi to reign over Israel, ten years reigned he , in Samaria. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit, all his days. Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, so Menahem gave unto Pul, a thousand talents of silver, - that his hands might be with him, to confirm the kingdom, in his hand.
Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, so Menahem gave unto Pul, a thousand talents of silver, - that his hands might be with him, to confirm the kingdom, in his hand. And Menahem exacted the silver of Israel, of all the mighty men of wealth, to give to the king of Assyria, fifty shekels of silver, of each man, - so the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there, in the land. read more. Now, the rest of the story of Menahem, and all that he did, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Menahem slept with his fathers, - and, Pekahiah his son, reigned in his stead. In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, began Pekahiah son of Menahem to reign over Israel, in Samaria, and he reigned two years. And he did the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - he turned not away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused, Israel, to commit. And there conspired against him - Pekah son of Remaliah, a hero of his, and smote him in Samaria, in the citadel of the house of a king, with Argob and with Arieh, and, with him, fifty men of the sons of the Gileadites, - and he slew him, and reigned in his stead. Now, the rest of the story of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold them! written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel!
The word of Yahweh which came unto Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, - and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel.
Then said Yahweh unto him, Call his name Jezreel: for, yet a little, and I will visit the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
but, on the house of Judah, will I have compassion, and I will save them, as Yahweh their God, - but will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by battle, by horses, or by horsemen.
Then said he, Call his name Lo-ammi, - for ye are Lo-ammi "No people of mine" , and, I, will not be yours. Yet shall the number of the sons of Israel become like the sand of the sea, which can neither he measured, nor numbered, - and it shall come to pass, in the place where it used to be said to them, No people of mine, are ye, it shall be said to them, Sons of a Living God!
Yet shall the number of the sons of Israel become like the sand of the sea, which can neither he measured, nor numbered, - and it shall come to pass, in the place where it used to be said to them, No people of mine, are ye, it shall be said to them, Sons of a Living God!
Say ye unto your brethren, O Ammi, and unto your sisters, O Ruhamah:
Say ye unto your brethren, O Ammi, and unto your sisters, O Ruhamah:
And, on her children, not have compassion, - because, the children of paramours, they are. For their mother, hath been unchaste, and she that conceived them, hath caused shame, - for she said, Let me go after my lovers! who used to give my bread, and my water, my wool, and my flax, mine oil, and my drink. read more. Therefore, behold me! hedging up her way, with thorns, - and I will wall her in, and, her footpaths, shall she not find. And, when she shall pursue her lovers, and not overtake them, and shall seek them and not find, then will she say, Let me go my way now! and return unto my first husband, for it was better with me, then, than, now! But, she, owneth not, that, I, gave her - the corn, and the new wine and the oil, - silver, also increased I unto her, and gold - which they offered to Baal! Therefore, will I again take away my corn, in the time thereof, and my new wine, in the season thereof, - and will recover my wool and my flax given to hide her shame. Now, therefore, will I expose her unseemliness, before the eyes of her lovers, - and no, man, shall deliver her out of my hand! And I will cause to cease all her mirth, her pilgrim-festival, her new moon and her sabbath, - and her every appointed meeting; And will lay waste her vine and her fig- tree, as to which she hath said, A present, are they for myself, which my lovers, have given me, - and I will make of them a thicket, and the wild beasts of the field shall devour them. So will I visit upon her the days of the Baals, unto whom she used to burn incense, and decked herself with her nose-ring and her jewelry, and went her way after her lovers, - whereas, me, she forgat, Declareth Yahweh. Therefore, lo! I, am going to persuade her, and, though I conduct her forth into wilderness, yet will I speak unto her heart.
Therefore, lo! I, am going to persuade her, and, though I conduct her forth into wilderness, yet will I speak unto her heart. Then will I give to her her vineyards from thence, and the vale of Achor for a door of hope, - and she will respond there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. read more. And it shall come to pass, in that day, Declareth Yahweh, that she will call me Ishi, and will not call me any more, Baali. So will I take away the names of the Baals, out of her mouth, - and they shall not be called to mind any more, by their name. And I will solemnize to them a covenant, in that day, with the wild-beast of the field, and with the bird of the heavens, and the creeping thing of the ground, - and, bow and sword and battle, will I break in pieces out of the land, so will I cause them to lie down, in security. And I will take thee unto myself, unto times age-abiding, - yea I will take thee unto myself, in righteousness and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in abounding compassion: Yea I will take thee unto myself, in faithfulness, - So shalt thou know Yahweh. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will respond, Declareth Yahweh, I will respond to the heavens, - and, they, shall respond to the earth; And, the earth, shall respond to the corn, and to the new wine and to the oil, - and, they, shall respond to Jezreel So will I sow her unto me in the land, and will have compassion upon the uncompassionated one, - and will say to him who was No-people-of-mine, My people, thou art, and, he, shall say, My God!
Afterwards, shall the sons of Israel return, and seek Yahweh their God, and David their king, - and shall turn with throbbing hearts unto Yahweh and unto his goodness, in the afterpart of the days.
Though unchaste art thou, O Israel, let not Judah, become guilty, neither let them enter Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and then swear, By the life of Yahweh!
Therefore will the Excellency of Israel, answer, to his face, - and, Israel and Ephraim, shall stumble in their iniquity, even Judah with them, hath stumbled.
The rulers of Judah have become as they who remove a land-mark. Upon them, will I pour out, like water, my wrath.
But, I, was like a moth, to Ephraim, - and like rotten wood to the house of Judah. When Ephraim, saw, his injury, and Judah his wound, then went Ephraim unto Assyria, and Judah sent unto a hostile king, - yet, he, cannot heal you, nor will the wound, remove from you.
When Ephraim, saw, his injury, and Judah his wound, then went Ephraim unto Assyria, and Judah sent unto a hostile king, - yet, he, cannot heal you, nor will the wound, remove from you.
When Ephraim, saw, his injury, and Judah his wound, then went Ephraim unto Assyria, and Judah sent unto a hostile king, - yet, he, cannot heal you, nor will the wound, remove from you. For, I, will be as a lion unto Ephraim, and as a young lion to the house of Judah, - I, I, will tear in pieces, and depart, I will carry off, and none be able to rescue. read more. I will depart, will return unto my place! till what time they acknowledge their guilt, and seek my face, - In their trouble, will they make for me diligent search.
Then let us know - let us press on to know - Yahweh, Like the dawn, is his coming forth assured, - that he may come like a down-pour upon us, like the harvest-rain, and the seed-rain of the land. What can I do unto thee, O Ephraim? What can I do unto thee, O Judah? for, your lovingkindness, is like a morning cloud, yea, like the dew, early departing!
Judah too! a harvest is appointed for thee, - in that I will bring back the captivity of my people.
By their wickedness, they gladden a king, and, by their flatteries, - rulers. They all, are adulterers, like an oven too hot for the baker, - who leaveth off stoking, after kneading the dough, till the whole be leavened. read more. In the day of our king, the rulers, have made themselves ill, with the heat of wine, - he hath extended his hand with scoffers. For they have made ready, like an oven, their heart, by their lying in wait, - all the night, their baker sleepeth, in the morning, he, kindleth up as it were a blazing fire. They all, become hot as an oven, and devour their judges, - all their kings, have fallen, there hath been none among them crying unto me.
So then, Ephraim, hath become, like a simple dove, having no understanding, on Egypt, have they called, to Assyria, have they gone,
They, have appointed kings, but not from me, have made rulers, but I have not acknowledged them: of their silver and their gold, they made themselves idols, to the end they might be cut off.
For, they, have gone up to Assyria, A wild ass going alone for himself, is Ephraim! They have hired lovers!
And so Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and hath built temples, and, Judah, hath multiplied fortified cities, - Therefore will I send a fire upon his cities, and it shall consume the palaces thereof.
About the calves of Beth-aven, will the inhabitant of Samaria be concerned, - for the people thereof, have mourned over it, and, the ascetics thereof, who, over it, used to exult, shall mourn for the glory thereof, because it hath departed therefrom. Itself also, to Assyria, shall be borne along, as a present to a hostile king, - shame, shall Ephraim receive, that Israel, may be ashamed, of his own counsel.
But, Ephraim, shall be a heifer broken in, loving to tread out corn, when, I, have passed over upon her fair neck, - I will drive Ephraim, Judah, shall plow, Jacob, shall harrow to him.
After Yahweh, let them go, Like a lion, will he roar, - When, he, shall roar, then let sons, come trembling, out of the West. Let them come trembling like a small bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria, - so will I cause them to dwell by their own houses, Declareth Yahweh. read more. They have compassed me about - with denial, Ephraim, with deceit, the house of Israel, - but, Judah, hath, again and again, run riot with GOD, though, with the holy places, entrusted.
They have compassed me about - with denial, Ephraim, with deceit, the house of Israel, - but, Judah, hath, again and again, run riot with GOD, though, with the holy places, entrusted.
Ephraim, feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind, all the day, falsehood and force, doth he magnify, - and, a covenant with Assyria, would they solemnize, and, oil into Egypt, must be borne along. But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, - so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay him.
But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, - so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay him.
But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, - so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay him. In the womb, took he his brother by the heel; and, in his manly vigour, strove he with God:
In the womb, took he his brother by the heel; and, in his manly vigour, strove he with God: