Description
In the 8th century BC, Hosea prophesies that Israel is about to be rejected by God and exiled, but that Judah will be spared. He also prophesies a day when God will restore the lost tribes of Israel and reunite them with Judah under one leader.
Commentary
Hosea ministered as a prophet in the 8th century BC, from the reign of King Uzziah of Judah (which ended in 739 BC) to the reign of Hezekiah (which began in 715 BC). He was therefore a contemporary of the Prophet Isaiah. Hosea foresaw the coming exile of the northern kingdom to Assyria, which happened in 722 BC during the latter years of his ministry. It is likely that Hosea was from Judah, but his prophecies primarily focus on what would happen to the northern kingdom of Israel.
In this chapter, he warns the kingdom of Israel that God is about to reject them as his people, and have no pity while they are carried off into exile. As such, he is reminding and warning them of the covenantal agreement that Israel made with God in Deuteronomy 28 to 30 and the curses that would befall the nation if the people turned away from him. However, verses 10 and 11 speak of a future day when their descendants will have greatly multiplied, and God will reclaim them as his people. He will regather Israel (the northern tribes), together with the descendants of Judah (the Jews), and they will flourish in the land under one joint ruler. In Deuteronomy, although God threatened Israel with exile if they turned away from him, in Deuteronomy 30:1-10 he also promised that if they one day turned back to him, he would restore them to the land of their ancestors. This is because God remains forever committed to his covenant with Abraham, in which he gifted the land to his descendants through Isaac and Jacob.
After Israel's conquest by Assyria in 722 BC, the ten northern tribes were exiled and resettled. According to 2 Kings 17:5-6 and 1 Chronicles 5:26, they were settled along the River Habor (a tributary of the River Euphrates in Mesopotamia), and among the cities of the Medes (to the east of the River Tigris). They were never restored, but assimilated among the nations to which they had been scattered, eventually losing their Israelite identity. They are now referred to as the lost ten tribes of Israel. The people of the southern kingdom of Judah, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, were saved from Assyrian conquest by God's supernatural intervention during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 19), but were exiled by the Babylonian conquests and deportations of 605, 597 and 586 BC. These two tribes were restored to the land of Judah after a 70 year exile, and are the ancestors of today's Jews. Only God knows who are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, but scripture clearly prophesies that they will be restored and reunited with the Jews in the end-times (Search by tags: Restoration of Israel and Judah).
In this chapter, he warns the kingdom of Israel that God is about to reject them as his people, and have no pity while they are carried off into exile. As such, he is reminding and warning them of the covenantal agreement that Israel made with God in Deuteronomy 28 to 30 and the curses that would befall the nation if the people turned away from him. However, verses 10 and 11 speak of a future day when their descendants will have greatly multiplied, and God will reclaim them as his people. He will regather Israel (the northern tribes), together with the descendants of Judah (the Jews), and they will flourish in the land under one joint ruler. In Deuteronomy, although God threatened Israel with exile if they turned away from him, in Deuteronomy 30:1-10 he also promised that if they one day turned back to him, he would restore them to the land of their ancestors. This is because God remains forever committed to his covenant with Abraham, in which he gifted the land to his descendants through Isaac and Jacob.
After Israel's conquest by Assyria in 722 BC, the ten northern tribes were exiled and resettled. According to 2 Kings 17:5-6 and 1 Chronicles 5:26, they were settled along the River Habor (a tributary of the River Euphrates in Mesopotamia), and among the cities of the Medes (to the east of the River Tigris). They were never restored, but assimilated among the nations to which they had been scattered, eventually losing their Israelite identity. They are now referred to as the lost ten tribes of Israel. The people of the southern kingdom of Judah, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, were saved from Assyrian conquest by God's supernatural intervention during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 19), but were exiled by the Babylonian conquests and deportations of 605, 597 and 586 BC. These two tribes were restored to the land of Judah after a 70 year exile, and are the ancestors of today's Jews. Only God knows who are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, but scripture clearly prophesies that they will be restored and reunited with the Jews in the end-times (Search by tags: Restoration of Israel and Judah).
Tags
Places: Israel, Judah
Symbols:
Tags: Restoration of Israel and Judah, Lost tribes of Israel
Symbols:
Tags: Restoration of Israel and Judah, Lost tribes of Israel
Superscription
1 This is the Lord’s message that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the time of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the time of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel.
Symbols of Sin and Judgment: The Prostitute and Her Children
2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, “Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the Lord.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. 4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to him, “Name her ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Israel. For I will certainly not forgive their guilt. 7 But I will have pity on the nation of Judah. I will deliver them by the Lord their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior’s bow, by sword, by military victory, by chariot horses, or by chariots.”
8 When she had weaned ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son. 9 Then the Lord said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.”
The Restoration of Israel
10 However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are children of the living God!” 11 Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!
1 This is the Lord’s message that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the time of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the time of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel.
Symbols of Sin and Judgment: The Prostitute and Her Children
2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, “Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the Lord.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. 4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to him, “Name her ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Israel. For I will certainly not forgive their guilt. 7 But I will have pity on the nation of Judah. I will deliver them by the Lord their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior’s bow, by sword, by military victory, by chariot horses, or by chariots.”
8 When she had weaned ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son. 9 Then the Lord said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.”
The Restoration of Israel
10 However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are children of the living God!” 11 Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!
(NET)
