BIBLE SUMMARY: HOSEA

Book of Hosea Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.

Book of Hosea Chapter by Chapter Summary.

HOSEA TOTAL CHAPTERS: 14

HOSEA TOTAL VERSES: 197

TOTAL WORDS: 5,175

DATE WRITTEN: 710 BC

AUTHOR: Hosea

HOSEA THEME: 

Unfaithfulness: Sin and Forgiveness. Condemnation For Unfaithfulness. Prophecies relating to Christ and the latter days

MAJOR CHARACTERS:

God, Hosea, Gomer, Jezreel,  Lo-ruhamah,  Lo-ammi, Kings of Northern kingdom.

BOOK OF HOSEA KEY VERSES:

1:2: When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.

2:23: I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.

6:6: For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

14:2-4: Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

HOSEA SUMMARY

The book of Hosea is the first of the 12 Books of Minor Prophets. These 12 books are called Minor Prophets not because their message is less important but because they are so much shorter than the previous five books. The book of Hosea written hundreds of years before Daniel and is addressed to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The book describes the early years after Israel became a divided kingdom, with Jeroboam II ruling in the North and Uzziah ruling in the South. The names Israel, Ephraim and Samaria all refer to the Northern Kingdom. Hosea sent as prophet around 750-700 BC when the apostasy of his people became manifest. God sent him to condemn the people’s sin and call them back to the true God. The Lord made Hosea’s family into a living example of God’s relationship to Israel. God commands Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer to make an example where Hosea represents a faithful God while Gomer represents unfaithful Israel and adultery equals idolatry. Three children born to them with names suggested by God illustrating God’s message and teaching to Israel. Jezreel, which is the name of the place where Jehu wiped out the family of Ahab. Lo-Ruhamah which is Hebrew for not loved because God said he would no longer love the Northern Kingdom and the third child was named Lo-Ammi meaning not my people because the LORD rejected his people as they had rejected him as their God. Hosea foretells the coming of Israel’s Messiah seven hundred years in the future. Hosea is among those books of OT that are quoted often in the New Testament.

CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:

Chapter#1: Hosea’s Wife and Children. Hosea, to show God’s judgment for spiritual whoredom, takes Gomer, and has by her Jezreel; Loruhamah; and Lo-ammi. The restoration of Judah and Israel under one head.
Chapter#2: The Unfaithful Wife. The idolatry of the people. God’s judgments against them. His promises of reconciliation with them.
Chapter#3: Another Symbolic Marriage. The Lord’s intended future kindness to Israel, not withstanding their wickedness, illustrated by the emblem of Hosea’s conduct towards his adulterous wife. The desolation of Israel before their restoration.
Chapter#4: Ephraim is Joined to Idols. God denounces judgments on Israel, for their aggravated impieties and iniquities. The Lord Accuses The Priests
God’s Case Against The People. He warns Judah, not to imitate Israel’s crimes, which are still further reproved.
Chapter#5: Ephraim Shall Become a Ruin. The judgments of God are denounced against the priests, people, and princes, both of Israel and Judah, for their manifold sins. An intimation is given of mercy on their repentance.
Chapter#6: Priests Murder and Commit Lewdness. Exhortations to repent and hope in God. Ephraim’s Guilt. The Lord’s First Lament. Reproofs of obstinate sinners, and threatenings against them.
Chapter#7: They Are All Adulterers. A reproof of manifold sins. God’s wrath against them for their hypocrisy.
Chapter#8: Have Sown the Wind, Shall Reap the Whirlwind. Destruction is threatened both to Israel and Judah for their impiety and idolatry.
Chapter#9: Abominable Like the Idols They Love. The distress and captivity of Israel for their sins.
Chapter#10: The Glory of Bethel is Departed. Israel’s Defeat Because Of Sin. Nations shall be gathered against them. It is time to seek God.
Chapter#11: How Shall I Give You Up? The ingratitude of Israel unto God for his benefits. His judgment. God’s mercy toward them. Israel’s falsehood and Judah’s fidelity.
Chapter#12: Jacob Found God at Bethel. A reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob. By former favors he exhorts to repentance. Ephraim’s sins provoke God.
Chapter#13: They Sin More and More. Ephraim’s glory vanishes. God’s anger. God’s mercy. The judgment of Samaria.
Chapter#14: Israel Shall Return to God. An exhortation to repentance. A promise of God’s blessing.