The Prophet Hosea

Hosea meaning "Salvation" was a prophet during the reign of Jeroboam, one of the wicked kings of Israel in the eighth century (3). He was the son of Beeri and a prophet of the land of Israel (2).

There is not much about Hosea's background but Hosea had a background of being educated who came from the town of either Ephraim or Manasseh. The word of the LORD came unto Hosea (5).

Hosea had a job, which was to remind Israel of the agreement they made with Yahweh under the covenant made at Sinai. In doing so, Hosea went in front of all the people to accentuate that they were in marriage with Yahweh, which was a metaphor to show the relationship Yahweh had desired for the people of Israel (2). Hosea's own personal life had became the moral of the story for all the people to witness. Yahweh commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim (1).

Gomer and his children symbolize the people of Israel, Gomer becomes a prostitute and later she becomes an adulterous wife. Hosea seems to become analogous to Yahweh. From what I see, Yahweh can sometimes command his people to do unusual things to make a point or to warn them.

Through Hosea, Yahweh is trying to show the people of Israel how he can manifest love and patience for them. Another words, his marriage to Gomer and having children with Gomer was to portray the relationship of the Lord with Israel who had gave up their covenant with the Lord (3). Yahweh indicts the land of Israel for breaking their covenant relationship not in just one way but three. The three ways are "their lack and rejection of knowledge of Yahweh," "their lack of loyal love," and their unfaithfulness.