1:1 This is the word of the Lord which was revealed to Hosea son of Beeri during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled Judah, and during the time when Jeroboam son of Joash ruled Israel.
The name Hosea means “salvation.” The Hebrew for “the word of the Lord” is דְּבַר־יְהוָ֣ה (debar-Jehovah), meaning the verbal speech of the covenant-keeping-promise-keeping God. These verbal words came to Hosea during the ministry of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. These were four of the southern kings who reigned over Judah before the Assyrian Captivity of Israel. Jeroboam was king of the northern kingdom. Both kingdoms were materially prosperous but spiritually bankrupt at this time, much like modern America. While Isaiah and Micah were prophesying to the Southern Kingdom (Judah), Hosea was prophesying to the northern kingdom (Israel). Jeroboam’s main message was that the ten northern tribes of Israel were going into the Assyrian Captivity.
1:2 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.”
Many liberals and skeptics teach that this is a Bible error, because God would never ask an Israelite to marry a prostitute and break the Mosaic Law. However; only the Levites were forbidden to marry a prostitute (Leviticus 21:7, 14). Hosea was not a priest or a Levite, so he could marry whomever the Lord asked him to marry. Besides, Jehovah was already married to Israel, who was a prostitute.
Hosea was also to adopt the children of the prostitute. This time in history was before birth control and abortion, So many prostitutes gave birth to illegitimate children. These illegitimate children were called bastards.
The purpose of this marriage was an object-teaching lesson to Israel. Just as Jehovah was married to the prostitute Israel, so was Hosea to marry a prostitute.
1:3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him.
Gomer means “perfection” or “completion.” Her father’s name was Diblaim, meaning “double fig cakes.” Fig cake was an erotic symbol throughout the ancient world. Even Solomon uses this symbolism in the Song of Solomon. When these words are added together, it means that she was a “perfect daughter of fig cake erotic pleasure.” The pleasure was not only her own, but also to the one who paid for her services.
Hosea married Gomer, adopted her children, and then fathered three children of his own.
1:4 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.
Jezreel is a Hebrew word with two different meanings. It can mean “God scatters” and also “God sows.” God was going to scatter and plant the seed of Israel across the Gentile nations and then sow the Gentile crops.
God also stated that He would avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. Jehu was appointed by God to assassinate the evil King Ahab and Jezebel, but he went beyond God’s calling. Jehu exterminated the entire house of Ahab, including his children. Jehu’s motivation had nothing to do with re-establishing the worship of Jehovah. Jehu’s personal goal was to gain full power and authority. Jehu did destroy the House of Ahab. He did eliminate Baal worship, but he did not re-institute the worship of Jehovah. Instead, he returned back to the calf worship of Jeroboam.
1:5 At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
God will break up the kingdom of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. Therefore, Israel will be scattered as seed and planted among the Gentile nations.
1:6 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.
Hosea and Gomer gave birth to a second child. The second child was a daughter. She was to be named Lo-Ruhamah, meaning “no mercy.” This name was an object lesson to Israel that God would no longer show Israel any mercy. He would allow Assyria to defeat them and scatter them among the Gentile nations. Israel was guilty of worshiping a golden calf instead of Jehovah, so they were to be judged without mercy.
1:7 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.”
Israel had 19 evil kings. Judah had 12 evil kings and 8 good kings. Therefore, for the sake of these 8 good kings, Judah will not be judged at this time. However; Jehovah will judge them 120 years later.
Assyria will attack Israel, enslave them, and scatter them like seed among the Gentile nations. Assyria will also attack Judah but notice that God will deliver them. Then Angel of Jehovah will kill 185,000 Assyrians in one night.
In conclusion, Judah will “have mercy” but Israel will “have no mercy.”
1:8 When she had weaned ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son.
Gomer gave birth to Hosea’s third and final child.
1:9 Then the Lord said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.”
The son was to be named “not my people” as an object lesson to the kingdom of Israel. According to the Abrahamic Covenant, Israel will always be the children of God. However, while they were worshiping idols and committing spiritual adultery, they would temporarily be set aside by God.
1:10 (2:1) 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!”
Although Israel will be taken captive into Assyria, God will return them back to Israel in the future. The future time is the Millennial Kingdom. When God returns Israel into her land during the Millennial Kingdom, they will be like “the sand of the sea” which cannot be numbered. This means that Israel will undergo a large population explosion. Although God would temporally set Israel aside, there will be a national conversion of Israel on the last day of the Great Tribulation. All of Israel who survives the Great Tribulation will enter into the Millennial Kingdom as messianic believers.
1:11 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!
During the Millennial Kingdom, there will not be a northern and southern nation of Israel and Judah. Instead, all twelve tribes will enter into the Millennial Kingdom together as one unified nation. Israel will accept Jesus as their one leader and David as his co-regent. The Day of Jezreel will be great, because it is the day which proclaims Jesus as the messianic King of united Israel.