Hosea 1
1
1#This section begins with Hosea’s marriage to Gomer, which symbolizes Israel’s relationship to God. Hence the symbolic names of Hosea’s children and their later renaming (1:2–9; 2:1–3). The prophet foresees God’s punishment for the unfaithful covenant partner, but knows that God’s last word is always hope (2:4–25). The word of the Lord that came to 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.#This superscription is from a Judean editor, who lists the kings of Judah in the south first, even though Hosea preached in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
I. THE PROPHET’S MARRIAGE AND ITS SYMBOLISM
Marriage of Hosea and Gomer. 2When the Lord began to speak with Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: Go, get for yourself a woman of prostitution#A woman of prostitution: this does not necessarily mean that Gomer was a prostitute when Hosea married her; the verse describes the event in its final consequences. Prostitution here may refer to Gomer’s participation in the worship of other gods. and children of prostitution, for the land prostitutes itself,#Jer 2:20, 23; Ez 23:3. turning away from the Lord.
3So he went and took Gomer, daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived and bore him a son. 4Then the Lord said to him: Give him the name “Jezreel,”#Give him the name “Jezreel”: the names of the three children are symbolic, and predict God’s punishment in a crescendo. These names are frequently repeated in chaps. 1–2. Jezreel: (lit., “God will sow”) the strategic valley in northern Israel where Jehu brought the dynasty of Omri to an end through bloodshed (2 Kgs 9–10). Jeroboam II was the next to the last king of the house of Jehu. The prophecy in this verse of the end of the house of Jehu was fulfilled by the murder of Zechariah, son of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 15:8–10). for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed at Jezreel and bring to an end the kingdom of the house of Israel; 5on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
6She conceived again and bore a daughter. The Lord said to him: Give her the name “Not-Pitied,”#“Not-Pitied”: in Hebrew lo-ruhama. for I will no longer feel pity for the house of Israel: rather, I will utterly abhor them. 7#Probably written by a later editor when the prophecies of Hosea circulated in the south, after the dissolution of the Northern Kingdom had occurred. The second part of the verse emphasizes the power of the Lord, who needs no human agents to fulfill the divine will. It may refer to the deliverance of Jerusalem from the siege of Sennacherib in 701 (2 Kgs 19:35–37). Yet for the house of Judah I will feel pity; I will save them by the Lord, their God; but I will not save them by bow or sword, by warfare, by horses or horsemen.#Zec 4:6.
8After she weaned Not-Pitied, she conceived and bore a son. 9Then the Lord said: Give him the name “Not-My-People,”#“Not-My-People”: in Hebrew lo-ammi. I am not “I am” for you: a reference to the divine name revealed to Moses, “I am” (Ex 3:14). This reversal of the relationship marks the end of the covenant (Ex 6:7). for you are not my people, and I am not “I am” for you.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Hosea 1
1
1The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, # 2Ch 26:1-23; Is 1:1; Am 1:1 Jotham, # 2Kg 15:5; 2Ch 27:1-9 Ahaz, # 2Kg 16:1-20; 2Ch 28:1-27; Is 1:1; 7:1-17; Mc 1:1 and Hezekiah, # 2Kg 18:1–20:21; 2Ch 29:1–32:33; Mc 1:1 kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam # 2Kg 13:13; 14:23-29; Am 1:1 son of Jehoash, king of Israel.
Hosea’s Marriage and Children
2When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, He said this to him:
Go and marry a promiscuous wife # Hs 3:1
and have children of promiscuity,
for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity
by abandoning the Lord.
3So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. # Ezk 23:4 4Then the Lord said to him:
Name him Jezreel, # Hs 2:22 for in a little while
I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel # 2Kg 9:24–10:11
on the house of Jehu # 2Kg 9:7; 10:30; 15:10
and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
5On that day I will break the bow of Israel # Gn 49:24; Jb 29:20; Jr 49:35
in the Valley of Jezreel. # = God sows # Jos 17:16; Jdg 6:33
6She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him:
Name her No Compassion, # Or Lo-ruhamah
for I will no longer have compassion
on the house of Israel.
I will certainly take them away.
7But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, # Is 30:18
and I will deliver them by the Lord their God. # Jr 25:5-6; Zch 9:9-10
I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war,
or by horses and cavalry. # Ps 44:3-7
8After Gomer had weaned No Compassion, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9Then the Lord said:
Name him Not My People, # Or Lo-ammi
for you are not My people,
and I will not be your God. # Lit not be yours # Ex 6:7; Lv 26:12; Jr 7:23; 11:4; 30:22; Ezk 36:28
10# Hs 2:1 in HbYet the number of the Israelites
will be like the sand of the sea, # Gn 22:17; Jr 33:22
which cannot be measured or counted.
And in the place where they were told:
You are not My people,
they will be called: Sons of the living God. # Rm 9:25-27
11And the Judeans and the Israelites
will be gathered together. # Jr 23:5-6; 50:4-5; Ezk 37:18-25; Hs 3:5
They will appoint for themselves a single ruler # Jr 30:21; Hs 3:5
and go up from # Or and flourish in ; Hb obscure the land.
For the day of Jezreel # Ezk 36:9-11 will be great.
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