Hosea 1

• This is the word of the LORD: The book of Hosea starts by stating that these are not just human words but a message from the one true God (compare Joel 1:1; Micah 1:1; Zephaniah 1:1).

• Hosea son of Beeri: Several other important people in the Old Testament are also named Hosea (or Hoshea; both names are spelled the same in Hebrew; Numbers 13:8; 2 Kings 17:1). Hosea means “the Lord saves,” which is a fitting name for this prophet.

• Jeroboam … king of Israel: Hosea gave prophecies to the northern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of its last seven kings. However, only one of them, Jeroboam II, is mentioned here (see Hosea Book Introduction, “Setting”).

a prostitute: Some find it hard to believe that God would tell a prophet to marry a prostitute. Because of this, many interpret this story symbolically. Early church members often thought the marriage did not actually happen. They saw it as an allegory, with Hosea representing the Lord and Gomer representing Israel.

Today, most believe the marriage was real, but they have different views on Gomer’s job before marriage. Some think Gomer was a regular prostitute, while others believe she was a sacred prostitute in Canaanite fertility worship. Others think Gomer was a young woman who had not yet engaged in illicit sexual activity, but God knew she was likely to commit adultery and prostitution.

This section describes a small part of the prophet's life, focusing on his troubled marriage. It highlights God's difficult relationship with Israel, his chosen people.

• Jezreel is a fertile valley in north-central Israel.

• The murders Jehu committed at Jezreel are described in 2 Kings 9–10.

King Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria fulfilled this prophecy in 733 BC by defeating the Israelite forces and capturing the Valley of Jezreel.

Lo-ruhamah: The names of Hosea’s children were part of his prophetic message (compare Isaiah 7:10–8:8).

For many years, the kingdom of Israel relied on its armies, horses, and charioteers for security. However, this confidence was misplaced. True safety and security come from God's power as the Lord.

• The name Lo-ammi delivers the harshest judgment because it suggests the end of Israel's covenant with the Lord. The title "my people," given to Israel when they obeyed the Lord their God (Leviticus 26:12; see also Exodus 6:7), was now taken away due to their clear unfaithfulness.

• I am not your God: The Hebrew phrase can be translated as I am not ‘I Am’ for you (compare Exodus 3:14). The third child's name prophetically states that the Israelites are outside the covenant and can no longer call upon the I Am.

• the sand of the sea: This promise of future population growth for God's people repeats the promise given to the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob (Genesis 22:17; 32:12).

• they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’: This phrase is unique in the Old Testament, but Paul quoted it (Romans 9:26) to show that God had also called the gentiles (non-Jewsish people) to salvation.

These verses show a sudden change in Hosea’s prophecy from judgment to hope. In the next three verses, Hosea changes the names of Gomer’s three children from symbols of divine punishment on Israel to symbols of blessing and hope. This clearly shows God’s power to reverse situations from darkness to light, judgment to hope, and even death to life.

• Judah and of Israel will be gathered together: For nearly 200 years, Israel and Judah were separate kingdoms due to political rivalry. When God restores his people, he will reunite these kingdoms under one leader, like in David's time. He will also end the curse of exile (see also Ezekiel 37:15–28).

• the day of Jezreel: Hosea said that in the future, God would restore Jezreel's original meaning. It will represent blessing and growth instead of judgment.