(785 B.C.?) [Hosea's ministry in the days of Judah's 9th-12th kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, respectively, at the outset in the reign of Jeroboam II, 13th king of Israel (through Hoshea, 19th and final king of Israel). Although his ministry was primarily directed toward the Northern Kingdom, Israel, his message was to Judah as well.] Hosea, son of Beeri, takes Gomer (born in harlotry without father, a harlot herself?) as wife. Firstborn, a son named JEZREEL, meaning, "God sows," a sign of the impending judgment on the house of Jehu, 10th king of Israel, represented by the current king, Jeroboam II. (Jezreel, sight of the horrific slaughter in his ascension to the throne. (II Ki.9:1-10:28) Therefore, the message: Prepare for judgment! It will come; Israel will cease. A second child is born, a daughter named LO-RUHAMAH, (Lo) meaning, "not" or "no," and (ruhamah), "pitied" or "mercy." To be a sign for no mercy in their final judgment! (But Judah will have mercy for now. Her judgment to come later.) A third child is born, another son, named LO-AMMI, (ammi) meaning, "my people," hence, "not my people." Therefore, the composite message: "After the final judgment, which is soon coming with no mercy, Israel will no longer be my people, nor I their God." Yet there will be an Ingathering in the end-time, and they will become the "children of the living God," under one head. Jezreel (here used symbolically of all Israel) will be great once again.

[Court scene.] Encouraged by Hosea, an accusation is leveled against their mother by her children, their names employed as a sign. Gomer (Israel) is exposed by them for her harlotry and idolatry. She is hedged about by God that she not find her lovers, giving occasion to turn back to Him to whom she is married (covenant to have no other god before Him), from whom her blessings truly came. To turn is to repent! Her lewdness exposed and God's blessings to be withdrawn. God's allurement of her to the wilderness that she might turn and be restored for future covenant, betrothal, and blessings. (Israel once again to become His people and He their God, with an everlasting covenant.)

[Seen through Hosea, God's love is exceptional.] He is commanded to love Gomer, shown in his action of her redemption from her harlotry. She is redeemed with 15 pieces of silver and 1½ homer of barley (equivalent to 30 pieces of silver!). Israel to be dispersed and desolate and then returned in the latter days.

(780 B.C.?) [Ephraim's (Israel) depth of sin.] Her sins of omission: truth, mercy, and knowledge are completely absent among the people, leading to her sins of commission: swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery, etc. -- blood touching blood! Her judgment: the land, people, and beasts, even the air and water creatures, will languish and be desolated. Their rejection of His knowledge led to their downfall. (See Rom.1:18-32, key vs.21,28, for insight into succession from God, applicable to a people or any individual in any generation.) Their increased prosperity led to their increased sin rather than further praise to God who gave the blessings. Israel forgets God in her heart, filled now with "new wine" (the fruit of her prosperity), carelessly flaunting it to others (whoredoms)! Judgment is pronounced against the people of Israel because of her backsliding. His whirlwind has already enveloped her in preparation for whisking her away. Unable to save her, Her impotent false sacrifices will be her shame.

[His judgment is now pronounced against her rulers.] Although they think their ways are not seen by God, their pride, both personal and ceremonial (calf worship), testifies against them. He will not be found among them. Her evil alliances with other nations are condemned. He will tear at them with unceasing fury until they realize their wicked ways were their ruin. Then they will seek Him expeditiously.

Their expected prayer of repentance; but for now they will not turn. God's heart to spare them if only they would now seek Him and His righteousness. However, they continually deal treacherously with Him, doing much evil unto others.

Just when God would heal them, they are exposed in sin, oblivious to His knowledge of the ways of their hearts. Israel's heart is consumed completely with their lust for evil. Her heart burns with evil passions, hot as an oven, devouring their rulers in quick succession. Again, as in 5:5, their pride testifies against them. Their evil alliances with Egypt and Assyria repeatedly condemned. Their prayer is heartless, imagining evil against Him. Their fall will be great, into the hands of others, scoffed and mocked when taken away into captivity.

(760 B.C.?) Set the trumpet to thy lips! Prepare to meet thy God! Their cry, when their judgment comes, will not be heard. They have rejected his chosen Davidic lineage. Their calf gods established since the beginning by Jeroboam, they have perpetually cried to, will fall as Dagon before Him. Foreigners will settle their land when they are removed from it. His commandments are rejected therefore their sacrifices He has not accepted. They all have forgotten their Maker, building upon their own strength. The labor of their hands and the temple to their gods will be consumed by His fire.

[Israel, the Northern Kingdom, shall cease.] No rejoicing within her borders. Displaced from the land, they will return to Egypt and go into Assyria, ending their ceremonial worship and eating the unclean things of their captors. Their cherished places will the nettles and thorns claim. Their corruption is as bad as the days of Gibeah (violence and murder of their own). Their glory will depart, their children murdered. God's love to be removed, they slain, and the remaining condemned to wander among the Earth's nations.

(740 B.C.?) Though once a viable rich vine planted in a fertile vineyard, Israel is now empty, shallow, and divided of heart, having produced nothing but evil useless fruit. Her calves erected for worship will be destroyed. Their situation hopeless, the hills and mountains -- her high places of worship -- impotent. Iniquity will be the fruit of their wickedness. She will be utterly cut off!

God's fatherly love for Israel as a child, now the consummate prodigal, is remembered; His patience revealed. Assyria will soon abduct them. They are hopeless. None exalt Him. God's judgment will be fair but fierce! Israel and Judah are contrasted.

Ephraim's vain hope of no effect. God remembers Jacob, his early years, Bethel, the place of their meeting, now the site of their gross idolatry. How tragic! To be accepted and given His name, Israel, in one generation, and yet have it removed in another, in the same location! Her idolatry is reproved and her blood will be of her own doing.

Ephraim's sin and death does not turn them. It is now terminal. They sin more and more, kissing even the calves, adding calf worship to Baal, which compounds their guilt. They will be devoured as a prey in the field. He offers hope even now, if only they will turn, ransomed from the grave! But their rebellion will lead to the total desolation of Samaria, including the women and children.

[Call to repentance.] He instructs them in the words they should say, then He would heal their backsliding. His response would be merciful. However, they would not put away their idolatry and rejoice under His shadow. His final word on the matter: "the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."