Historical Background of the Book of Hosea

The Hebrew name for the Book of Hosea is “Hosea” (הוֹשֵׁעַ/ Hôshēa), and it’s the first book in the Book of the Twelve Prophets. Its author is Hosea, a prophet from the Northern Kingdom, who served from the end of Jeroboam II’s reign until just before the siege of Samaria (approximately 760–725 BC). During Jeroboam II’s time, God caused the Neo-Assyrian Empire to enter a 39-year period of decline. Royal authority was restricted by the nobles, forcing Assyria to halt its foreign expansion, which created a secure international environment for Israel.

God granted the Northern Kingdom over forty years of prosperity and stability, but this prosperity didn’t mean God approved. Jeroboam II “did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD and didn’t turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.” The people’s spiritual condition was extremely dark. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had completely abandoned the worship of the LORD God, turning instead to licentious and debauched religious rituals, including illicit relations with temple prostitutes.

Hosea declared that God would surely punish the Northern Kingdom of Israel for its spiritual adultery and apostasy, but that in the future, He would also accept its return and restore it, showing His unwavering love for them. The New Testament frequently quotes from the Book of Hosea (Luke 23:30; Matthew 2:15; 9:13; 12:7; 1 Corinthians 15:55; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Romans 9:25-26; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:10; Revelation 3:17; 6:16).

This book weaves together two main themes: God’s uncompromising judgment and His unwavering love. “He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds” (Hosea 6:1). “My God will reject them” (Hosea 9:17), but He “waits continually” (Hosea 12:6) for them. So, if we were to sum up this book’s message with a New Testament verse, it would be: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).