HOSEA, Part Two

The period of his ministry, extending to some sixty years. He is the only prophet of Israel who has left any written prophecy.

How is this for a divorce degree? "She is not my wife, neither am I her Husband." (Hosea 2:2)

Now on to Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Chapter 4:
Verse's 1-3, The source of their horrible crimes are idolatry. Verse's 4-10, The sins of the people are what the Priest feed on. Verse's 11-14, The young women are harlots, married women entertain other men, the men go with harlots as well. Verse 15, Judah had not sunk as far down in idolatry as Israel, so they were spared for about 100 years after Israel was destroyed. Verse 17, The largest and most central of the Northern Tribes, was Ephraim, became the name for the whole Northern Kingdom. Verse 10. The wind, had already wrapped the sinful nation in its wings and was going to take it away to another land. Verse 15, Another name for Bethel, the main idol sanctuary of the Northern Kingdom is, Bethaven.

Chapter 5:
Verse's 1-3, The revolters against God is the Priest, king and the people. Verse's 4-5, deep in sin and proud of it, their doings would not suffer them to turn to God. Verse 7, the strange children belong to a man other than the husbands. Verse 11, Content to walk after man's command, are the ordinances which Jeroboam I had devised out of his own heart, when he set up the Northern Kingdom.

Chapter 6:
Verse 2, the third day, after a short period Israel would be restored, and also referring, as most agree, refers to Jesus' resurrection. Verse 8, two of the principal cities of the land, Gilead and Shechem, were really horrible centers for vice and violence.

Chapter 7:
Verse's 4 and 7, hot as an oven, could be referring to the period of passionate indulgence and violence when four of the kings were killed in rapid succession, even while Hosea was trying to teach them to stop all the sins they were committing. Verse 8, Ephraim is like a cake not turned, burnt on one side, raw on the other, can't be used. Verse 9, Gray hairs, signs of the end approaching. Verse 11, Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart, they call to Egypt, the go to Assyria.

Chapter 8:
Verse 4, They have set up kings, but not by me. Their kings and princes was their silver and gold made into idols. Verse 7, they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. Verse 8, Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. They have gone to Assyria, Ephraim hath hired lovers, (paid tribute to Assyria). Verse 14, Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Sources: Kings James Bible, H H Halley's Bible Handbook, Smith's Bible Dictionary, Easton's Bible Dictionary.