Israel under imagery borrowed from the matrimonial relation. The figures
of marriage and adultery are common in the Old Testament writings to
represent the spiritual relations between Jehovah and the people of Israel.
Here we see the apostasy of Israel and their punishment, with their future
repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.
The second part, containing 4-14, is a summary of Hosea’s discourses,
filled with denunciations, threatenings, exhortations, promises, and
revelations of mercy.
Quotations from Hosea are found in Matthew 2:15; 9:15; 12:7; Romans
9:25, 26. There are, in addition, various allusions to it in other places (Luke
23:30; Revelation 6:16, comp. Hos. 10:8; Romans 9:25, 26; 1 Peter 2:10,
comp. Hos. 1:10, etc.).
As regards the style of this writer, it has been said that “each verse forms a
whole for itself, like one heavy toll in a funeral knell.” “Inversions (7:8;
9:11, 13; 12: 8), anacolutha (9:6; 12:8, etc.), ellipses (9:4; 13:9, etc.),
paranomasias, and plays upon words, are very characteristic of Hosea
(8:7; 9:15; 10:5; 11:5; 12:11).”
- HOSHEA salvation. (1.) The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards
called Joshua (Numbers 13:8, 16; Deuteronomy 32:44).
(2.) 1 Chronicles 27:20. The ruler of Ephraim in David’s time.
(3.) The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor,
Pekah (Isaiah 7:16), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum
of warfare of eight years (2 Kings 17:1, 2). Soon after this he submitted to
Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to
punish Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised
to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon, who
besieged Samaria, and carried the ten tribes away beyond the Euphrates,
B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:9-12). No more is heard of Hoshea. He
disappeared like “foam upon the water” (Hos. 10:7; 13:11).
- HOST an entertainer (Romans 16:23); a tavern-keeper, the keeper of a
caravansary (Luke 10:35).
In warfare, a troop or military force. This consisted at first only of
infantry. Solomon afterwards added cavalry (1 Kings 4:26; 10:26). Every
male Israelite from twenty to fifty years of age was bound by the law to
bear arms when necessary (Numbers 1:3; 26:2; 2 Chronicles 25:5).