Hosea - summary

Mnemonic: GOMER THE HARLOT

1. Gomer’s marriage and children

2. Offenses of Gomer condemned
3. Message of second marriage
4. Error of Israel’s ways
5. Rebuke of Israel’s leaders
6. Testimony of God’s love
7. Hopelessness of Israel’s desertion
8. Exile unavoidable for Israel
9. Harlotry will be punished
10. Assyria will enslave Israel
11. Rebellion against God’s love
12. Legal case against Israel
13. Overthrow of Ephraim certain
14. Transformation if Israel repents

Unique Place in the Canon

● Gomer was unfaithful, and in spite of this, Hosea sought her in great love, and
bought her back from (what 2 shameful positions?).

slavery and degradation

● How many times is Ephraim (synonymous for Israel) mentioned in the book?

35

● Israel is the Lord’s bride, but Israel has instead joined itself to:
i) Which false god?
ii) Name one other nation that worshipped this false god during the time of Hosea.

i) Baal
ii) Syria

● As a prophet and a poet, Hosea uses an arsenal of rhetorical and poetic

techniques to communicate his message in a memorable and persuasive manner:
i) He uses a variety of (what figure of speech?) as he depicts a broad range of
themes, including God’s anger, judgment, devotion, and love, as well as Israel’s
waywardness and stubbornness.
ii) Hosea employs images that were familiar to his contemporaries, drawing
extensively from (what 2 things?). Hosea paints some of the most moving,
terrifying, and exhilarating word pictures in all of the Bible.
 i) metaphors
ii) agriculture and nature

Authorship
● The book of Hosea is the sole source of information about the author, and little is
known about him. True or false?

True

● Hosea means i) (what?) in Hebrew? ii) from what name?

i) Salvation ii) Joshua

● i) In Numbers (which chapter, which 2 verses?) is Joshua called Oshea? ii) In

Matthew (which chapter, verse?) is savior called Jesus?

i) 13:8,16 ii) 1:21

● i) Hosea is the (which order?) of the 12 Minor Prophets. ii) “Minor” refers to the
(what relative length?) of the prophecies, as compared to the length of the works
of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

i) first ii) brevity

● At the beginning of Hosea’s prophetic ministry, the Lord told him to get married
and announced in advance that Hosea’s chosen bride would be unfaithful to her
marriage vows. True or false?

True

● Who was Gomer the daughter of?

Diblaim

● i) Hosea was probably a native of the (northern or southern?) kingdom? ii) What 4
reasons to suggest this?

i) Northern
ii) One, he was familiar with the history of the north
Two, he was familiar with the circumstances of the north
Three, he was familiar with the topography of the north
Four, he identified the king of Israel as “our king”
 ○ Topography means?

The natural and artificial physical features of an area.

● i) Apart from Hosea, which only other writing prophet is from the northern
kingdom?
ii) Hosea addressed only Israel, not Judah - true or false?
iii) In which chapter and verse in Hosea did Hosea identify the king of Israel as
“our king”

i) Jonah
ii) False. He addressed both.
iii) 7:5

● Hosea prophesied concerning the salvation of Jehovah which will come when
(what event comes?)

Jesus returns to set up his earthly kingdom.

● Hosea:
i) followed (which prophet?) preaching in the north,
ii) and was a contemporary of (which 2 prophets?) as well, both of whom
prophesied in Judah.

i) Amos
ii) Isaiah and Micah

Date
● i) Hosea prophesied under which king of Israel?
ii) And which were the 4 kings of Judah?

i) Jeroboam II
ii) Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah

● Jeroboam II:
i) Which year was he made pro-rex (co-reign with Jehoash) over Israel?
ii) Which year was he made sole-rex over Israel?
iii) Which year did he die?

i) 837 BC
ii) 825 BC
iii) 784 BC

● Uzziah:
 i) Which year was he born?
ii) Which year did he become king over Judah?

i) 827 BC
ii) 810 BC

● Jotham:
i) Which year was he born?
ii) Which year did he become sole rex over Judah?

i) 784 BC
ii) 758 BC

● Ahaz:
i) Which year was he born?
ii) Which year did he become king over Judah?

i) 763 BC
ii) 742 BC

● Hezekiah:
i) Which year was he born?
ii) Which year did he become king over Judah?
iii) a) Which year was Hezekiah ill, and his life was extended 15 years? b) Which
year did Hezekiah die?

i) 752 BC
ii) 726 BC
iii) a) 713 BC b) 698 BC

● In Hosea 1:4, the king of the last of the dynasty of Jehu is depicted as yet future.
Which king was the last of the dynasty of Jehu?

Zechariah

● i) 2 Kings (which chapter to which chapter?) record the historical period of

Hosea’s ministry.
ii) 2 Chron (which chapter to which chapter?) also record the historical period of
Hosea’s ministry.

i) 14-20
ii) 26-32

Background and Theme

● i) The firstborn son’s name Jezreel was a reminder of the a) (a word for extremely
wicked acts is?) that had occurred at Jezreel. b) God would soon judge Israel for
these sins, appropriately through a (what 2 word phrase for being beaten at
battle?) at this same city.
ii) Their daughter Lo-Ruhamah’s name, meaning a) “(what 2 word phrase?),”
announced that the Lord would temporarily b) (word for take away is?) His love
from Israel.
iii) The third child’s name Lo-Ammi, meaning “Not My People,” anticipated the
severe disruption of the Lord’s (word for a written agreement or promise usually
under seal between two or more parties is?) relationship with His people.

i) a) atrocities b) military defeat

ii) a) not loved b) withdraw
iii) covenantal

● Because of Gomer’s adulteries, the marriage disintegrated, and she eventually

became the slave or concubine of another man. True or false?

True

● There are 3 reasons why Gomer has to be a real woman, and the wife of Hosea
committing adultery while married:
i) One, When nonliteral elements within the book are introduced, they are prefaced
with a) “(what word?)” b) in which verse of ch 5 and which 2 verses of ch 9 - does
this word appear?
ii) Two, a) the words “take to yourself a wife of whoredom” are to be understood
proleptically - proleptically means? b) Chapter 3 describes Hosea taking back his
wife, who had been rejected because of adultery - would a rejection be justifiable
if Hosea had married a prostitute with full knowledge of her character?
iii) Three, Gomer cannot be another woman: a) In 1:2, Hosea was commanded
(with what 2 word phrase?) b) In 3:1, Hosea was commanded (with what 3 word
phrase?) - these 2 instances of commanding Hosea suggests that Hosea’s love
was to be renewed to the same woman.

i) a) saw b) 13; 10, 13

ii) a) looking to the future b) No
iii) a) Go, take b) Go again, love

● i) Hosea began his ministry to Israel (also called Ephraim, after its largest tribe)
during the (beginning or final?) days of Jeroboam II
ii) Ephraim was the largest tribe of the northern kingdom - true or false?

i) final
ii) True
● Under Jeroboam II’s guidance:
i) Israel was enjoying both (what 2 main good earthly things?)
ii) But what were 2 main non-material bad things?

i) political peace and material prosperity

ii) moral corruption and spiritual bankruptcy

● i) Jeroboam II had extended Israel’s borders through several military operations -

as per 2 Kings (which chapter, which verse to which verse?)
ii) In the south, Uzziah had strengthened Judah’s armed forces and defeated the
nation’s enemies - as per 2 Chron (which chapter, which verse to which verse?)

i) 14; 25-28
ii) 26; 1-15

● i) By participating in the pagan (word for reproductive is?) rites of Baalism, Israel
violated her covenant (marriage vow) with the Lord.
ii) The Lord was prepared to bring against Israel the judgments threatened in the
covenant - in Deuteronomy 28:(which verse to which verse?)

i) fertility
ii) 15-68

● Through Hosea, God announced that He would use severe judgment to free His
people from their spiritual stupor and get their attention. This judgment would
take the forms of (what one natural calamity, what 2 man-made calamities?).

Natural - drought
Man-made - invasion and exile

● i) Upon Jeroboam II’s death, (word for lawlessness is?) prevailed and Israel
declined rapidly.
ii) a) How many of Israel’s last 6 kings were assassinated? b) Which were the
kings assassinated of the last 6 kings?

i) anarchy
ii) 4 ii) Zachariah, Shallum, Pekhiah, Pekah

● Circumstances were not much better in the southern kingdom:

i) Uzziah had been struck with leprosy - in 2 Chron (which chapter, which verse to
which verse?)
ii) Jotham condoned (word for worshipping false gods is?) practices - 2 Chron
(which chapter?)
 iii) Ahaz encouraged (which false god name?) worship - 2 Chron (which chapter,
which verse to which verse?)

i) 26, 16-21
ii) 27
iii) Baal; 28, 1-4

● The mighty Assyrian Empire, was flexing its muscles and looking westward. This
was after several decades of increasing power. True or false?

False. This was after several decades of declining power.

● Weak kings on both sides of the border repeatedly sought out alliances with their
heathen neighbors rather than seeking the Lord’s help:
i) In 2 Kings 15:19, a) who was the king of Israel? b) who was the Assyrian king?
c) what did the king of Israel give to the Assyrian king?
ii) In 2 Kings 16:7, a) who was the king of Judah? b) who was the Assyrian king?
c) for what purpose did the king of Judah send messengers to the Assyrian king?

i) a) Menahem b) Pul c) a thousand talents of silver

ii) a) Ahaz b) Tiglathpileser c) to save him out of the hand of the king of Syria, and king
of Israel

● About how many a) pounds b) kg is a talent (the Babylonian talent used in ancient
Israel, not the talent in NT times)?

a) 75 b) 30.2 kg

● Hosea foretold the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom and the fall of
(which city?).

Samaria

● During the second half of the eighth century B.C., Assyria:

i) reduced Israel to a (what?) state (required by treaty to pay regular tribute to
Assyria), ii) then a (what?) state (ruled by a king chosen by Assyria),
iii) and finally a (what?) (ruled by an Assyrian governor).

i) vassal
ii) puppet
iii) province

● Judah also declined spiritually and was torn by political dissension. King Ahaz:
i) rejected (which prophet’s?) offer of divine protection
 ii) and instead embarked on a pro-Assyrian policy that facilitated the Assyrian
takeover of Judah’s states, reduced Judah to a a) (word for required by treaty to
pay regular tribute is?) status, and b) (word for deprive is?) the nation’s economic
wealth.

i) Isaiah’s
ii) a) vassal b) drained

● When his wife Gomer left him to live shamefully in sin, God instructed His servant
to:
i) a) (Do what action to?) her on the public market and b) bring her back in (what
good state?)
ii) The purpose of all this, of course, was to picture God’s relationship with Israel
(also called what 2 other names? - other than Samaria.)
iii) The nation had proved unfaithful, living in what 2 main sins?
iv) Since the fall of the northern kingdom to the present, the northern kingdom
would be without (what 3 things?)

i) a) Buy b) Blessing
ii) Ephraim and Jacob
iii) Idolatry and moral wickedness
iv) A king, sacrifice and idols

● Hosea has been called the (which apostle?) (the apostle of love) of the OT.

John

● Hosea’s message contains much condemnation, only at a national level and not
individual level - true or false?

False. Hosea’s message contains much condemnation, both national and

individual.

● In the future, Israel will return to the Lord in repentance, and the Lord will show
(what good thing?)

Mercy

● Hosea frequently refers to the (which portion of the Bible?) - the foundation of
Israel’s relationship to God.

Pentateuch

● Hosea stresses divine sovereignty - by God speaking in:

 i) the (which order?) person
ii) almost a (what multiple?) times in the book.

i) First (‘I’)
ii) hundred

● Hosea’s personal life illustrates:

i) the Lord’s (what character?)
ii) In which 3 consecutive chapters is this character seen?

i) compassion
ii) 1-3

● Isolation/exile, which is coming upon Israel, is a way to (bring what good

outcome?).

Restoration

● Though the severity of God’s judgment might give the impression that Israel had
been abandoned forever, God intended to restore His people. When they repented
of their sins, He would return them to their land, (word for bring together again
is?) the north and south under an ideal Davidic king, and restore His rich
blessings.

reunite

● i) Chapters 1-3 speaks about (which part of Hosea’s life?)

ii) Chapters 4-14 speaks about what 3 main things for Israel?

i) Family
ii) Accusations, warnings, promises

● Which chapter to which chapter speaks about God’s controversy (disagreement)

with Israel?

4-10

● Assyria’s demise was towards the end of which century BC?

7th
● Label the missing names on the map:
- Black Sea
- Caspian Sea
- Persian Gulf
- Ararat
- Assyria
- Asshur
- Nineveh
- Babylonia
- Babylon
- Ur
- Euphrates river
- Media
- Elam
- Susa
- Carchemish
- Hamath
- Arpad
- Tarsus
 - Memphis

Outline

Ch 1
● What does Jezreel (the first child) mean? (The Assyrian army would break the
power of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.)

God will scatter

● What does Lo-ruhamah mean?

unpitied

● The judgment on Israel was only temporary.

i) In vv10-11, what action of God to Israel is promised?
 ii) In Romans (which chapter and which 2 verses?) is the New Testament cross-
reference to apply this to include the Gentiles?

i) Restoration
ii) 9:25-26

Ch 2
● In v1, God was speaking to a (word for loyal is?) remnant - Ammi (My people) and
Ruhamah (she who has obtained mercy).

faithful

● In vv2-13, God warned against Israel’s unfaithfulness and threatened (what

outcome?).

Judgment

● In vv14-23, in the future, would it be blessing or curse?

Blessing

● vv2-3 The faithful remnant should plead with the mass of the nation of Israel to put
away her harlotries or God will strip her naked and bring (word for no rain is?)
upon her.

drought

● vv4-5 The children of the sinful nation will also be unpitied because they are
children of a harlot who went after false gods and gave these idols credit for
supplying her with (what 3 categories of material blessings?)

food, clothing, and luxuries.

● vv6-7 God will put all kinds of roadblocks and obstructions in her way, and cut her
off from her idols until she decides to (word for go back is?) to Him (her first
husband).

return

● v8 Israel did not give God credit for supplying her:

i) what 3 categories of food?
ii) God multiplied what 2 metals?
- which Israel prepared for Baal.
 i) corn, and wine, and oil
ii) silver and gold

● vv9-10 God will take away corn and wine (food), and wool and flax - the latter 2
used to cover (word for state of unclothed is?)

nakedness

● vv11-13:
i) v11 - mirth and religious holy days - what will happen to them?
ii) v12 - her vines and fig trees - a) what will happen to them? b) Israel thought
these 2 things were her (another word for payment is?) from her idols
iii) v13 - Israel will be (word for chastise is?) for all the days she served Baalim.

i) cease
ii) a) be destroyed b) reward
iii) punished

● vv14-17:
i) vv14-15 - After that, God will restore and comfort Israel. God will give her her
(word for plantation of grapevines is?) and she will sing as in the time when she
came up from the land of Egypt.
ii) v16 - Israel shall call the LORD a) ‘Ishi’ (meaning?) b) not Baali (meaning?)
iii) v17 - The people will be cleansed from Baal-worship, even to the degree of
(word for not in memory is?) the names of the Baals.

i) vineyards
ii) a) my husband b) my master
iii) forgetting

● vv18-20:
i) v18 - a) God will make a covenant with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls
of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground - making them (another
word for non-dangerous is?). b) Warfare will be (another word for terminated is?)
ii) vv19-20 - Israel will be (another word for married is?)to the LORD forever, under
terms of righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy, bound by God’s
faithfulness.

i) a) harmless b) cease
ii) betrothed

● vv 21-23 In that day, Jezreel a) (which represents which country?) will no longer
mean scattered, but b) (another word for plant by placing seeds is?).
 The people will be sown in their own land; heaven and earth will join in blessing
them and making them fruitful.

a) Israel b) sown

Ch 3
● vv1-3 Hosea was to redeem Gomer for:
i) a) How many shekels of silver? b) How many kg is a shekel?
ii) a) How many homers of barley b) How many litres is a homer?

i) a) 15 b) 0.0114
ii) a) 1 ½ b) 220

● v4: i) What is an ephod? ii) What does teraphim mean?

i) a sleeveless garment worn by Jewish priests. ii) household gods

Ch 4
● v1 - ‘controversy’ (or charge) - the Hebrew word refers to a formal (word for
protesting against something unacceptable is?) charging Israel with breaking the
covenant.

complaint

● i) vv1-6 - sins of which 3 groups are referred to?

ii) vv7-11 - sins of which group referred to?
iii) vv12-14 - what is the main sin of the people?
iv) vv15-19 - a special appeal goes out to which nation?

i) the people, prophets and priests

ii) the priests
iii) idolatry
iv) Judah

● vv1-3:
i) v1 - what are 3 things lacking in the land?
ii) v2 - Five violations of the 10 commandments are listed - what are they?
iii) v3 - Because of the Israelites’ behavior, what 3 categories of animals will not
survive the coming judgment?

i) Truth, mercy and knowledge of God

ii) Swearing, lying, killing, stealing and committing adultery
iii) beasts of the field (i.e. wildlife), fowls of heaven and fishes of the sea
● vv4-6:
i) v4-5 - Both priest and prophet are blamed because of their (another word for
intentional is?) lack of knowledge. God’s people were destroyed for lack of
knowledge.
ii) v5 - ‘fall’ - The prophets frequently used this word to describe the spiritual life
of the Hebrews. For example, Hosea likens both false prophets and their followers
to those who (another word for trip and fall is?) in the dark: they are stumbling
over the sin of idolatry and falling to their ruin.
iii) v6 - The priests had failed to teach God’s law to the people. As a result, God
would (word for bring an end to is?)

i) willful
ii) stumble
iii) terminate

● vv7-8:
i) v7 - ‘glory’ - Great a) (another word for respect is?) was attached to the
priesthood. However, Israel’s sinful priests would b) (another word for deprive is?)
their prestige.
ii) v8 - ‘eat up the sin of My people’ - The priests (another word for gluttony is?)
accepted the meat from the people’s hypocritical and empty sacrifices.

i) a) honor b) forfeit
ii) greedily

● vv10-11:
i) v10 - The Israelites worshiped Baal in order to have good crops and many
children, but they still would not have enough to a) (word for put food into mouth
is?), nor would they b) (another word for increase by much is?) in number.
ii) v10 - ‘whoredom’ (harlotry) here refers to (word for devoted to worship is?)
prostitution associated with Baal worship, not to immorality in general.
iii) v11 - Their punishment would be their enslavement to harlotry, wine, and new
wine, indulging and never becoming (another word for contented is?).

i) a) eat b) multiply
ii) religious
iii) satisfied

● vv12-14:
i) v12 - ‘stocks’ and ‘staff’ (both refer to wooden idols) - The people sought
(another word for counsel is?) from them.
ii) v13 - They worshipped at mountain shrines, in the (word for shelter from
sunlight is?) of trees.
 iii) v13-14 - Many of Israel’s young women and men had participated in the
(another word for intimacy for reproduction is?) rites of Baal worship.

i) guidance
ii) shade
iii) sexual

● vv15:
i) (which country?) warned not to follow Israel’s wicked example.
ii) a) (which location?) was an important religious center in the north, known in
Hosea’s time for its hypocritical religious practices. In b) Amos (which chapter,
verse) is the same location mentioned of people committing the same sins?
iii) Beth Aven, which means a) “House of (another word for sin is?),” is a sarcastic
reference to the important religious center Bethel, which means “House of God”.

i) Judah
ii) a) Gilgal b) 4; 4
iii) Iniquities

● vv16-19:
i) vv16-17 - ‘Let him alone’ - These words have a tone of a) (another word for
annoyed is?) and b) (another word for give up on is?), suggesting that Israel was
hopelessly rebellious.
ii) vv18-19 - The (word for movement of air is?) of divine judgment would sweep
the Israelites away and leave them embarrassed by their idolatry.

i) a) frustrated b) resignation
ii) wind

Ch 5
● i) vv1-7 - the evil behavior of which 3 groups are referred to?
ii) vv 8-15 - speaks of: a) God’s promised (what action?) to Israel and Judah; and
b) God’s intention to await both nation’s (what action?)

i) Priests, People, Royal family

ii) a) judgment b) repentance

● v1: Mizpah here is probably a reference to Mizpah of a) (which city?), located in

Israelite territory east of the Jordan. Tabor: Mount Tabor was in the northern
kingdom, b) (which direction?) of the Sea of Galilee.

a) Gilead b) southwest
● v2: The revolters probably refers to the leaders and priests who had (word for go
against is?) against God’s authority by rejecting His commandments.

rebelled

● v4 - ‘spirit of whoredoms’ - The people had an (word for cannot be controlled is?)
desire to worship other gods.

uncontrollable

● v5 - Judah had followed Israel’s moral example and would experience the same
consequences. True or false?

True

● vv6-7:
i) v6 - will take flocks and herds as offerings for the LORD but will not be able to
(another word for locate is?) Him.
ii) v7 - ‘portion’ (or heritage) refers to people’s a) (what 2 assets?), which God
would allow wild animals and invading armies to overrun and b) (another word for
consume is?).

i) find
ii) a) landed property and fields b) devour

● vv8-12:
i) The historical background for this section is found in 2 Kings (which chapter?).
ii) (which 2 countries?) had invaded Judah.
iii) With the help of (which country?), Judah had counterattacked and captured
territory.

i) 16
ii) Israel and Syria
iii) Assyria

● vv8-9:
i) v8 - (which three cities?) of Benjamin are warned to prepare for punishment.
ii) v8 - with the words: Blow ye the a) (what instrument?) (=ram’s horn) in Gibeah,
and the b) (what instrument?) in Ramah: c) (word for loud shout is?) aloud at
Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.
iii) v9 - ‘shall surely be’ - The Lord affirmed that the announced judgment was an
(another word for unchangeable is?) decree.

i) Gibeah, Ramah and Bethaven

 ii) a) cornet b) trumpet c) cry
iii) unalterable

● v10:
i) A thief could steal a part of someone’s land by moving the (another word for
landmark is?).
ii) The Law warned that altering a boundary in this way would bring a special
judgment from God - as per 2 parts in a) Deuteronomy - (which chapter and
verse?) for each? b) Proverbs (which chapter and verse?)

i) bound
ii) a) 19:14; 27:17 b) 22:28

● v12:
i) As a moth slowly destroys (word for garment used as covering is?), so the Lord
would destroy Israel.
ii) Rottenness elsewhere (Prov. 12:4; 14:30; Hab. 3:16) refers to (which 2 hard
places of one’s body?) decay.

i) clothing
ii) bone and tooth

● v13:
i) Both Israel and Judah sought protection through alliances with Assyria, but the
cruel Assyrians were more interested in (word for take advantage of is?) God’s
people politically and economically.
ii) King Jareb probably refers to (which Assyrian king, which order?) with whom
both Israel and Judah formed alliances.
iii) As per 2 Kin. 15:19, 20: a) Menahem gave Pul (how many?) talents of silver b)
Menahem exacted the money of Israel from the mighty men of wealth, of each man
(how many?) shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria.
iv) As per 2 Kin. 16:7–9: Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house
of a) (who?), and in the treasures of the b) (who?) house, and sent it for a present
to the king of Assyria.

i) exploiting
ii) Tiglath-Pileser III
iii) a) 1000 b) 50
iv) a) the LORD b) king’s

● v13 - When Ephraim saw his sickness he sought help from Assyria. But he was
not cured because Assyria was hired by (which country?) (and utilized by God) to
fight against him.
 Judah

● vv 14-15:
i) Attacking like a ferocious, invincible (what animal?), God would scatter His
people as judgment for their treachery.
ii) But the purpose of the Lord’s discipline was to drive the people to earnestly
seek Him. The Hebrew verb for earnestly seek suggests (word for strongly
wanting to have is?) longing and desire.
iii) God determined to return to His place and wait for Israel and Judah to (another
word for admit wrongdoing is?) their sins and seek His face.

i) lion
ii) eager
iii) confess

Ch 6
● In vv1-3 - there is an (another word for urge?) for Ephraim to repent

Appeal

● In vv4-11 - (what characterising?) Israel and Judah

Sinfulness

Ch 7
● The wickedness of (Judah or Israel?) is commented on

Israel

Ch 8
● The warning is about foreign invasion, because of what 2 main sins?

One, idolatry; Two, foreign alliances

Ch 9
● In Ch 9-10, what would happen to Israel (by another nation) as a result of her
iniquity?

Be taken captive

Ch 11
● In Ch 11-13, in wrath, what would God remember to show?

Mercy
Ch 14
● Israel is urged to (do what?) to enjoy God’s blessing.

Repent