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Hosea was himself a native of the Northern Kingdom, and wrote in a distinctive northern dialect.
===Contents and Themes===
The book may be divided into two parts, the first part (chapters 1-3) describes the marriage of Hosea to a prostitute, symbolically representing the idolatry of Israel. The second part (chapters 4-14), is a summary of Hosea's discourses, filled with denunciations, threatenings, exhortations, promises, and revelations of mercy.
The [[Hosea 13|13th chapter]] foretells the destruction of the [[kingdom of Israel]] at the hands of [[Assyria]], because there has been no repentance. This event eventually occurred in [[722 BC]]. In [[Hosea 14|chapter 14]], the prophet urges Israel to seek forgiveness, promising its restoration, while urging the utmost fidelity to God.
===Themes===
The main theme within Hosea is of God's judgement of a people who have abandoned him, yet his plan to forgive and restore them despite this.
A number of accusations are made of Israel by [[God]] in Hosea including
* '''Idolatory''' - Throughout the book, the people are shown to have ignored the command of exclusive worship of God, for example in [[Hosea 8:4]]
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|8|4}}''
* Ungrateful hearts - The people have forgotten all the good things that God has done, for example in [[Hosea 13]]:4-6
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|13|4}}''
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|13|5}}''
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|13|6}}''
* Lack of knowledge of God
* A '''shallow appearance of religion with no real depth''' is shown throughout the book, for example in [[Hosea 8]]:1-3
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|8|1}}''
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|8|2}}''
** ''{{web_verse|hosea|8|3}}''
==Quotes==
