Book of Hosea Chapter 1 Vs. 1

 Hosea’s Times

The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. Hos. 1:1

word of the... "The word of the Lord" is used three times (Hos. 1:1, 1:2; 4:1).

The word of the LORD (compare 6:5). This kind of introduction, expressing the prophet’s divine authority and message source, appears also (in Joel 1:1; Mic. 1:1; Zeph. 1:1; Mal. 1:1). Similar statements appear (in Amos 1:3; Oba. 1; Jon. 1:1; Hag. 1:2).

came unto Hosea... Hosea, salvation. The only man whose name is spelled this way (Hos. 1:1-2). He is called Osee in Rom. 9:25.

son of Beeri... Jewish tradition identifies Beeri with Beerah of Reuben (1Ch. 5:6). Christian tradition makes Hosea of the tribe of Issachar.

in the days... Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

Hosea was a prophet to the 10-tribe kingdom, but he had warnings for Judah also. He prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, king of Israel. The period must have been at least 72 years, for if he prophesied during the last 2 years of Jeroboam, there would be 38 years in the rest of the time of Uzziah’s reign to be counted, besides 16 years of Jotham’s reign and 16 years of Ahaz’s reign (making a total of 72 years); this would not include any time of his prophesying in the reign of Hezekiah (Hos. 1:1). The book of Hosea points to the imminent destruction of the 10 tribes and the fall of Samaria (predicted in Hos. 13:16), which took place in the 6th year of Hezekiah. The book is quoted in the N.T. in Mat. 2:15; 9:13; 12:7; Rom. 9:25-26; 1Cor. 15:55; 1Pet. 2:5, 2:10.

The kingdom had split at this time. Hosea is a prophet to the ten tribes, spoken of as Israel. The other two tribes were spoken of as Judah. It was hard for the people to hear his warnings, because there were good times in the land. This is Jeroboam the second, spoken of here. He raised Israel to great splendor, but was very evil. His father, Joash was evil, also.

One tremendous difference in Judah and Israel is that more of Judah’s kings followed after God, than did Israel’s evil kings. All of Israel’s kings were evil. Hosea prophesied during the reign of all four of the kings of Judah, above mentioned. He prophesied in Israel and not in Judah. It is believed by some that he prophesied for about 70 years.

Hosea’s Times

In Hebrew the name Hosea (“salvation”) is the same as Hoshea, Israel’s last king (2Kgs. 17:1). Hoshea was also Joshua’s original name (Num. 13:8, 13:16). Nothing is known of Hosea’s family background except that he was a son of Beeri.

Hosea’s ministry extended for a number of decades in the second half of the eighth century b.c. Four kings of Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah) reigned when Hosea prophesied. Only one king of the north (Jeroboam II), is mentioned though Hosea’s message was directed primarily to the Northern Kingdom. Six kings of Israel followed Jeroboam II during the reigns of the four Judean kings mentioned. Perhaps Hosea omitted those six (as stated under “Date” in the Introduction) to point up the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty in Judah.