The first of the Twelve Minor Prophets who prophesied for the most part in the Kingdom of Israel. The Book of Hosea contains two parts, the first of which concerns the prophet's own family. The second part, which begins with the fourth chapter, contains prophecies on the crimes of Israel, their forewarned punishment, and the redemption to come. His prophecies are distinguished by their rich poetic language, which include similes and images from the life of nature and work in the field. The relationship of God to the people of Israel is compared with that of a loving husband to a wife who is unfaithful to him. Idolatry is for Hosea a kind of prostitution and is at the source of all the sins of society, including drunkenness, injustice, slavery, and other crimes.
The central emphasis in Hosea's teaching is that God is a God of love who is ready to forgive the sinner and restore Israel to the binding conditions of a covenant of faithfulness and permanency.
