When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife inclined to infidelity, and children of infidelity; for the land commits flagrant infidelity, abandoning the Lord.”

Restoration of Israel

“Therefore, behold, I am going to persuade her, Bring her into the wilderness, And speak kindly to her.

Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they have spoken lies against Me.

They speak mere words, With worthless oaths they make covenants; And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. He found Him at Bethel, And there He spoke with us,

I have also spoken to the prophets, And I provided many visions, And through the prophets I spoke in parables.

Ephraim’s Idolatry

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he incurred guilt and died.