This document provides an overview of the book of Hosea in the Bible. It is divided into sections that mirror the structure of Hosea. The main themes are Israel's unfaithfulness to God through spiritual prostitution and empty sacrifices. Various places mentioned in Hosea are defined, most located in northern Israel and linked to Israel's history of idolatry and rebellion against God.

1. HOSEA
Day 4

2. A 1:1 – 3:5 A wayward wife
B 4:1 – 5:7 Spiritual prostitution
C 5:8 – 6:11a political corruption;
empty sacrifices
D 6:11b – 7:16 Israel has not
returned to God
C’ 8:1 – 9:7b political corruption;
empty sacrifices
B’ 9:7c – 10:15 Spiritual prostitution
A’ 11:1 – 14:10 A wayward son

3. hesed = steadfast love,
loving-kindness, mercy,
love, loyalty

4. Places in Hosea

5. Jezreel
= strategic valley in
northern Israel
Hosea 1:4–5,11; 2:22
cf 2 Kings 9:1 – 10:17

6. Gilgal – possibly in the
Jordan valley near Jericho
Hosea 4:15 (also 9:15; 12:11)

7. Beth-Aven
House of wickedness
Bethel
House of God
Hosea 4:15 (also 5:8; 10:8(?),15; 12:4)

8. Do not enter into Gilgal,
or go up to Beth-Aven,
and do not swear, ‘As YHWH lives.’
Hosea 4:15

9. Mizpah
– in Gilead or Benjamin
Hosea 5:1

10. Tabor
= mountain in Jezreel area
Hosea 5:1 cf Judges 4:6

11. Both locations of
slaughter of rebels?

12. Shittim
in Transjordan
Hosea 5:2

13. Gibeah
– border area of Benjamin
Hosea 5:8 (also 9:9)

14. Hosea 5:8
Ramah
– border area of Benjamin

15. Beth-Aven (Bethel)
Hosea 5:8 (also 4:15; 10:8(?),15; 12:4)

16. Syro-Ephraimitic War
(735–722 BC)

17. Alliance of Pekah (Israel)
and Rezin (Aram)
and others
2 Kings 15:27–31; 16:5 – 17:1

18. Ahaz (Judah) helped by
Tiglath-Pileser III (Assyria)

19. at Adam
= place on the Jordan
south of Jericho?
Hosea 6:7 (cf Joshua 3:16)

20. OR like Adam?
(cf Genesis 3)

21. Gilead
= Ramoth-Gilead in
Transjordan
Hosea 6:8 (also 12:11)
cf 2 Kings 9:1–13 OR 2 Kings 15:25

22. Shechem
Hosea 6:9 (cf Genesis 12:6–7; 1 Kings 4, 12)

23. Memphis
= major city in Egypt
Hosea 9:6

24. Gibeah
Hosea 9:9 (also 5:8; 9:9; 10:9)
cf Judges 19 – 21

25. Baal-Peor
= in Moab; scene of
idolatry in wilderness
Hosea 9:10
cf Numbers 25; Psalm 106

26. Gilgal
Hosea 9:15 (also 4:15; 12:11)
cf 1 Sam 11:12–15 ?

27. Beth-arbel

28. Admah and Zeboiim
Hosea 11:8
cf Genesis 19:1

29. Bethel
Hosea 12:4 (also 4:15; 5:8; 10:15)
cf Genesis 25:21–26; 28:10–22; 32:22–32

30. Gilead
Hosea 12:11 (also 6:8)

31. Gilgal
Hosea 12:11 (also 4:15; 9:15)
(note that 12:11 explains the reference in 4:15)

32. Aram = Syria
Hosea 12:12