With Hosea’s story we begin the study of the 12 books commonly referred to as the Minor Prophets. They are “minor,” not because they are insignificant, but because their books are short compared to the Major Prophets. Hosea was a prophet to the 10 northern tribes called Israel.

His contemporaries were Amos, Isaiah, Jonah, and Micah. Hosea’s was a pathetic, tragic life. In fact, few men in Scripture inspire such pity as Hosea. His book falls neatly into two parts: personal—a narrative of his life with an adulterous wife, and national—a series of sermons declaring God’s holiness, justice, and love to an adulterous people.