Hosea marries a harlot and makes children

HOSEA MARRIES A HARLOT AND MAKES CHILDREN

Introduction

Hosea, the son of Beeri, was a prophet during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah and during the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel. His work and marriage was a manifestation of the relationship between Israel and God. 

Hosea marries

God told Hosea to marry a harlot and have children with her because the land of Israel has committed harlotry by worshipping other gods. Hosea went to marry Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim.

His wife got pregnant and gave birth to a son and God instructed him to name the child, Jezreel. This was to symbolize the punishment God was going to visit on Jehu for the blood of Jezreel. It also symbolizes the destruction which was about to be visited on the kingdom of Israel.

Then Hosea went in into his wife and she got pregnant again and bore a daughter. God told Hosea to call the child ‘Not pitied’ to symbolize that he was no more going to have pity on Israel. God said he would not forgive Israel. But He said he would forgive Judah.

For the third time, Gomer got pregnant and had another son. God instructed that the child be named ‘Not my people’. This was to indicate that God had rejected Israel from being His people and that He was no longer their God.

WAYS IN WHICH NAMES ARE SIGNIFICANT IN OUR SOCIETY

1. The names that are given to children indicate the circumstances surrounding the birth.

2. Names point to the position or the titles held by the parents of the child at the time of the birth.

3. Names point to the desire of parents for their children, for example, what they want the child to become in the future.

4. Sometimes names are given to children in remembrance of the ancestors of the child.

5. Among some tribes, the name given to a child determines the position of the child in the family.

6. Names commemorate important events in the family of the child.

7. Names give tribal, ethnic and religious identity to the child.

SAMPLE QUESTION

1. a. Mention the names of Hosea’s children and explain the meaning of these names.

    b. In what three ways are names significant in your society?

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