Go to Related Reading
About this book

Hosea

About this book
Chapter 1

1 This is the Lord’s message that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the time of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the time of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, “Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the Lord.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. 4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel,⁠ and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.” 6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to him, “Name her ‘No Pity’ (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Israel. For I will certainly not forgive their guilt.⁠ 7 But I will have pity on the nation of Judah. I will deliver them by the Lord their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior’s bow, by sword, by military victory, by chariot horses, or by chariots.” 8 When she had weaned “No Pity” (Lo-Ruhamah), she conceived again and gave birth to another son. 9 Then the Lord said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi) because you are not my people and I am not your God.” 10 (2:1) “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘You are children of the living God!’ 11 Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!

Texts in conversation

Compare 2 Kings 10:11 and Hosea 1:4

Hebrew Bible

Share:

Summary

In 2 Kings 10, Jehu kills Ahab’s family on God’s orders. Hosea later condemns the same violence and announces that God will punish Jehu’s dynasty because of it.

Passages

2 Kings 10:11

Hebrew Bible
9 In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people, “You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men? 10 Therefore take note that not one of the Lord’s words which he pronounced against Ahab’s dynasty will fail to materialize. The Lord has done what he announced through his servant Elijah.” 11 Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel, and all his nobles, close friends, and priests. He left no survivors. 12 Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria. While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds,
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Kings

Hosea 1:4

Hebrew Bible
3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. 4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Name him ‘Jezreel,’ because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Hosea

References

“... Briefly, another example of diversity in the Bible over time is found in the story of King Jehu’s bloody coup in 2 Kings 9-10, a story from the days of the divided monarchy. In that definitely not-for-children’s story, Jehu is anointed by the prophet Elisha to hurry on to Jezreel and massacre the entire royal family of wicked king Ahab, including seventy of his sons. Thus began the dynasty of Jehu, and it all happened according to the word of the LORD that he spoke to Elijah earlier in 2 Kings 10:17. But another prophet, Hosea, seems to have taken issue with this coup—or better, according to Hosea, God takes issue with it. In a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:4-5) So, which is it? How does God feel about Jehu’s coup? It depends on which book of the Bible you’re reading. These two authors give polar opposite perspectives on Jehu’s act. ...”
Peter Enns, How the Bible Actually Works (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2019), 80.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Tags

Your feedback

2 Kings 10:11 and Hosea 1:4

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library