Answer: Israel
Israel, the Northern Kingdom of the Jews. Judah was the Southern Kingdom. While Hosea occasionally compares Judah's faithfulness favourably to that of Israel, Judah is also not guiltless.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: Gomer
Hosea 1:3 "So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son."
The name Gomer means "complete enough" or "burning coal".
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: Jezreel
Jezreel means "God plants", while Lo-Ammi means "not my people", and Lo-Ruhamah means "not pitied". These three were all names of his children.
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: The relationship of God to Israel
As Hosea was a husband to Gomer, and cherished her,
so God was a husband to Israel, and cherished her.
As Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea,
so Israel had been unfaithful to God.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: Loammi
Hosea 1:9 "Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God."
Loammi means "not my people." His name is symbolic of the Israelites' relationship with God during the time.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: They were blaming others, while they had no right to, and they were no longer concerned with doing God's work.
He said they would be punished because "No one should accuse or blame another person." (Hosea 4:4)
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: No mercy
This is not the eternally loving God so popular in modern Christianity.
Consider Hosea 13:16 -
"Samaria is held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God.
They shall fall by the sword,
Their infants shall be dashed in pieces,
And their women with child ripped open."
This is God betrayed, angry and hurt; God out for vengeance.
Hosea was the final warning, the last chance prophet for Israel to mend their (spiritually) adulterous ways.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: backsliding
Hosea 4:16 "For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place."
Backsliding occurs when a person knows what they should do, and they have been doing it and then suddenly they stop. For example, a child may be potty trained and for months or even years they are going on the potty with no problem -- and then suddenly they start going in their pants again. In the case of the Israelites, they knew what God wanted and they were doing it, and then they once again started to live a life that God did not approve of.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: Idols
"My people ask wooden idols for advice; they ask those sticks of wood to advise them!" (Hosea 4:12)
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: Not my people
It is an angry God who names a child 'Not my people', for the sake of delivering a warning. Nonetheless, Hosea also contains promises of redemption and reconciliation as well as the predominant warnings, threats and promises of punishment for sin.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: Gibeah
Hosea 5:8 "Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin."
The name Gibeah means "a hill". Sometimes it is also spelled Gibeath.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: Stubborn
He compared Israel to a "stubborn calf".
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: Assyrians
In Hosea 11:5 the prophet specifically identifies Assyria as ruling over Israel; this in spite of the fact that during his ministry Israel was making friendly overtures toward Assyria, and promising to pay tribute. Assyria conquered Israel as prophesied, the fall of the city of Samaria in 722 B.C. bringing to an end the existence of the Northern Kingdom. In little more than a generation later, Judah would follow when Babylon conquered Jerusalem.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: Gilead
Hosea 6:8 "Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood."
Gilead in Hebrew is Gil'ad and the name means "raw" or "rugged".
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: Lion
He said he would "attack them and tear them to pieces. I will drag them off, and no one will be able to save them."
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: He bought her
"So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley." (Hosea 3:2) I am inclined to believe that the woman referred to is Gomer, who had left Hosea and moved in with a lover. This is a matter of some debate, but does not impact on the answer to the question as asked. If this is in fact Gomer, then this action illustrates God repeatedly taking Israel back, even after she has been unfaithful to Him by committing idolatry.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: Betharbel
Hosea 10:14 "Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children."
Betharbel was where a battle took place, which is why Hosea uses it as an example. While the Israelites knew all about this battle, all we know now is that one took place.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: Dove
Hosea 7:11: "Israel has become like a dove (or pigeon)- easy to fool and stupid. First they run to Egypt for help. Then they run to Assyria."
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: Judah
Hosea 11:12 "Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints."
Judah is one of the 12 tribes and the name means "Praise Yahweh".
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: its root is dying, and it has no fruit.
The verse finishes off with "If they have more children, I will kill the children they love."
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: Assyria and Egypt
The verse refers to 'Ephraim', but this still means 'Israel' in the sense of the Northern Kingdom. Historically, the king Hoshea first tried to appease Assyria by paying tribute to Shalmaneser. Later, Hoshea rebelled against Assyrian dominance, stopped paying the tribute, and tried to recruit Egypt to join Israel in resisting Assyria. This history is recorded briefly in 2 Kings 17:1-6.
P.S. If the similarity between 'Hoshea' and 'Hosea' interests you, Hoshea the king was the son of Elah; while Hosea the prophet was the son of Beeri.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Hosea
Answer: lion and leopard
Hosea 13:7 "Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them."
God has sent a warning to the people of Ephraim because they have turned their backs on God.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: Jacob
"Your ancestor Jacob fled to Northwest Mesopotamia where he worked to get a wife; he tended sheep to pay for her."
From Quiz: Hosea: The 28th Book
Answer: Israel and Lebanon
Hosea 14:5 "will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon."
This verse says that God will rule Israel and make it flourish just like he has made Mount Lebanon near Palestine flourish.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
Answer: therein
Hosea 14:9 "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."
I hope you enjoyed this quiz. The next one will be on the book of Joel.
From Quiz: The Minor Prophet Hosea
