HOSEA by John Gill Thou hast given a standard to them that fear thee; that it may be displayed because of the truth — Psalm 60:4 INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA This book, in the Hebrew Bibles, at least in some copies, is called “Sopher Hosea”, the Book of Hoses; and, in the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions, “the Prophecy of Hoses”: and, in the Syriac version, “the Prophecy of Hoses the Prophet”. It is the first of the twelve lesser prophets, so called, not because they were of less value, credit, and authority, than the other prophets; but because of their smallness in bulk; and which, as Kimchi says, upon the authority of their Rabbins, were put together in one book, that no one of them might be lost, because of their smallness; and Josephus f1 reckons them but as one book; and they are quoted in the New Testament under the name of the Book of the Prophets f2 . This prophet was one of them, and therefore placed here; though, as Kimchi, in his preface to this book, and R. David Ganz f3 , observe, his prophecy was before the prophecy of Isaiah; and yet he was not the first of these minor prophets, as to order of time; not only Jonah, but Joel and Amos, were before him; and so they are placed by some writers; according to Mr. Whiston f4 , he began to prophesy about the year of the world 3196 A.M. and 808 B.C. Mr.

Bedford places him in 804 B.C. His name is the same with Joshua and Jesus, and signifies a saviour; and he was not only, as all the true prophets of the Lord and faithful ministers of the word are, the means and instruments in the hand of God of saving people; but he was a type of Christ the Saviour, as well as prophesied concerning him, and salvation by him. Of his parentage, and the time of his prophesying, (see Hosea 1:1), by which it appears that he lived in several reigns, and to a very great age.