By marrying a harlot, and by the names of his children, the prophet sets
forth the crimes of Israel and their punishment. He foretells their
redemption by Christ.
1:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Osee, the son of Beeri, in the
days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda, and in the
days of Jeroboam, the son of Joas, king of Israel.
1:2. The beginning of the Lord's speaking by Osee: and the Lord said to
Osee: Go, take thee a wife of fornications, and have of her children of
fornications: for the land by fornication shall depart from the Lord.
A wife of fornications... That is, a wife that has been given to
fornication. This was to represent the Lord's proceedings with his
people Israel, who, by spiritual fornication, were continually offending
him.-Ibid. Children of fornications... So called from the character of
their mother, if not also from their own wicked dispositions.
1:3. So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Debelaim: and she
conceived, and bore him a son.
1:4. And the Lord said to him: Call his name Jezrahel: for yet a little
while, and I will visit the blood of Jezrahel upon the house of Jehu,
and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
1:5. And in that day I will break in pieces the bow of Israel in the
valley of Jezrahel.
1:6. And she conceived again, and bore a daughter, and he said to him:
Call her name, Without mercy: for I will not add any more to have mercy
on the house of Israel, but I will utterly forget them.
Without mercy... Lo-Ruhamah.
1:7. And I will have mercy on the house of Juda, and I will save them by
the Lord, their God: and I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor
by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen.
1:8. And she weaned her that was called Without mercy. And she
conceived, and bore a son.
1:9. And he said: Call his name, Not my people: for you are not my
people, and I will not be yours.
Not my people... Lo-ammi.
1:10. And the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of
the sea, that is without measure, and shall not be numbered. And it
shall be in the place where it shall be said to them: You are not my
people: it shall be said to them: Ye are the sons of the living God.
The number, etc... Viz., of the true Israelites, the children of the
church of Christ.
1:11. And the children of Juda, and the children of Israel, shall be
gathered together: and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall
come up out of the land: for great is the day of Jezrahel.
One head... viz., Christ.-Ibid. Great is the day of Jezrahel... That is,
of the seed of God; for Jezrahel signifies the seed of God.