Old Testament SurveyI Am Gomer, the Whore of Samaria: A Reflection on Hosea 1:1-3:5The Ministry of Hosea Happened between 780 and 725 BCE At this time, in the northern kingdom of Israel, God's people were prosperous but unfaithful (Tenney Vol. 3). It was a time of paganism, marital infidelity, and general disregard for God. Hosea's entire ministry was a reflection of Israel's unfaithfulness and the love that God still had for it. Israel was the metaphorical bride of God. She was unfaithful, but God constantly rebuked her and loved her. The message that Hosea was trying to convey to the people would have been delivered around the time of the Assyrian takeover. This reflects some of the warnings David had given Israel in the past (Ferreiro). Northern Israel would be captured by the Assyrians, an experience the Jews would have experienced somewhat. In Hosea 1-3, the theme of Israel being God's rebellious bride is introduced (Brisben). This is later paralleled in Hosea 11-14, where Israel is the rebellious son of God. The story begins with Hosea's marriage to Gomer, a well-known prostitute. God commanded Hosea to marry him, despite public opinion. This would have damaged his initial credibility as a prophet. Hosea and Gomer had a child named Jezreel. This would shock the Jews of the time because it would remind them of their defeat by the Philistines and was a warning of the impending massacre that would take place under the Assyrians. Their second child was named Lo Ruhamah, meaning unloved or merciless. No mercy was a warning of the severity of the punishment that would be inflicted under the Assyrians. Hosea's third child was named Lo Ammi, which does not mean mine. God commanded Hosea to name the third child Lo Ammi because “You are in the middle of paper......rch, Bruce C. Hosea, Joel and Amos. Louisville, KY: Westminster J. Knox, 1997. 116. Print. Brisben, David. “Lesson 25 Prophesying the Fall of the North.” PowerPoint presentation. WSC 224, Siloam Springs, AR. April 17, 2014. Calvin, John. Calvin's Commentaries Biblical Commentaries. Flight. 22. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Calvin Translation Society., 1989. 36-508. Print.Freedman, DN The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Flight. 3. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1992. 291-97. Print.Ferreiro, Alberto and Thomas C. Oden. The Ancient Christian Commentary on the Scriptures. Flight. 14. Downers Grove (Illinois): InterVarsity, 2003. 1-56. Print.Tenney, Merrill C. and Moisés Silva. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible. Flight. 2. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009. 810. Print. Tenney, Merrill C. and Moisés Silva. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible. Flight. 3. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2009. 221-28. Print.