A Quick Look at Baal

I don't want to go into too much detail here, but just enough to get an idea of what the Israelites were doing with reference to their worshipping of Baal. The name Baal basically means lord, which explains the importance they placed upon Baal. Baal was seen as a god of weather and fertility, both of which were very important at the time (and are still both important). Hosea 2:5 indicates that the people considered important things such as food, water, wool and linen as coming from Baal. Israel was tempted by the rites and rituals, the titles of those conducting the rituals, the shrines, the focus on earthly idols and treasures, etc... In addition to the sins of idolatry, they were also involved with rituals that included cultic tattoos, self-laceration and forms of ritualistic prostitution. The worst part is that the Israelites didn't see the differences between Jehovah and Baal. In fact, many considered themselves worshippers of both and didn't understand (or perhaps some did) that it was impossible to truly follow both at the same time. Often people would actually carry small idols, such as the one pictured, with them everywhere they went.

The Book of Hosea: Chapter 2 Metaphors

Here are some explanations of some of the metaphors used in chapter 2. These explanations come from the LDS institute Old Testament manual.

v1) Ammi is "my people"

v1) Ruhamah is "having obtained mercy" or "those who have obtained mercy"

v2) your mother is the nation of Israel

v3) wilderness is the captivity of Israel

v5) lovers are the priests, priestesses and idols of the Canaanite temples or any one person that someone loves more than God

v5-9,13) bread, corn, wool and jewels are worldly valuables and treasures

v9-10) her nakedness and her lewdness refers to Israel's sin

v11-14) allure her means that Jehovah still cares for Israel and will try to win her back

v15) Valley of Achor, near Jericho means the Lord will restore Israel to great blessings

v16) Ishi is Hebrew for "my husband" eventually Israel will accept God as her Lord and Savior

v16) Baali is Hebrew for "my master"

v19-20) betroth thee unto me forever means the fullness of the new and everlasting covenant will be restored to Israel in the last days and eternal blessings will result from Israel's faithful marriage to Jehovah

v22) Jezreel means "God will sow" or "God will scatter"

I think it is important to note that Israel will eventually see the error of their ways and the Lord will take her back. This has already begun to be fulfilled. I think it is also important to note in 2:14 where Jesus says "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her". I think this is good insight into how Jesus feels about us. Adultery was one of the few justifiable reasons for divorce. However, Jesus did not divorce Israel. It's possible for us to sin, be horrible people and even betray him significantly, and he won't give up on us. He'll still love us and try to help us.

Introduction to Hosea

In the KJV of the Bible Hosea is the first minor prophet. The name 'Hosea' means "help", "deliverance" or "salvation". He lived in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and most likely ministered there between the years of 755 BC to 725 BC. Since I like to compare times in the Bible to Book of Mormon times, this would be about 125 to 155 years before Lehi left Jerusalem. He was a prophet "in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel". Hosea was a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos and Micah. During this time the Israelites were greatly influenced by the ways the Canaanites were worshipping their gods and goddesses. Many of the rites and rituals were lewd and immoral, and all were forms of idolatry. Some were involving fertility rituals. Israel covenanted with God on Sinai to become a righteous people so His anger is understandable as Israel was seeking after other gods and goddesses. All throughout the scriptures the Lord uses a marriage to describe His relationship with Israel. He is the bridegroom and Israel is the bride. Just as an unfaithful bride commits adultery with a person other than her husband, Israel committed adultery by choosing other gods. 

Bruce R. McConkie said "In a spiritual sense, to emphasize how serious it is, the damning sin of idolatry is called adultery. When the Lord's people forsake Him and worship false gods, their infidelity to Jehovah is described as whoredoms and adultery. By forsaking the Lord, His people are unfaithful to their covenant vows, vows made to Him who symbolically is their Husband" (Mormon Doctrine, pg. 25). 

Israel was in this wicked state during the life of Hosea. Baal was worshipped more than Jehovah and the religious rites and rituals were immoral and sometimes even murderous. Hosea delivered his message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Ironically, it wasn't until after the fall of Samaria (the Northern Capital) that Hosea's prophesies were transcribed to scrolls and considered prophecy.