Hosea’s ministry took place during the Divided Kingdom, under the reign of Jeroboam II in 2 Kings.

Ephraim is another term for Israel. The name means fruitful. It is a bit of irony to call the rebellious nation by this name.

When Jeroboam took the ten tribes away from Jerusalem and the temple, he established two golden calves in Israel and said, “These are your gods that brought you out of Egypt.” This error led the Kingdom of Israel into a downward spiral that led to full Baal worship and self-destruction.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24-29 is a familiar cautionary tale, even today. The story reminds us what can happen to people who turn from God and hurt others. What we often forget is that there were two other cities in the same plain that were also destroyed. The words Admah and Zeboiim, for Hosea’s listeners, would strike the same horror as Sodom and Gomorrah do for us.

Admah and Zeboiim were wiped out as consequences of their actions. This is the trajectory that Israel is on and to which Hosea speaks.

Israel is flanked by two Empires. Egypt is to the west and Assyria is to the east. These cardinal directions are important to remember.

These Empires clashed repeatedly and the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah were the battle field. Israel and Judah were constantly tempted to either make war or seek unholy alliances with the Empires. It was a violent and turbulent time.

It is into this context that the prophet Hosea speaks to the Kingdom of Israel, to Ephraim, God’s son.