the contents of his prophecies, so certainly as it is commonly supposed. Amos furnishes us with an example to prove that Jewish prophets sometimes prophesied in Israel, and concerning Israel. The pseudo Epiphanius, in his lives of the prophets, says he was born at Belemoth, in the tribe of Issachar. Dorotheus of Tyre confirms this statement. But they prove nothing. Maurer, judging from the analogy between Amos i. 1, and Hosea i. 1, concludes he was descended from Judah, and appeared as a prophet among the Ephraimites. But Credner and Hitzig disagree with him upon this point. It is said, in i. 1, that he prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam II., king of Israel.

But this statement is very incorrect. If he first appeared as a prophet in the last years of Jeroboam, and prophesied till the beginning of Hezekiah's reign, the time of his active life would extend to almost sixty years, which is quite too much. Hitzig thinks the first date, in the time of the kings of Judah, is spurious.

Jo. Henr. Manger, Comm. in Hos.; Campis, 1782, 4to.

Der Proph. Hosea aus der bibl. u. weltl. Historie erl. u. m. krit., phil. u. theol. Anmerkk. versehen von J. G. Schröer; 1782, 8vo.

Annotatt. hist. exeg. in Hos., auctore L. J. Uhland, pt. i.—xii.; Tüb. 1785 -1797, 4to.

Der Prophet Hos. erkl. von J. Chr. Vaupel; Dresd. 1793, 8vo.

F. J. V. Dom. Maurer, Observatt. in Hos., in Comment. theol. ed. Rosenmüller et Maurer, vol. ii. pt. ii.; Lips. 1827, p. 275.

Hoseas Propheta. Introductionem præmisit, vertit et commentatus est Joh. Christ. Stuck; Lips. 1828, 8vo.

Schröder, Die Propheten Hoschea, Joel, u. Amos; Lpz. 1829.

Translated by Struense, 1769; A. Fr. Pfeiffer, 1785; Kuinöl, 1789; Böckel, 1801; into English by Horsley, and Noyes, 1. c.

a

Pseudo Epiphanius, De Vitis Prophet. ch. xi. Dorotheus Tyr. De Prophetis, ch. i. Maurer, 1. c. p. 295, sqq. Credner, Joel, p. 66, sqq.· Hitzig, (1. c. p. 73,) to support his opinion, makes use of the passage, “our king," vii. 5; "the land," i. 2; and the fact that Judah is not mentioned in the promise, xiv. 2, sqq.

The prophecies of Hosea presuppose the kingdom of Israel to be in that condition in which we know it was under Jeroboam II. and his successors; that is, rent by factions at home, and threatened by dangers from

abroad."

§ 227.

CONTENTS OF THE PROPHECIES.

Hosea's prophetic zeal was excited by the kingdom of Ephraim. The corruption and distraction of the

a

Chap. 1. 4, refers plainly to 2 Kings xv. 10, and, therefore, belongs in the last time of Jeroboam II. So ii. 4, the prophecy of an interregnum after Jeroboam II., belongs in 785 B. C., though Hitzig refers it to the interregnum. Chap. vii. 7, and xiii. 11, refer to the same event; and the death of Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah, 2 Kings xv. 10, 24, (perhaps 25, 30) Chap. vii. 11, "They call upon Egypt, [but they shall] go to Assyria," and xii. 1, 2, refer to 2 Kings xvii. 4. Shalman, that is, Shalman-ezer, is mentioned, (x. 14 ;) yet the final catastrophe is not clear to the prophet. It lies in the obscurity of the future, as we see from the prophecies that were not fulfilled; for example, ix. 3, "To Ægypt shall Ephraim go back, and eat unclean things in Assyria;" verse 6, " Ægypt shall gather them; Memphis shall bring them;" and xi. 5.

It is probable he wrote chap. iv.-xiv. in the time of Hoshea, 731-722 B. C. But, according to Maurer, chap. i.-iii. ix. xii. 8, sqq., belong in the time of Jeroboam II., 825-784 B. C. Chap. iv. belongs in the first interregnum, 786-774 B. C.; chap. viii. in the time of Menahem, 771–761 B. C.; chap. v. and vi. in Pekah's time, 761-759 B. C.; chap. xiii. xiv. in the second interregnum, 739-730 B. C.; and vii. x.-xii. 7, in the time of Hoshea, 731-722. But most of these combinations are uncertain; the division into these portions is only effected with violence.

Knobel (p. 158, sqq.) makes Pekah's death (740 B. C.) the terminus a quo. Hitzig places chap. iv.-xiv. within this period. From the first interregnum till the reign of Menahem he sets Shalman aside entirely, while Knobel thinks he is mentioned as Tiglath-pileser's marshal. Chap. iv.—xiv. form a whole, in which the order of time cannot be determined. If the prophet lived under the last king, Hosea, his active life lasted but about fifty years; and this is not so very improbable.

See on Hosea's prophetic discourses in the Theol. Stud. und Krit. for 1831, p. 807. Stuck differs from the above, both in the division and in the references to the history of the times.

nation, their apostasy and approaching destruction, are the principal subjects of his discourse. Idolatry," and the meretricious desire of foreign alliances,' in particular excite his indignation. He likewise looks upon Judah with a threatening and chiding countenance, yet still with a preponderance of hope for her reformation and deliverance."

The book is divided into two parts, namely, chap. i. -iii. and chap. iv.—xiv. The former contains two symbolical actions, and their explanation: we are not, however, to suppose the actions were ever actually performed. The latter contains a prophetic discourse suited to punish and admonish. It is divided into several sections, with resting-places between them. Probably they were written down from memory, without reference to the order of time.

It is probable the second part is not to be divided into separate chapters, relating to different times, but that old and recent events are united in one picture of the times, with a visible progress from wrath and threatenings to compassion and promises. But the remark of Eichhorn is just: "The prophet followed his subject up to a certain point, until his heart was too deeply moved, or his enthusiasm had reached a certain height. He there stopped for a short time, and after a pause proceeded. In this case, the separate clauses and parts of the same discourse would naturally assume the form of short, independent discourses."

a

Chap. ii. 4-6, iv. 12, sqq., v. 1, sqq., viii. 4, sqq., ix. 10, x. 1, 5, xi. 2, xii. 12, xiii. 1.

1 Eichhorn's, Bertholdt's, and Maurer's divisions do not seem to be just

§ 228.

THEIR LITERARY CHARACTER.

Hosea relates his symbolical actions (i. iii.) in prose; but as soon as he gives free course to the emotions of his heart, he writes in rhythm. But as his style is abrupt, unrounded, and ebullient, so his rhythm is hard, leaping, and violent. Eichhorn says, "His discourse is like a garland woven up of the most manifold flowers; images are woven over images; similitude is wound upon similitude, and metaphor connected with metaphor. He breaks off one flower and throws it away, that he may likewise break off another. Like a bee, he flics from flower-bed to flower-bed, to suck his honey from the most various juices."

The language is peculiar and difficult. His thoughts disclose rather a warm and beating heart, than a mind that sees clearly and soars sublime. Yet in matters of religion and politics he discerns the truth. (vi. 4, sqq.,

and necessary. Hitzig adheres to the present division into chapters, but puts chap. iv. in the interregnum; chap. v. under Zechariah. He finds Zechariah's murder in vi. 8; Shallum on the throne, in vii. 3, 5; his murder, vii. 7; Menahem's elevation to the throne, ("They chose kings without me,”) viii. 4; the Assyrians, in verse 10, x. 4, xii. 2, and dependence upon them, xi. 5.

a

Jerome, Præf. ad XII. Proph.: Commaticus est et quasi per sententias loquens.

Eichhorn, § 555. Comp. the different images, v. 9, sqq., vi. 1, sqq., vii. 8, sqq., x. 11, sqq., xiii. 3, 7, 8, 13.

с

In respect to the connection: vii. 16, 3 ; ix. 8, by mpy; xiv. 3, onbeip bone mebu;-to the vocabulary : viii. 13, ; xiii. 5, bizanța ;

x. 2, ; xi. 7, 7; v. 13, x. 6, 7; xi. 4, the form, for 3. Hitzig finds a use of Amos in many passages of Hosea. This is most probable in viii. 14, (comp. Amos ii. 5;) less probable in iv. 3, (comp. Amos viii. 8,) and iv. 15, (comp. Amos v. 5.)

vii. 9.) He soon passes from indignation to reconciliation, and from threats to promises. (ii. 16, sqq., and xi. 8.) He is poor and unimaginative in his symbols.

§ 229.

THE COLLECTION OF HIS PROPHECIES.

Since the prophecies of the first part are the earliest; since the second part does not consist of separable portions, and contains a reproof which would apply to the whole period of corruption and misery, extending to the reign of Hosea, therefore we cannot reasonably doubt that this book, in its present form, and, perhaps, with its present inscription, proceeded from the hands of Hosea himself.

II. JOEL."

§ 230.

HIS LIFE AND TIMES.

Joel, the son of Pethuel, was a Jew, as we learn from

Joel cum Adnotatt. et Vers. trium Rabbinorum expositus per Gilb. Genebrardum; Par. 1563, 4to.

Joel explicatus, in quo Textus Ebr. variis Modis per Paraphrasin Chald., Masoram magn. et parv., perque trium præstantiss. Rabb., R. Sal. Jarchi, R. Aben Esræ, et R. Dav. Kimchi, Comm., nec non per Notas philol. illustratur, cui in Fine adjectus est Obadias eodem fere modo illustratus. Auctore Joa. Leusden; Ultraj. 1657.

Corn. Hasai Prophetia Joelis, Analysi et Positionibus theol.-philol. illustrata; Brem. 1697.

A Paraphrase and critical Commentary on the Prophecy of Joel. By Sam. Chandler; Lond. 1735, 4to.