The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel. The Family of Hosea. When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.’ So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. (Hosea 1: 1-3)

It is early in the 8th Century before Christ. The southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel have been separated for over two hundred years.

In Israel it is a period of considerable prosperity and peace. The Assyrian Empire, to the North and East, is languishing under weak rulers. In Egypt the 23rd Dynasty is engaged in a quarter-century long civil war. Jeroboam is the 14th King of Israel and will reign for forty-one years.

Hosea is a contemporary of Isaiah. Isaiah is focused on Judah. Hosea is a native of Israel and directs his prophecy at the elite of the northern kingdom.

Hosea is directed to marry a daughter of zanuwn - harlotry, whoredom, adultery - also meaning over fed, self-indulgent, and a sensual glutton.

The marriage can be seen as symbolizing God's own marriage to the whore Israel. Hosea marries Gomer, a well known prostitute. Her name can mean complete failure or final perfection.