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Hosea was a contemporary of Amos whose ministry of prophecy lasted around 40 years, beginning during the reign of King Jeroboam II and ending during Hezekiah\u2019s reign, who Judah\u2019s next king in our chronological reading. Like Amos, Hosea spoke to the nation of Israel, often referenced as \u201cEphraim\u201d in this book, under a time of lavish wealth and disparate poverty. Israel was being unfaithful to their God, and like the unfaithful nation the Lord has committed himself to love, Hosea is commanded to marry an unfaithful woman. Hosea\u2019s pursuit of his unfaithful wife serves a parallel to God\u2019s pursuit of unfaithful Israel, who loves foreign gods and decadent foods like raisin cakes more than the God of Israel.