hoshea Summary and Overview

salvation. (1.) The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards called Joshua (Num. 13:8, 16; Deut. 32:44). (2.) 1 Chr. 27:20. The ruler of Ephraim in David's time. (3.) The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah (Isa. 7:16), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (2 Kings 17:1, 2). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to punish Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon, who besieged Samaria, and carried the ten tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:9-12). No more is heard of Hoshea. He disappeared like "foam upon the water" (Hos. 10:7; 13:11).

(salvation). 1. The nineteenth, last and best king of Israel. He succeeded Pekah, whom he slew in a successful conspiracy, thereby fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah. #Isa 7:16| In the third year of his reign (B.C. 726) Shalmaneser cruelly stormed the strong caves of Beth-arbel, #Ho 8:14| and made cruel tributary, #2Ki 17:3| for three years. At the end of this period Hoshea entered into a secret alliance with So, king, of Egypt, to throw off the Assyrian yoke. The alliance did him no good; it was revealed, to the court of Nineveh by the Assyrian party in Ephraim, and Hoshea was immediately seized as a rebellious vasal, shut up in prison, and apparently treated with the utmost indignity. #Mic 5:1| Of the subsequent fortunes of Hoshea nothing is known. 2. The son of Nun, i.e. Joshua, #De 32:44| and also in Numb 13:8 though to there the Authorized Version has OSHEA. 3. Shon of Azaziah, #1Ch 27:20| like his great namesake, a man of Ephraim, ruler of his tribe in the time of King David. (B.C. 1019.) 4. One of the heads of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. #Ne 10:23| (B.C. 410.)

HOSHE'A (God is help). 1. The same with Joshua, Deut 32:44. 2. The son of Elah, and the last and best of the kings of Israel. 2 Kgs 15:30. In the ninth year of his reign the Assyrian king, provoked by an attempt which Hoshea made to form an alliance with Egypt, and so throw off the Assyrian yoke, marched against Samaria, and after a siege of three years took it, and carried the people away into Assyria. 2 Kgs 17:1-6; Hos 13:16; Mic 1:6. 3. An Ephraimite chief, 1 Chr 27:20. 4. One who sealed the covenant, Neh 10:23. HOSPITALITY is the free (unremunerated) provision of lodging and board to a stranger. Our word "guest," in its original form, is the Sanscrit ghas, meaning "to eat." We come as strangers into this world, and are from our birth thrown upon the hospitality of our friends. God, too, regards us as his guests, and himself sets the most beautiful example of lavish and noble hospitality. Ps 5:7-8; Gen 23:5 ff. The joys of heaven, both in parable and vision, are pictured under the figure of a feast. The invitation is given to every one -- to the poor, indeed, rather than the rich. Luke 14:15 ff.; Rev 19:9. God's Son was in this respect his exhibition, for he fed the multitudes who waited upon his ministry not only with spiritual but with natural food. When, therefore, the N.T. writers enjoin hospitality upon believers, they are only calling upon them to do what God so constantly does. Rom 12:13; 1 Tim 3:2; 1 Tim 5:10; 1 Pet 4:9. In Heb 13:2 we are encouraged to the duty by the fact that some have entertained angels unawares, referring to Gen 18-19. The story of Abraham's treatment of his guests there related is a faithful description of an Oriental's conduct, and is illustrated by the hospitality of the Bedouins. For to-day, as in the hoary past, the sheikh sits in his tent to receive the passers-by; he rejoices to dispense his kindness; payment is refused; the host considers himself sufficiently repaid by the gratitude of his guest. The exercise of hospitality is commanded, Lev 19:33-34; Lev 25:14 ff.; Deut 15:7. Instances are given incidentally in the histories of Abraham, Lot, Jethro, Ex 2:20, Manoah, Jud 13:15, the old man of Gibeah, Jud 19:17 ff. By a study of these chapters an accurate understanding of the practice can be derived. The host was surety for the safety of his guest, even as to-day to have eaten salt, although accidentally, with a Bedouin is to have his protection. National hatred and fanaticism, however, occasionally suppressed this kindly feeling. Thus the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, John 4:9, and therefore the Samaritans refused to give our Lord lodgment, Luke 9:53. In the early Christian Church the command of universal brotherly love, Gal 6:10, was implicitly obeyed. Their readiness in discharging the duty of hospitality won the admiration of the heathen. "Believers scarcely ever travelled without letters of communion, which testified the purity of their faith and procured for them a favorable reception wherever the name of Jesus Christ was known." It was thought disgraceful for a Christian to be obliged to stop at an inn if there were Christians in the place. See Inn.

HOSHEA or Joshua. 1. Deuteronomy 32:44; Numbers 13:8. Oshea ("salvation"). JAH added makes it Joshua, i.e. Jehovah's salvation. 2. 1 Chronicles 27:20. 3. Nehemiah 10:23