Family Dynamics, Fertility Cults, and Feminist Critiques: The Reception of Hosea 1–3 through the Centuries

This article examines a number of contested and contentious issues in the reception Hosea 1–3, exploring how readers through centuries have engaged with interpretive challenges found initial chapters this prophetic text. These include (1) debates concerning whether marriage Gomer should be understood literally or figuratively; (2) questions identity woman chp. 3 relation to events 1; (3) proposals on understand metaphorical elements related Hosea’s Israel’s infidelity; (4) ethical, theological, rhetorical concerns raised by these chapters, including feminist critiques; (5) place Gomer’s children opening chapter book; (6) themes rhetoric 2, punishment wooing wife Israel; (7) role Hos 1–3 Jewish Christian liturgical traditions. study offers soundings from across historical, religious, traditions that give sense wide-ranging ways which book has been read centuries. In particular, it highlights while specific persisted years, underlying assumptions approaches shifted considerably various historical periods, turn led considerable diversity