Hosea was probably a native and a subject of the Northern Kingdom, and ezercised his ministry during the turbulent reigns of the last six or seven of its kings—a period of about sixty years. The moral and religious condition of Israel was very corrupt. God and his Word were ignored; the kings and princes were murderers and profligates; idolatrous priests maintained their shameful rites in all parts of the country; the great political parties applied for help now from Assyria and then from Egypt.

It has been supposed that the domestic incidents referred to in the first three chapters are parabolic; but to hold this view is to miss the most moving lesson of the suffering which love, whether human or divine, is prepared to undergo, if only the lost can be found and the erring brought back to life and home.

‘Of the prophet Joel almost nothing is known. No details of his personal life have come down to us. Even the time when he lived is not known with certainty, though it seems probable that he was one of the first of the prophets. From the frequent references to Judah and Jerusalem it would appear that he was a prophet of the Southern Kingdom.

The general subject of his prophecy is divine judgment, or the Day of Jehovah. There is first a judgment

upon the Chosen People, inflicted through locusts. This is removed through fasting and intercession. A terrible day of final judgment embracing all nations is then described. The faithful will be rewarded while evil-doers will be punished. The fulfilment of one of Joel’s predictions by the scenes of the day of Pentecost, Acts 2: 17-21, has given his book a prominent place in Christian thought.

Amos was not a prophet or a prophet’s son, but a shepherd and husbandman, 7:14. He was conscious of an irresistible commission, 3:8; 7:15. To this he bore witness when Amaziah, the high priest of idolatry, charged him with conspiracy. God is sovereign and selects as his messengers whom he will. Tekoa, still known by that name, was situated on a noble elevation, six miles south of Bethlehem. From this Judaean village Amos was sent on a prophetic mission into the land of Israel. Under the rule of Jeroboam II the nation had reached the high tide of power and prosperity, but corruption and oppression prevailed.”

The style of this book is simple, picturesque, and striking. Its illustrations are borrowed from rural employments and breathe the fresh atmosphere of the country. The allusions to history, such as found in 9:7, as well as the power of consecutive thought here shown, prove that, despite the responsible duties of shepherd, Amos found time for mental as well as spiritual culture.