Hosea

What this page covers

Where the songs go in Hosea

The 9 songs here set 4 of the 5 movements in Hosea to music: “Marry a Woman Who Will Leave You” (Hosea 1–3), “No Truth, nor Mercy, nor Knowledge” (Hosea 4–7), “When Israel Was a Child, I Loved Him” (Hosea 10–11) and “Take with You Words” (Hosea 12–14).

Marry a Woman Who Will Leave You (Hosea 1–3). A prophet is told to marry a promiscuous woman and to name their children Jezreel, Not Pitied and Not My People, so the nation has to say the words out loud every time it calls them in for supper.

When Israel Was a Child, I Loved Him (Hosea 10–11). The tone breaks.

Take with You Words (Hosea 12–14). Jacob wrestled and wept and came away with a new name, and his descendants have kept the wrestling and dropped the weeping.

Not in song here yet: “They Sow the Wind”.