תְּחִלַּ֥ת דִּבֶּר־יְהוָ֖ה בְּהוֹשֵׁ֑עַ (פ) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־הוֹשֵׁ֗עַ לֵ֣ךְ קַח־לְךָ֞ אֵ֤שֶׁת זְנוּנִים֙ וְיַלְדֵ֣י זְנוּנִ֔ים כִּֽי־זָנֹ֤ה תִזְנֶה֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵֽאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָֽה׃
Noong unang magsalita ang Walang-Hanggan kay Oseas, sinabi ng Walang-Hanggan kay Oseas: “Humayo ka, kumuha ka ng asawang babaeng mapakiapid at magkaroon ng mga anak ng pakikiapid, sapagkat ang lupain ay lubhang nakikiapid, tumatalikod sa pagsunod sa Walang-Hanggan.”
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Fol. 14b) Our Rabbis were taught: The order of the prophets is as follows: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and the twelve Prophets. Let us see: Hosea (of the twelve Prophets), was indeed before Isaiah, for it is written (Hosea 1, 2) The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. Is it a fact that the words of the Lord were first by Hosea? Behold! There were many prophets from the days of Moses until Hosea? And R. Jochanan explained that it meant he was the first of the four prophets who prophesied at that period; viz.: Hosea, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah. If so, then why is he not placed before [in the order]? Because his book is arranged among Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, who [on account of being [the last of the prophets [were arranged the last]; therefore, this book is placed together with theirs. But why was the book of Hosea not separated, and placed first? Because it is small, and if it were placed first it might become lost. However, was not Isaiah before Jeremiah and Ezekiel? Why is he then not placed first? Because Kings ends with the destruction of the Temple, and the whole book of Jeremiah speaks of the destruction, and that of Ezekiel at the beginning speaks of the destruction and at the end of the consolation, while Isaiah's entire book speaks of consolation. We place [the records of] destruction [next] to that of destruction, and that of consolation next to consolation.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“It will be that instead of it being said of them: [You are not My people, it will be said of them: Children of the living God]” (Hosea 2:1). Where was it said of them?35Where was it said, “You are not My people.” When they performed that action,36The making of the Golden Calf. the Holy One blessed be He called them Moses’ people, as it is stated: “Go, descend, as your people have become corrupted” (Exodus 32:7). Immediately, Moses girded his loins in prayer, as it is stated: “Moses implored the Lord his God…” (Exodus 32:11). This is analogous to a king who saw his wife kissing a eunuch.37One of the king’s servants. He said to her attendant: ‘I am divorcing her, I am casting her out of my house. Let her go to her father’s house.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because I found her kissing a eunuch.’ He said to him: ‘Now she will produce for you fine and mighty sons, and they will descend with you to war.’38The attendant suggests that sons begat by the eunuch will be soldiers for the king. [The king responded] ‘There is no expectation from him, he will not beget for me.’ [The attendant said:] ‘Are you angry over a matter that does not involve any benefit?’ So, “Lord, why will your wrath be enflamed against Your people…” (Exodus 32:11). Moses said to him: ‘The calf that Israel crafted, does it assist You? Does it cause rains to fall and You produce the dews?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Is there any expectation from it?’ Moses said to Him: ‘If it has no substance, why are You angry?’ “Lord, why will your wrath be enflamed against Your people…Why will [Egypt] say…Remember Abraham…” (Exodus 32:11–13). What is written thereafter? “The Lord reconsidered the evil [that He had spoken to do to His people]” (Exodus 32:14). That is, “it will be that instead of it being said of them: [You are not My people, it will be said of them: Children of the living God].”
Another matter, “it will be that instead…” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: What is written before the matter? “Go, take for yourself a wife of licentiousness…He went and took Gomer, …and she conceived and bore him a son” (Hosea 1:2–3), and the entire matter.39Consider the whole episode of Gomer, which is found in Hosea. “Call his name Not My People, as you are not My people” (Hosea 1:9), and then, “it will be that instead of it being said of them: [You are not My people, it will be said of them: Children of the living God]” (Hosea 2:1). If, when He was angry at them, He was so fond of them; when he loves them, all the more so. To what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who became angry at his wife. He said: ‘I am divorcing her and I will not have mercy on her children. She is not my wife and I am not her husband.’ He went down to the marketplace and went to the goldsmith. He said to him: ‘Craft gold jewelry for my wife.’ His friend went and found him at the goldsmith who had crafted jewelry for his wife. He went and told her neighbors: ‘Have you not heard that the king is quarreling with his wife and he is saying in her regard: I am divorcing her? Now, I saw him at the goldsmith saying to him: Craft jewelry for my wife.’ So, when the Holy One blessed be He became angry with Israel, He said to Hosea: “Take for yourself a wife of licentiousness…”; I will not seek her, “the land will stray…” (Hosea 1:2); I will have no mercy upon her, “call her name No Mercy” (Hosea 1:6); she is not Mine and I am not hers, “as you are not My people and I will not be yours” (Hosea 1:9). Hosea said to the nations of the world: ‘What do you think? Because He said to them these matters, “as you are not My people,” that He is angry at them? See what He says to them. What is written thereafter? “It will be that instead of it being said of them: [You are not My people, it will be said of them: Children of the living God].”’
Likewise, Isaiah says: “Hear, heavens and listen, earth, [as the Lord has spoken: I have reared children and raised them up and they have rebelled against Me]” (Isaiah 1:2), “Woe, sinful nation” (Isaiah 1:4). What is written thereafter? “Let us go now and reason together, [says the Lord; if your sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened as snow; if they will be reddened like crimson, they will be like wool]”40Undyed wool, which is white. (Isaiah 1:18). “Wash, purify…[cease performing evil” (Isaiah 1:16). To what is this matter comparable? It is to the son of a king to whom his father said: ‘Go to school.’ He went to the marketplace and he began playing with the lads. His father knew that he had not gone to school. He cursed him and sounded words of reprimand. Then he said to him: ‘Wash your hands and come dine with me.’ So, Isaiah said: “I have reared children…[and they have rebelled against Me].” When he concludes the entire matter, what does he say: “Let us go now and reason together, [says the Lord; if your sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened as snow; if they will be reddened like crimson, they will be like wool].”
Likewise Jeremiah, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “What do you see, Jeremiah? I said: [I see] a branch of an almond tree” (Jeremiah 1:11), “a steaming pot…from the north evil will be released” (Jeremiah 1:13–14). What is written thereafter? “Go, and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: [So said the Lord: I have remembered for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials]… Israel is sacred [to the Lord…]” (Jeremiah 2:2–3). This is analogous to a king who took a wife. He would say there is none fairer than she, there is none more praiseworthy than she, there is none more level-headed than she. Her attendant entered the house and saw her repulsive, the house untidy, the beds unmade. Her attendant said: ‘If only you would have heard how your husband has praised you in the marketplace. That praise is not consistent with these actions.’ The attendant said: ‘If when she is repulsive he praises her so, were she proper, all the more so.’ So, Jeremiah’s generation were sinners, and he says to them: “I have remembered for you the kindness of your youth…” (Jeremiah 2:2). Jeremiah said: ‘If only you would hear what He is saying about you: “Go, and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: So said the Lord: I have remembered for you the kindness of your youth…Israel is sacred [to the Lord].”’ He said: ‘If when they are sinning so, He is fond of them, when they are performing His will, all the more so.’ Here, too, “you are not My people…” What is written thereafter? “It will be that instead […it will be said of them: Children of the living God]” (Hosea 2:1).
Another matter, “it will be that instead…” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: What is written before the matter? “Go, take for yourself a wife of licentiousness…He went and took Gomer, …and she conceived and bore him a son” (Hosea 1:2–3), and the entire matter.39Consider the whole episode of Gomer, which is found in Hosea. “Call his name Not My People, as you are not My people” (Hosea 1:9), and then, “it will be that instead of it being said of them: [You are not My people, it will be said of them: Children of the living God]” (Hosea 2:1). If, when He was angry at them, He was so fond of them; when he loves them, all the more so. To what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who became angry at his wife. He said: ‘I am divorcing her and I will not have mercy on her children. She is not my wife and I am not her husband.’ He went down to the marketplace and went to the goldsmith. He said to him: ‘Craft gold jewelry for my wife.’ His friend went and found him at the goldsmith who had crafted jewelry for his wife. He went and told her neighbors: ‘Have you not heard that the king is quarreling with his wife and he is saying in her regard: I am divorcing her? Now, I saw him at the goldsmith saying to him: Craft jewelry for my wife.’ So, when the Holy One blessed be He became angry with Israel, He said to Hosea: “Take for yourself a wife of licentiousness…”; I will not seek her, “the land will stray…” (Hosea 1:2); I will have no mercy upon her, “call her name No Mercy” (Hosea 1:6); she is not Mine and I am not hers, “as you are not My people and I will not be yours” (Hosea 1:9). Hosea said to the nations of the world: ‘What do you think? Because He said to them these matters, “as you are not My people,” that He is angry at them? See what He says to them. What is written thereafter? “It will be that instead of it being said of them: [You are not My people, it will be said of them: Children of the living God].”’
Likewise, Isaiah says: “Hear, heavens and listen, earth, [as the Lord has spoken: I have reared children and raised them up and they have rebelled against Me]” (Isaiah 1:2), “Woe, sinful nation” (Isaiah 1:4). What is written thereafter? “Let us go now and reason together, [says the Lord; if your sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened as snow; if they will be reddened like crimson, they will be like wool]”40Undyed wool, which is white. (Isaiah 1:18). “Wash, purify…[cease performing evil” (Isaiah 1:16). To what is this matter comparable? It is to the son of a king to whom his father said: ‘Go to school.’ He went to the marketplace and he began playing with the lads. His father knew that he had not gone to school. He cursed him and sounded words of reprimand. Then he said to him: ‘Wash your hands and come dine with me.’ So, Isaiah said: “I have reared children…[and they have rebelled against Me].” When he concludes the entire matter, what does he say: “Let us go now and reason together, [says the Lord; if your sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened as snow; if they will be reddened like crimson, they will be like wool].”
Likewise Jeremiah, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “What do you see, Jeremiah? I said: [I see] a branch of an almond tree” (Jeremiah 1:11), “a steaming pot…from the north evil will be released” (Jeremiah 1:13–14). What is written thereafter? “Go, and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: [So said the Lord: I have remembered for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials]… Israel is sacred [to the Lord…]” (Jeremiah 2:2–3). This is analogous to a king who took a wife. He would say there is none fairer than she, there is none more praiseworthy than she, there is none more level-headed than she. Her attendant entered the house and saw her repulsive, the house untidy, the beds unmade. Her attendant said: ‘If only you would have heard how your husband has praised you in the marketplace. That praise is not consistent with these actions.’ The attendant said: ‘If when she is repulsive he praises her so, were she proper, all the more so.’ So, Jeremiah’s generation were sinners, and he says to them: “I have remembered for you the kindness of your youth…” (Jeremiah 2:2). Jeremiah said: ‘If only you would hear what He is saying about you: “Go, and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: So said the Lord: I have remembered for you the kindness of your youth…Israel is sacred [to the Lord].”’ He said: ‘If when they are sinning so, He is fond of them, when they are performing His will, all the more so.’ Here, too, “you are not My people…” What is written thereafter? “It will be that instead […it will be said of them: Children of the living God]” (Hosea 2:1).
Bereshit Rabbah
“It was when Israel dwelled in that land that Reuben went and lay with Bilha, his father's concubine, and Israel heard. The sons of Jacob were twelve” (Genesis 35:22).
“It was when Israel dwelled” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: Uprooting a [person from his place on his] family tree is severe in the eyes of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “It was when Israel dwelled,” and it is written: “The sons of Jacob were twelve.”33Despite Reuben’s misconduct, Jacob is still referred to as having twelve sons, as Reuben’s place in the family was not uprooted (Yefeh To’ar). “The sons of Reuben, firstborn of Israel; [for he was the firstborn, but when he desecrated his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, but not to be reckoned as the firstborn]” (I Chronicles 5:1). Say from here that the firstborn status in respect to monetary rights were taken from him, but the firstborn status in respect to genealogy was not taken from him.34Joseph became the firstborn regarding inheriting a double portion of the estate, and similarly, Joseph is considered two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. However, Reuben is still accorded the honor of being listed first among the sons, and called the firstborn. Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Simon, one of them said: It is not for Reuben to be reckoned as the firstborn. The other said: One does not reckon Joseph as the firstborn, but only for Reuben.35The argument is whether the phrase “but not to be reckoned as the firstborn” indicates that Reuben is still listed as the firstborn, or not. Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Even at the moment of corruption, one reckons only Reuben as the firstborn. That is what is written: “It was when [Israel] dwelled.”
“The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun” (Genesis 35:23).
“The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn” – Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Reuben was the first in conception, first in birth, first in birthright, first in inheritance, first in Temple service, first in repentance. Rabbi Azarya said: First for prophecy as well, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke first to Hosea” (Hosea 1:2).36Hosea was the first of four prophets who were active in the same time period, and the Sages had a tradition that he was from the tribe of Reuben (Yefeh To’ar).
“It was when Israel dwelled” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: Uprooting a [person from his place on his] family tree is severe in the eyes of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “It was when Israel dwelled,” and it is written: “The sons of Jacob were twelve.”33Despite Reuben’s misconduct, Jacob is still referred to as having twelve sons, as Reuben’s place in the family was not uprooted (Yefeh To’ar). “The sons of Reuben, firstborn of Israel; [for he was the firstborn, but when he desecrated his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, but not to be reckoned as the firstborn]” (I Chronicles 5:1). Say from here that the firstborn status in respect to monetary rights were taken from him, but the firstborn status in respect to genealogy was not taken from him.34Joseph became the firstborn regarding inheriting a double portion of the estate, and similarly, Joseph is considered two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. However, Reuben is still accorded the honor of being listed first among the sons, and called the firstborn. Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Simon, one of them said: It is not for Reuben to be reckoned as the firstborn. The other said: One does not reckon Joseph as the firstborn, but only for Reuben.35The argument is whether the phrase “but not to be reckoned as the firstborn” indicates that Reuben is still listed as the firstborn, or not. Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Even at the moment of corruption, one reckons only Reuben as the firstborn. That is what is written: “It was when [Israel] dwelled.”
“The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun” (Genesis 35:23).
“The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn” – Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Reuben was the first in conception, first in birth, first in birthright, first in inheritance, first in Temple service, first in repentance. Rabbi Azarya said: First for prophecy as well, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke first to Hosea” (Hosea 1:2).36Hosea was the first of four prophets who were active in the same time period, and the Sages had a tradition that he was from the tribe of Reuben (Yefeh To’ar).