Who was Hosea

Hosea son of Beeri prophesied during the middle of the 8th century B.C.

His ministry began during or shortly after that of the prophet Amos. While Amos warned of God's judgement on Israel at the hands of an unnamed enemy, Hosea identifies that enemy as Assyria.

Based on the kings mentioned in the book of Hosea, it seems that Hosea must have prophesied for at least 38 years, though almost nothing is known about this prophet from sources outside his book.

He was the only one of the writing prophets to come from the northern kingdom and his prophecy is primarily directed to the Northern Kingdom which he calls Ephraim or Israel. The Southern Kingdom is referred to as Judah since it comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

It is not certain whether Hosea personally authored his book or it was compiled later on. Anyway, the book of Hosea stands first in the division of the Book of Twelve (the 12 minor prophets).