Bethel

In our last class, we looked at several cities that Hosea would have been to and more than likely prophesied against at those very locations.  None though were as important as Bethel and Samaria.  These two places are the hallmarks of the problems with Israel.  Bethel, or Bethaven as we shall see, was the religious problem of Israel, idolatry in all its ugly self-serving.  Samaria was the political problem of Israel, in all its brash self-reliance.  Their history will be important to understand, their current problems during Hosea’s times are highly relevant, but most important of all is re