SMYTH & HELWYS BIBLE COMMENTARY

THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE

HOSEA–MALACHI

JAMES D. NOGALSKI

Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.

6316 Peake Road

Macon, Georgia 31210-3960

1-800-747-3016

© 2011 by Smyth & Helwys Publishing

All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-57312-929-9

ISBN 978-1-57312-5-930-5

Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: The Book of the Twelve: Hosea–Malachi

Publication Staff

President & CEO

Cecil P. Staton

Publisher & Executive Vice President

Lex Horton

Vice President, Production

Keith Gammons

Book Editor

Leslie Andres

Graphic Designers

Daniel Emerson

Dave Jones

Assistant Editors

Rachel Stancil Greco

Kelley F. Land

Project Editor

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Old Testament

General Editor

Samuel E. Balentine

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richmond, Virginia

Area

Old Testament Editors

Mark E. Biddle

Baptist Theological Seminary

at Richmond, Virginia

Kandy Queen-Sutherland

Stetson University

Deland, Florida

Paul Redditt

Georgetown College

Georgetown, Kentucky

Baptist Seminary of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

New Testament

General Editor

R. Alan Culpepper

McAfee School of Theology

Mercer University

Atlanta, Georgia

Area

New Testament Editors

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Richard B. Vinson

Salem College

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

DEDICATION

To Melanie, Megan, and Toni;

the women who make my life meaningful.

CONTENTS

author’s preface

series preface

how to use this commentary

introduction to the book of the twelve

bibliography

HOSEA

Introduction to the Book of Hosea

1 Children of Judgment and Promise

Hosea 1:1–11 (MT 1:1–2:2)

2 Judgment and Promise for YHWH’s Wife

Hosea 2:1–23 (MT 2:3–25)

3 An Act of Judgment and Hope

Hosea 3:1–5

4 A Lawsuit against the Religious Leaders and the People

Hosea 4:1–19

5 A Guilty Verdict and Coming Disaster

Hosea 5:1–15

6 The Way to Repentance and the Consequences of Failure

Hosea 6:1–11a

7 The Dangers of Mixing Faith and Politics

Hosea 6:11b–7:16

8 Kings and Idols

Hosea 8:1–14

9 A Thematic Tapestry of Judgment

Hosea 9:1–17

10 Agricultural Admonitions

Hosea 10:1–15

11 A Compassionate Father and a Rebellious Son

Hosea 11:1–11

12 Jacob and Moses as Lessons for the Present

Hosea 11:12–12:14

13 Recapping the Message

Hosea 13:1–16 (MT 13:1–14:1)

14 An Open Invitation

Hosea 14:1–9 (MT 14:2–10)

Select Bibliography for Hosea

JOEL

Introduction to the Book of Joel

1 A Call to Repent before the Impending Day of YHWH

Joel 1:1–20

2 A Threat, a Call to Repent, and Two Promises

Joel 2:1–32

3 Two Sides of the Day of YHWH

Joel 3:1–21

Select Bibliography for Joel

AMOS

Introduction to the Book of Amos

1 The Lion Roars

Amos 1:1–2:16

2 Signs, Sin, and Identity

Amos 3:1–15

3 Missing the Signs and Paying the Consequences

Amos 4:1–13

4 Lamenting the Lack of Justice and Righteousness

Amos 5:1–27

5 Ignoring the Ruin of Joseph

Amos 6:1–14

6 Visions of Impending Destruction

Amos 7:1–9:6

7 A Remnant and Hope

Amos 9:7–15

Select Bibliography for Amos

OBADIAH

Introduction to the Book of Obadiah

1 Judgment ...