Hosea 1 – Did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute?

Hosea is the 1st – of 12 minor, or lesser, or shorter prophetic books. Hosea was likely from the northern kingdom of Israel, seeming to reference the king of Samaria as “our” king – in Hosea 7: 5. He wrote this prophecy in the 8th century BC, I can’t get more specific with the date. He prophesied to both the northern & southern kingdoms. But his primary focus was the north. Hosea means – salvation or deliverance. It’s a variation of the name Joshua (or Jesus). Hosea, Amos, Isaiah & Micah – all prophesied around the same general time. The 1st 3 chapters are personal narrative, telling of Hosea’s life. The rest of the book consists of heavenly announcements (or oracles).