Hos 6:1 “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

Hos 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

Should we regard this verse as predictive of Christ’s resurrection?

According to Nicholas P. Lunn:

‘While on the surface the words seem to predict a raising up of the nation of Israel from the death-like state that divine judgment had brought upon them, this does not rule out a typological understanding with respect to the Messiah.  According to Matt 2:15, this is in fact precisely what Hosea does elsewhere in his short book (11:1, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son”). The interpretation of Hos 6:2 as prefiguring Christ’s resurrection was common in the patristic period (e.g. Tertullian, Theodoret), and was also held by major Reformers (e.g. Luther, Calvin).  Yet amongst modern scholars such a view is not generally favored.’

Hos 6:3 Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hos 6:4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.

Hos 6:5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth; my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.

Hos 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hos 6:7 Like Adam, they have broken the covenant—they were unfaithful to me there.

Like Adam – At first sight, this looks like a reference to the Adam of Genesis.  But, as the context (full of place-names) suggests, and the latter part of the verse confirms, this is Adam the town, rather than Adam the man.  Most modern versions therefore read, ‘At Adam…’.  (Kidner, however, is not convinced about this).

Hos 6:8 Gilead is a city of wicked men, stained with footprints of blood.

Hos 6:9 As marauders lie in ambush for a man, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

Hos 6:10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel. There Ephraim is given to prostitution and Israel is defiled.

Hos 6:11 “Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. “Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,