Biblical Bibliographies
Charles Conroy [www.cjconroy.net]



Hosea: History of Reception and Interpretation (pre-1800)



[see also:  XII Prophets: early reception,  XII Prophets: commentaries (pre-1800),  Commentaries on the whole Bible (pre-1800),  Qumran: pesharim]


Titles listed in the general bibliographies on the Twelve Prophets (see links above) are (with rare exceptions) not repeated in the present bibliography.


The bibliography is divided into six sections as follows:

I.    Overview of history of reception of Hosea

Hong, K.-P., et al., "Hosea (Book and Person)", EBR 12 (2016) 425-445. Details: I. Hebrew Bible / Old Testament (K.-P. Hong) 425-428; II. New Testament (K. Jobes) 428-429; III. Judaism, A: Second Temple and Hellenistic Judaism (T. H. Lim) 429-430; B. Rabbinic Judaism (I. Gottlieb) 431-432; C. Medieval Judaism (M. Polliack – N. Pery) 432-439; D. Modern Judaism (J. Davis) 439-440; IV. Christianity (M. Heimbucher) 440-442; V. Literature (T. Krier) 442-443; VI. Film (P. T. Chattaway) 443-445.

II.    Early reception in Jewish and Christian texts

1.   Hosea at Qumran

Principal editions of Pesher Hosea: 4QpHosa [4Q166], 4QpHosb [4Q167]
 •  4Q166: Allegro, J. M. (ed.) with the collaboration of A. A. Anderson, Qumran Cave 4, I (4Q 158 – 4Q 186) (DJD V; Oxford: Clarendon, 1968) 31-32, pl. X. With J. Strugnell, "Notes en marge du volume V des «Discoveries in the Judaean Desert of Jordan»", RevQ 7,2 [26] (Avril 1970 [1969-71]) 163-276, esp. 199-201. Online photos here.
 •  4Q167: Allegro, in DJD V (as above), 32-36, pl. X-XI. With Strugnell (as above), esp. 201-203, pl. III. Online photos here.

Studies

Bernstein, M. J., "'Walking in the Festivals of the Gentiles' 4QpHoseaa 2.15-17 and Jubilees 6.34-38", JSP Vol. 5, Issue 9 (Oct. 1991) 21-34. Reprinted in M. J. Bernstein, Reading and Re-Reading Scripture at Qumran. Vol. 2: Law, Pesher and the History of Interpretation (STDJ 107/2; Leiden: Brill, 2013) 674-685.

Bernstein, M. J., "Pesher Hosea", in L. H. Schiffman – J. C. VanderKam (eds.), Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000) 2:650-651.

Doudna, G. L., "4Q Pesher Hoseab. Reconstruction of Fragments 4, 5, 18, and 24", DSD 10 (2003) 338-358.

Fuß, B., "Dies ist die Zeit, von der geschrieben ist ...". Die expliziten Zitate aus dem Buch Hosea in den Handschriften von Qumran und im Neuen Testament (Neutestamentliche Abhandlungen, 37; Münster: Aschendorff, 2000).

Horgan, M. P., Pesharim: Qumran Interpretations of Biblical Books (CBQMS 8; Washington, DC: Catholic Biblical Association of America, 1979) 138-148 (on 4Q166), 148-158 (on 4Q167).

Horgan, M. P., "Hosea Pesher 1-2", in J. H. Charlesworth – H. W. M. Rietz (eds.), with C. D. Elledge and L. Novakovic, The Dead Sea Scrolls: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Texts with English Translations, Vol. 6B: Pesharim, Other Commentaries, and Related Documents (The Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project, 6B; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck – Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002) 113-131.

Kratz, R. G., "Hosea und Amos in den Schriften vom Toten Meer", in R. G. Kratz, Prophetenstudien. Kleine Schriften II (FAT 74; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2011) 359-379. [previously unpublished]

Vielhauer, R., "Materielle Rekonstruktion und historische Einordnung der beiden Pescharim zum Hoseabuch (4QpHosa und 4QpHosb)", RevQ 20,1 [77] (2001) 39-91.

Vielhauer, R., "Reading Hosea at Qumran", in G. J. Brooke – J. Høgenhaven (eds.), The Mermaid and the Partridge: Essays from the Copenhagen Conference on Revising Texts from Cave Four (STDJ 96; Leiden: Brill, 2011) 91-108.

2.   Hosea in early Christian texts

Fuß, B., "Dies ist die Zeit, von der geschrieben ist ...". Die expliziten Zitate aus dem Buch Hosea in den Handschriften von Qumran und im Neuen Testament (Neutestamentliche Abhandlungen, 37; Münster: Aschendorff, 2000).

Moyise, S., "Does Paul Respect the Context of his Quotations? Hosea as Test Case", in C. A. Evans – H. D. Zacharias (eds.), "What Does the Scripture Say?": Studies in the Function of Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity. Vol. 2: The Letters and Liturgical Tradition (LNTS 470 – Studies in Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity, 18; London & New York: T & T Clark, 2012) 39-50.

III.    Jewish interpretation (pre-1800)

Hosea in Talmud and Midrash
 •  Ben-Yashar, M. – I. B. Gottlieb – J. S. Penkower (eds.), The Bible in Rabbinic Interpretation: Rabbinic Derashot on Prophets and Writings in Talmudic and Midrashic Literature. I. Hosea [Hebrew] (The Institute for Jewish Bible Interpretation – Sources and Studies; Ramat Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 2003).
 •  Neusner, J., Hosea in Talmud and Midrash: A Source Book (Studies in Judaism; Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2007).

Yefet ben Ali (Karaite: 10th cent.)
 •  Birnbaum, P., The Arabic Commentary of Yefet ben ʿAli the Karaite on the Book of Hosea, Edited from Eight Manuscripts and Provided with Critical Notes and an Introduction (Philadelphia: The Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, 1942).
 •  Polliack, M. – E. Schlossberg, Yefet Ben ʿEli's Commentary on Hosea: Annotated Edition, Hebrew Translation and Introduction [Hebr.] (Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 2009).

Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089-1164)
 •  Lipshitz, A., The Commentary of Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra on Hosea. Edited from Six Manuscripts & Translated with an Introduction & Notes by Abe Lipshitz (New York: Sepher-Hermon Press, 1988).
 •  Simon, U., Abraham Ibn Ezra's Two Commentaries on the Minor Prophets: An Annotated Critical Edition. Vol. 1: Hosea, Joel, Amos [Hebrew] (Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 1989).

David Kimḥi / Qimḥi ["Radak"] (1160-1235)
 •  Cohen, H. A. (ed.), The Commentary of Rabbi David Kimhi on Hosea, with critical notes showing his sources, on the basis of manuscripts and early editions (Columbia University Oriental Studies, 20; New York: Columbia University Press, 1929). Reprinted: New York: AMS Press, 1966).

IV.   Christian commentators from Patristic and medieval times

Julian of Aeclanum (c. 386 – c. 455)
Commentarius in Prophetas Minores Tres, Osee, Joel et Amos, Rufino Aquileiensi Presbytero olim ascriptus, PL 21, 959-1104.
Critical edition: Iulianus Aeclanensis. Expositio libri Iob. Tractatus prophetarum Osee, Ioel et Amos. Accedunt operum deperditorum fragmenta post Albertum Bruckner denuo collecta aucta ordinata. Auxiliante Maria Josepha d'Hont, edidit Lucas De Coninck (CCSL 88; Turnhout: Brepols, 1977). For the "Tractatus prophetarum Osee" see esp. 115-329.
English version: Scheck, T. P. (trans. and ed.), Julian of Eclanum: Commentaries on Job, Hosea, Joel, and Amos (Ancient Christian Texts; Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021).

Theophylact of Ochrida (Achrida, Ohrid) (ca. 1055 – ca. 1107)
In Oseam, Habacuc, Jonam, Naum, Michaeam, PG 126 [1864] 559-1190. On Hosea see esp. "Expositio in Oseam prophetam", 575-820.

V.   Christian commentators from 1500 to 1799 [in order of dates of death]

Capito, Wolfgang Fabricius (1478-1541)
In Hoseam prophetam V. F. Capitonis Commentarius. Ex quo peculiaria prophetis & hactenus fortassis nusquam sic tractata, si versam pagellam & indicem percurris, cognoscere potes (Argentorati [Strassburg]: apud Iohannem Hervagium, 1528).

Brenz [Brentius], Johannes (1499-1570)
Der Prophet Osea, durch Johan. Brenzen Predicanten zu Hall inn Schwaben, ytzt newlich erklärt und aussgelegt. Mit einem kurtzen ußzug aller materien heirynnen begriffen zu ende diß buchlins getruckt (Haganaw: Johan. Setzer, 1531).
In Prophetam Oseam, reverendi viri D. Ioannis Brentii expositio, ante triginta annos germanice ab ipso autore aedita. Nunc autem a studioso quodam Theologiae Latinitate donata. Una cum Indice rerum memorabilium (Francoforti: excudebat Petrus Brubachius, 1562).
The Latin commentary was reprinted in his Opera omnia: Operum reverendi et clarissimi theologi, D. Ioannis Brentii, praepositi Studtgardiani, Tomus Quartus. In quo continentur sequentes Commentarij: in Ecclesiasten Salomonis, Esaiam, Jeremiam, Oseam, Amos, Jonam, Michaeam. Accessit index rerum et verborum memorabilium copiosus (Tubingae: excudebat Georgius Gruppenbachius, 1580) 949-1085.

Mercier [Mercerus], Jean (c.1525-1570)
Io. Merceri Commentarii locupletiss. in prophetas quinque priores inter eos qui minores vocantur. Quibus adiuncti sunt aliorum etiam & veterum (in quibus sunt Hebraei) & recentium Commentarii, ab eodem excerpti ([Genevae: Estienne], 1583). [on Hos pp. 1-171]
Later printing with modified title: Johan. Merceri ... Commentarii locupletissimi in vates quinque priores, inter eos qui minores vocantur; quibus adjuncti sunt Hebraeorum, nominatim R. Salomonis Iarchi, Aben Esrae & Davidis Kimchi in eosdem, excepto Amoso, commentarii ab ipso latinitate donati. Altera vice editi, cura atque studio M. Georg. Christian. Bürchlini ... cujus etiam accessit Praefatio, quae Supplementa in D. Pfeiferi Criticam S. exhibet (Gissae-Hassorum [Gießen]: typis Henningi Mülleri, 1695).

Osorius, Hieronymus [Osório, Jerónimo] (1506-1580)
"In Oseam Prophetam commentaria", in Hieronymi Osorii Lusitani, episcopi Algarbiensis Opera omnia, Hieronymi Osorii nepotis canonici Eborensis diligentia in unum collecta, & in quattuor volumina distributa. Tomus Quartus (Romae: ex Bibliotheca Georgij Ferrarij, 1592) 293-392. [the Hos-commentary was not published during Osório's lifetime]

Castro, León de (c.1505-1585)
Commentaria in Oseam prophetam, ex veterum patrum scriptis, qui Prophetas omnes ad Christum referunt, iuxta illud Domini, quae sunt in Psalmis & Prophetis scripta de me. Authore Leone Castro, ingenuarum artium et Sacrosanctae Theologiae magistro in insigni academia Salmanticensi, et Theologorum collegij in eadem academia Decano, Canonico interprete Scripturae in sancta ecclesia Vallisoletana (Salamanticae: excudebant haeredes Matthiae Gastij, 1586).

Selnecker, Nikolaus (1532-1592)
Christliche kurtze summa und erklerung der dreien Propheten, Osee, Joels, Michee: Jetziger zeit frommen Christen wol zulesen (Leipzig: Berwaldt, 1578).

Pareus, David (1548-1622)
Hoseas Propheta commentariis illustratus: cum translatione triplici: Latina Gemina, ex Hebraeo et Chaldaeo Thargum Ionathae, nec non Graeca LXX ; Praemittuntur Prolegomena de Prophetis deque Propheticae Scripturae authoritate, à Moguntini cujusdam Jesuitrastri scurrilibus animadversionibus breviter vindicata (Haidelbergae: typis Voegelinianis, 1605).

Pococke, Edward (1604-1691)
A Commentary on the Prophecy of Hosea (Oxford: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater, 1685).
Reprinted in L. Twells (ed.), The theological works of the learned Dr. Pocock, sometime professor of the Hebrew and Arabick tongues, in the University of Oxford, and Canon of Christ-Church: containing his Porta Mosis, and English commentaries on Hosea, Joel, Micah, and Malachi. To which is prefixed, an account of his life and writings, never before printed; with the addition of a new general index to the commentaries. Two volumes (London: Printed for the editor, and sold by R. Gosling, at the Mitre and Crown in Fleet-Street, 1740). [The long commentary on Hos is in vol. 2, pp. 1-720.]

Schmidt, Sebastian (1617-1696)
In prophetam Hoseam commentarius: in quo textus Hebraeus, tam Christianis, quam Hebraeis interpretibus non parum difficilis visus, ea, qua fieri potuit, accuratione expenditur, singula Capita Analysi commoda disponuntur, & Loci Communes subjunguntur (Francofurti ad Moenum: sumptibus Joann. Davidis Zunneri, 1687).

VI.   Selected studies on the pre-1800 commentaries

Bitter, S., Die Ehe des Propheten Hosea. Eine auslegungsgeschichtliche Untersuchung (Göttinger theologische Arbeiten, 3: Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1975).

Bouwman, G., Des Julian von Aeclanum Kommentar zu den Propheten Osee, Joel und Amos: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Exegese (AnBib 9: Roma: Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 1958).

Davies, G. I., "Three Christian Commentators on Hosea", in P. J. Harland – C. T. R. Hayward (eds.), New Heaven and New Earth – Prophecy and the Millennium. Essays in Honour of Anthony Gelston (VTSup 77; Leiden: Brill, 1999) 129-150. [discusses the commentary of John Calvin (1557), as well as the post-1800 commentaries of E. B. Pusey (1860) and G. A. Smith (1896).]

Fincati, M., "The Exegetical Annotations from the End of the Twelfth Century in Codex Marchalianus: Jeremiah and Hosea", in R. Ceulemans – B. Crostini (eds.), Receptions of the Bible in Byzantium. Texts, Manuscripts, and their Readers (Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis – Studia Byzantina Upsaliensia, 20; Uppsala: Uppsala Universitet, 2021) 465-491. [the whole volume can be downloaded here]

Heimbucher, M., Prophetische Auslegung: Das reformatorische Profil des Wolfgang Fabricius Capito ausgehend von seinen Kommentaren zu Habakuk und Hosea (EHS XXIII/877; Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2008). [on the Hosea commentary of 1528 see esp. 183-284]

Kessler, S. C., "Le mariage du prophète Osée (Os 1,2) dans la littérature patristique", RevScRel 73 (1999) 223-228.

Lössl, J., Julian von Aeclanum: Studien zu seinem Leben, seinem Werk, seiner Lehre und ihrer Überlieferung (Vigiliae Christianae, Supplements 60; Leiden: Brill, 2001).

Lössl, J., "Julian of Aeclanum's 'Tractatus' in Osee, Iohel, Amos. Some Notes on the Current State of Research", Augustiniana 51 (2001) 11-37.

Lössl, J., "Julian of Aeclanum's 'Prophetic Exegesis'", in F. Young – M. Edwards – P. Parvis (eds.), Studia Patristica Vol. XLIII: Papers presented at the Fourteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 2003: Augustine, Other Latin Writers (Leuven: Peeters, 2006) 409-421.

Macintosh, A. A., "Hosea: The Rabbinic Commentators and the Ancient Versions", in A. Rapoport-Albert – G. Greenberg (eds.), Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Texts. Essays in Memory of Michael P. Weitzman (JSOTSup 333 / The Hebrew Bible and its Versions, 2; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001) 77-82.

Niessen, F., "An Anonymous Karaite Commentary on the Book of Hosea", in G. Khan (ed.), Exegesis and Grammar in Medieval Karaite Texts (JSSSup 13; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001) 77-126.

Pennacchio, M. C., Propheta insaniens. L'esegesi patristica di Osea tra profezia e storia (Studia Ephemeridis Augustinianum, 81; Roma: Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, 2002).

Polliack, M. – E. Schlossberg, "Historical-Literary, Rhetorical and Redactional Methods of Interpretation in Yefet ben Eli's Introduction to the Minor Prophets," in G. Khan (ed.), Exegesis and Grammar in Medieval Karaite Texts (JSSSup 13; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001) 1-39.

Polliack, M., "Historicizing Prophetic Literature: Yefet ben ʿEli's Commentary on Hosea and its Relationship to al-Qūmisī's Pitrōn", in J. L. Kraemer – M. G. Wechsler (eds.), with the participation of F. Donner, J. Holo, and D. Pardee, Pesher Naḥum: Texts and Studies in Jewish History and Literature from Antiquity through the Middle Ages, Presented to Norman (Naḥum) Golb (Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization, 66; Chicago: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 2012) 149-186.