Hosea was an 8th-century BC prophet from the northern Kingdom of Israel. He is recognized as the primary author of the Book of Hosea, which is part of the Twelve Minor Prophets. His ministry lasted approximately sixty years, making him the only prophet of his era to leave behind written words. His prophetic messages often combined warnings of impending destruction with promises of future restoration, using his own personal life as a symbolic representation of the relationship between God and the people of Israel.