Observation

This question was popular among the candidates as a number of the candidates attempted it. The performance on this question was impressive. Candidates highlighted the essential points which included:

i. God instructed Hosea to take for a wife a woman of harlotry

ii. This was to demonstrate how Israel had forsaken the Lord and engaged in idolatry.

iii. He took Gomer,the daughter of Diblaim,who gave birth to three children

iv. The first child, a son, was named Jezreel

v. The name implied that God would punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel and would put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

vi. Gomer's second born was a female whom she named "Not Pitied".

vii. "Not Pitied" means God would no longer pity the house of Israel.

viii. The third born was named "Not my People" because Israel was no longer the people of God nor was God their God.

ix. After the birth of these children, Gomer abandoned Hosea and ran after other lovers/she became a temple prostitute.

x. Hosea, out of love, implored Gomer to come back but she refused.

xi. He sent his children to plead with her to return, but to no avail.

xii. Gomer was influenced by the worldly things she was getting from her lovers.

xiii. Despite Gomer's unfaithfulness and Hosea's disappointments, Hosea still loved her.

xiv. Hosea's marital experience and love for his wife was a demonstration of God's love for Israel

In the (b) Part, candidates were able give right answers to the question easily. This part helped to boost the scores of candidates who did not perform well in (a) part. Candidates performed better in the (b) part than in the (a) part. On the average, candidate performed greatly in this question.