The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
The historical background indicated in this first verse was one of great turbulence and instability.  Following the long and prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (in the northern kingdom), no other really strong monarch appeared.  He was succeeded by his son Zechariah who was murdered after only six months by Shallum who took the throne, thus ending the dynasty of Jehu; but Shallum was murdered and succeeded by Menahem after only one month.  Menahem reigned ten years and was succeeded by his son Pekahiah, who after two years was murdered and succeeded by Pekah; he was murdered and succeeded by Hosea whose nine year reign ended in the disastrous overthrow of Israel in 722 B.C. when the nation was destroyed and carried into Assyrian captivity.  Details of all these things are found in  2 Kings 15-17 and related passages of the Old Testament.  "Although Hosea predicted the defeat and captivity of Israel, he still may have lived through that event.  He would have been very old."[6]