Chapter 14 is a fitting climax to the message of Hosea. The prophet makes one last appeal to his people to forsake their iniquity and turn to the Lord. It was not yet too late. But the day of opportunity was fast slipping away. The war clouds were darkening on the eastern horizon. Assyria was at the zenith of its power and its imperialistic ambitions were soon to engulf the idol-mad, vice-intoxicated nation of Israel. Inasmuch as the prophetic ministry of Hosea extended to the reign of Hezekiah (ch. 1:1) and the fall of Samaria came in the 6th year of that king’s reign (2 Kings 18:9, 10), it is possible that this final message was delivered shortly before the final day of doom. Since the individual messages of the book are not dated, it is impossible to fix precisely the exact dates of the various messages.