Upper Section: Hosea was a contemporary of the prophet, Amos. His main concern was the nature of the religious observance of the Jewish people. His message was summarized in the phrase: "For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings." "Knowledge of God" according to Hosea, is equated with religious loyalty or "hesed," the Hebrew word that appears in the panel.

Because of the lack of "hesed," Israel has committed the sins of harlotry and inebriation symbolized by grape clusters on a vine and storax branches in full bloom. Confronted by political turmoil, Israel sought alliances with neighboring powers. Hosea envisioned their predicament in the symbols of the foamy water, the silly dove, the unturned pancake, the morning cloud and early dew that quickly evaporate.

An indication of the religious syncretism was the golden calf. Hosea predicted that the calf of Samaria "shall be broken in smithers." Israel will vanish like "the chaff that is driven with the wind out of the threshing-floor and as the smoke out of the window."

However, if Israel repents, it will blossom like the lily, the olive and the evergreen cypress. The renewal of the covenant between God and His people are symbolized in the ring, the canopy and the pair of tephilin. Hosea reiterated in the name of God: "I will betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness and thou shall know the Lord."

Lower Section: While the dating of the prophetic message of Joel has caused a divergence of opinion among scholars, his message can be most accurately described as an apocalypse. He predicted the coming of "Yom Adonai," the "Day of the Lord," a "great" but "awesome" occasion. In preparation for this event, there would be a plague of locusts, which is depicted in the window. A figure is seen wearing sackcloth, as a sign of mourning. The Shofar would be the instrument to proclaim the "Day of the Lord." Said Hosea: "Blow the horn in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. . . assemble the elders, gather the children. . . ."

But, miraculously, the people, Israel would be forgiven for their sins. A sign of God's impending solicitude for the Jewish people were the darkened sun (depicted in blue) and the bloody moon. There also was fire whose flames were blood and pillars of smoke.

Convinced that "the Day of the Lord" would ultimately be one of triumph for Israel, Joel prophesied that "You shall know that I am the Lord your God, and there is none else, and my people shall never be ashamed."