. The king set up an idol and wanted all to worship it. The king again had a dream that Daniel interpreted. The agent of destruction, the Lord warned, is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Understanding the features of these prophetic literary devices helps one to comprehend the message of God more accurately. Judaism in Babylon survived because of three interconnected phenomena. The central emphasis here is upon agricultural abundance. Hence, Isaiah, Micah, and Hosea were contemporaries with overlapping ministries. Eschatology | Encyclopedia.com [19] Adolf Alt, Kleine Schriften zur Geschichte des Volkes Israel (Munich: C. H. Beckshe Verlagsbuchhantlung, 195359), 2:326, argues persuasively that the Babylonians placed the Jews under a very different internment than that used by the Assyrians. You shall not live long on it, but shall be utterly destroyed. The Minor Prophets - Introduction | Bible.org Jerusalem, seen through the eyes of parochialism, had seemed strong, beautiful, and mighty. [33] The first dealt with Nebuchadnezzars dream of the great image. But it simply does not work that way most of the time. We see in this admission the king allowing Jehovah a place among the pantheon of Babylonian gods and even according Him the special place as revealer. The possibility is underscored by the fact that a number of Jewish communities that took root outside Palestine eventually lost their Jewish character and eroded into the cultures of the area. Promised Land. Men's Ministry Home Women's Ministry Home . Yes, that may properly be understood as the ultimate goal. Timeline of the Prophets | Theology of Work The evil agent, He warned, already gathering to the north, was ready to move against this vile and sinful nation. The most common types of parallelism are Synonymous, Antithetical, and Synthetic parallelism as illustrated below: Synonymous parallelism is where the second or subsequent line repeats or reinforces the sense of the first line, as in Isaiah 44:22:267. i. And some of the prophecies in other books, notably Jeremiah and Ezekiel, are likewise dated and placed in a setting by the inspired author. They knew that Jerusalems gates are sunk into the ground; he [God] hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision [of hope] from the Lord (Lamentations 2:9). The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? The full lawsuit form contains a summons, a charge, evidence, and a verdict, though these elements may sometimes be implied rather than being explicit. [13] As chapters 42 through 44 of Jeremiah show, Egypt became very attractive for many of these. Some were hired as mercenaries and developed a colony at Elephantine, near the first cataract of the Nile. Three major factors contributed. But it was usually the immediate future of Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations they announced not our future. Both Transjordan and Syria received an influx of Jewish refugees. Ezekiel, also spelled Ezechiel, Hebrew Yeezqel, (flourished 6th century bc), prophet-priest of ancient Israel and the subject and in part the author of an Old Testament book that bears his name. Jeremiah castigated the Jews for believing in lying words, that cannot profit. The pre-Assyrian prophets were Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah. For example, he uses synonymous parallelism in John 6:35. [4] Cecil Roth, A History of the Jews (New York: Shocken Books, 1970), 5760. An important task of the prophets was to assure Judah that, even in Babylon, Jehovah was with her. The terms imply nothing about their relative importance.251 It would perhaps be more appropriate to refer to them as the longer and shorter prophets. 251 Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Zondervan, 1993), p. 165. Synthetic parallelism, perhaps a little harder to discern, is where the second or subsequent line adds to the first line in any manner which provides further information, as in Obadiah 21: It should be noted that the literature discusses other more extensive and sophisticated forms of parallelism found in biblical poetry. [16] But, considering the magnitude of the calamity that overtook her, the wonder is that she did not disappear into the vortex of history forever, as had so many nations before and after her. When we speak of parallelism, we are referring to the Hebrew technique of presenting a thought using parallel literary members. God announced the enforcement of His Law (both positive and negative) through the prophets. Blessing comes via the covenantal categories already mentioned (e.g., life, health, prosperity, agricultural abundance, respect, and safety). . Generally, these may be categorized as life, health, prosperity, agricultural abundance, respect, and safety. If she would not do it on her own, then thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee (Jeremiah 2:19). Approximately one-third of the Old Testament consists of historical documents, including the Pentateuch, or what has often been called the five books of Moses, and the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. We know that other prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha, played a very influential role in delivering Gods Word to His people and to other nations as well. 17 and (2) ch. I have only scratched the surface and talked of some of the features they have in common. In the prophetic books, however, we hear from the prophets and very little about the prophets themselves. Solomons inspired prayer had seen them repent, and make supplication unto thee [Jehovah] in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness (1 Kings 8:47). The Jews used this term to designate the almighty and true God. [34] The Aramaic word designated magicians but would have included all those claiming ability to understand mysteries. Read Habakkuk 2:6-8 as an example of a woe oracle spoken against Babylon. They each have their own unique features, their own unique structure, and their own unique contribution to the Old Testament, which are well worth our study. (New York: Harper & Row, 1962, 1965) 2:33, n. 1. He was instructed to take a brick, lay it on the ground, and inscribe the word Jerusalem on it. J. D. Douglas [Grand Rapids , Mich.: Eerdmans, 1962], s.v. [33] Because the apocalyptic portion has been sealed (see Daniel 12:4, 9) and no prophet of the Restoration has opened it, much that is there remains a mystery. And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword (Jeremiah 5:1517; see also 2:16; 4:58, 1117; 6:2226). See William W. Klein, et. That explains in part why he became one of Nebuchadnezzars many hostages, the Babylonians concentrating on children of the gentry, clergy, and aristocracy. Isaiah went about barefoot and naked as a sign for the Lord. People were used to poetry, and they could remember it much better than prose. These saw the nation presided over by the Zadokite priesthood with the restored Davidic monarchy playing the reduced role of protector of the state and the religion[43] (see Ezekiel 4345; especially 43:17; 44:431). 801-422-6975. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. Grant Building [28] Isaiah 63:19 reflects the idea that the covenant could be lost, and Ezekiel 33:10; 37:11 shows that some of the Jews were really concerned about it. . Philistines.. As one of our elders related to me last week, When you read the book of Micah, its almost as if he was writing to the church today.. [8] Amihai Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000586 B.C. [35] The title designated the high place of Jehovah and stressed His rank above all things (see Genesis 24:7; Ezra 1:2; 6:10; Nehemiah 1:5; 2:4; Psalm 136:26). His message was both clear and simple: It was not the temple but righteousness that would be Judahs only shield. The writing prophets may be divided into four groups: Prophets of Israel Jonah, Amos, and Hosea, Prophets of Judah Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk, Exilic Prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, Post-exilic Prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Zechariah Joining with Haggai in bringing a message of hope and encouragement to those who returned from the exile was Zechariah, whose analysis of the situation was more profound than that of his contemporary. [10] Peter R. Ackroyd, Exile and Restoration: A Study of Hebrew Thought of the Sixth Century B.C. But these blessings are announced with a warning of curses (punishments) if Israel is not obedient and faithful to the covenant. The focus of the prophets ministry changes with respect to that event. If that is the case, his testimony would have reinforced the idea that God was with them and directing the affairs not only of Babylon but also of all nations through time. YHWH is coming to be with His people. [21] Many Jews entered trade, and some became quite wealthy. [6] Epigraphic sources for the sixth and fifth centuries are meager. She was but a stranger in a strange land, a sojourner in a foreign country from which she would eventually be released. It took a lot of soul-searching and a profound readjustment in her theological understanding to get things moving. It is the phenomenon whereby two or more successive poetic lines strengthen, reinforce, and develop each others thought. Generally, these may be categorized under ten Ds: death, disease, drought, dearth, danger, destruction, defeat, deportation, destitution, and disgrace. For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. It is often hard for us to see what they are referring to and why. [45] Many of these records may have been taken to Babylon by various hostages, especially those of priestly and royal rank, and finally, by the last deportees. Resources . 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Related Topics: Bibliology (The Written Word). . Haggai 2 | Bible.org The Exilic Prophets | MBCLA Equipping Ministry [1] John Bright, A History of Israel, 3rd ed. Saviors of a People Richard D. Draper The thunder of Nebuchadnezzar's battering rams should have sounded the death knell of the Jews as a people, but it did not. Perhaps the three most common forms are the lawsuit oracle, the woe oracle, and the promise oracle.264 They each have different literary features. Nathan, the prophet, had told David that thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:16). Now, if these are the reasons we have difficulty with the prophets, then in order to really understand the prophets, we have to get a better handle on: (1) the function of a prophet; (2) the historical context of their writings; and (3) the form of their writings. A fragment from Qumran shows that a Jewish tradition existed ascribing his long absence from Babylon to mental illness as a vengeance which came upon him from God (see Joan Oates, Babylon [London: Thames and Hudson, 1979], 133). JOEL, BOOK OF - JewishEncyclopedia.com But what was it the prophets actually sought? Most of the time, that is what the prophets are conveying. If we will take the trouble to learn those chapters from the Pentateuch, we will be rewarded with a much better understanding of why the prophets say the things they do. Just as the Bible as a whole is composed of many different kinds of literature and literary forms, so also the prophets employed a variety of literary forms in their divinely inspired messages. As a matter of fact, poetry is the second most common literary feature and comprises almost one-third of the Bible.265 Therefore, we must have some understanding of biblical poetry in order to better understand Scripture. 7. Note 2 Kings 25:2730, which had to be added to the text by the Babylonian Jews. Here the writings of Daniel were particularly poignant. The dating of the prophets Jonah, Joel, and Obadiah are more questionable than the other prophets. The figurative style of this allegory is a dramatic and effective way of communication to Israel that it is going to be punished because of its disobedience, and that the punishment will be severe. It was to be a sign to the house of Judah. But they would have sensed his message, for the shaved beard symbolized a radical change in the state of affairs. the Jewish people, beaten and scattered, were but an agglomeration of individual refugees living under foreign rule. . Situating the Prophets in Israel's History. Since the evidence shows that Israel is clearly guilty, the judgment sentence is announced (verses 17-26). [46] By doing so, they gave meaning to the whole and reinforced the need for total loyalty to her God. It was in Babylon, in a land far away from Judah, that the desire for return actually burned. Judah and Jerusalem had fallen to the armies of Nebuchadnezzar. 27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where the Lord shall drive you. 253 Thomas R. Rodgers, The Panorama of the Old Testament (Trinity Press, 1997): chronology of the early prophets, p. 310, and chronology of the later prophets, p. 321. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1981), 343. Those who had put trust in it now found their spiritual lives in peril, much as their ancestors physical lives had been in danger under the Egyptian pharaohs. It was herenot in Palestine, Syria, Jordan, or Egyptwhere God placed His prophets. What they lacked was the one thing the Babylonian Jews had uniquely: the prophets. They are always corporate, referring to the nation as a whole. Shortly before 608 B.C., his fearless voice rang out in clear warning. Many hundreds of Jews continued to exist in Samaria and Galilee. Things clear to them tend to be opaque to us. The books written in Jerusalem after the return from the exile, now commonly called post-exilic, are five in number: Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The name "Israel" is now used for Judah, 2:27; 3:1-2,16. He assured them that God took no pleasure in His peoples pain but that it was the only way He could get Judah to turn from her wicked ways (see Ezekiel 33:11). The corresponding Hebrew word nabi emphasizes one who is called. See William S. LaSor, et. Less than 5% specifically concerns the New Covenant age. This false doctrine was based on two misconceptions. Their worship, like that of the unfaithful Jews around Judea, would have contained many pagan elements. Poetry is just as comprehensible as prose if we know the rules. The scattered circumstance of the Jews underscores one point: prophecy was being fulfilled. Ezekiels prophecy took place between 592 and 589 BC. Though they were much closer to Jerusalem and had influence with local leaders and sufficient resources to reenter the land of Judea and at least lay the foundation for further growth, none are known to have stirred. Biblical literature - Babylonian Exile, Rebuilding of Temple, and Understanding the chronological order along with the corresponding events in Israels history is vital to understanding why the prophets say what they say (which will hopefully become evident later). It further allowed Judah to reject Jehovahs laws and His true prophets and foolishly believe that the scion of Davids linethe Messiahwould soon come and establish His world-embracing kingdom over which the Jews would triumphantly rule. The people confessed their sins and turned to their Lord. It would not work, the Lord testified, and urged them to go to Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel (Jeremiah 7:12). The reason is also given in verse 6, where Babylon is personified as a thief and extortionist. as forty-six hundred (see Jeremiah 52:2830). We see here an approximate chronological relationship of the writing prophets, which span the period from Elisha to the end of the Old Testament Scriptures.254. [5], One aspect of that miracle central to the success of all the others is prophecy. The same is true of those Jews living in lands outside of Palestine. But we know more about these prophets than we do of their actual words. Some parts of prophetic books provide exceptions. In 580 B.C. They Were Poets God spoke through His prophets largely in poetic form. D.M.G. [3] That Judahs history did not end with the Babylonian captivity is nothing short of a miracle, but Judah not only survived the calamity but also formed a new and viable society built on the ruins of the old. And less than 1% concern events still future to us.258 The prophets did indeed announce the future. B. Gabel and C. B. Wheeler, The Bible as Literature, 2nd. View Full Article. Eventually many of them settled into a comfortable, if unconnected, lifestyle. Through the prophets, Judah became convinced that Gods judgment had been righteous and well deserved. Temple. Because the covenant has been violated, the sorts of punishments listed in the covenant will come upon the people of Israel: disease, destitution, deprivation, and death. Draper, Richard D., The Prophets of the Exile: Saviors of a People in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament, ed. Malachi.As Nehemiah was the last of the Old Testament historians, Malachi was the last of the prophets; and they co-operated with each other; for while Malachi, unlike Haggai and Zechariah, does not give the date of his message, the contents of it show clearly that he spoke after the temple had been completed and the regular service therein had been renewed. ), God is portrayed imaginatively as the plaintiff, prosecuting attorney, and judge in a court case against the defendant, Israel. Then would they return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest their fathers (1 Kings 8:48). The prophets carefully and fully identified her problems and gave counsel on how to correct them, promising that the people could once again return to Gods covenant and the land tied thereto. This was an effective way to prevent organized resistance in conquered lands. How many prophets are in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org [35] The point Daniel may have been making with the king is that the prophets God overmastered the whole heaven, including the stars that the Babylonians worshipped as symbols of their gods. [18] See Ackroyd, Exile, 2023; Ezra Janssen, Judah in der Exilszeit, Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments (Gttengen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, 1956), 2539, for further discussion and source material. Ezekiels famous vision of the dry bones testified to not only the eventual resurrection of Israel but also the more immediate restoration of Judah: Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. [13] Ben-Sasson, History of the Jewish People, 16061. In Isaiah 3, the elements are incorporated as follows: The court convenes, and the lawsuit is brought against Israel (verses 13-14a).
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