The ProphetsNEVI’IM II

Navi (Nabi) “one who announces” or one who is called” in Hebrew

Nevi’im is the plural form of the word

One who proclaims the word or will of the deity

A PROPHET

PoeticRhythmicFull of metaphors and figures of speechParallelism

One line “parallels” anotheri.e. “He expected justice, but found bloodshed;

integrity, but only a cry of distress” Isa. 5:7

LANGUAGE

Pronouncement believed to be divinely inspired

Not a person, but the message

ORACLE

Develops along with the monarchyIt does not refer to Mosaic Law very much

As the monarchy declines, so does prophecy

PROPHECY

Ecstatic prophecyDistinguishing true prophets from false

Apocalyptic “unveiling” or “revelation”

Prophecy around royal courtsLinkage between exclusive worship of Yahweh and ethical behavior

KINDS OF PROPHECY

From a Greek word meaning the study of the last things

It is about the ultimate destiny of humanity

In relation to the prophets it is those prophets who speak to final fulfillment and final hope

The ultimate destiny of the universe

ESCATOLOGY

Scribes began the process of assembling oracles under the individual prophet’s names

The books reveal Yahweh’s will during periods of social and political crisis

MID 8TH TO 5TH CENTURIES BCE

In Elijah’s prophecy, a pattern emerges that other prophets also followPersonal revelationSpiritual proclamationPolitical engagement

ELIJAH

The Assyrian ThreatThe Babylonian CrisisThe Post-exilic Readjustment

THREE GREAT CRISES

Assyrian Empire threatened the existence of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah

OUTSIDE THREATS

Assyria began a series of military conquests 747-727 BCE

It seized Babylon, Syria, Palestine, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel

Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom is sacked

ASSYRIA

722-721Sargon II is the leader of Assyria

NORTHERN KINGDOM ISRAEL FALLS TO ASSYRIA

AmosHosea

Isaiah of JerusalemMicah

ASSYRIAN THREAT OF THE EIGHTH CENTURY

Warns inhabitants of the northern kingdom that their failure to worship Yahweh exclusively and the way they ignore ideals of social justice will lead to the nation’s destruction

AMOS AND HOSEA

Assyria falls 612 BCEBabylonian Crisis, and Judah defeated

Exile in Babylon

ASSYRIA FALLS

JeremiahObadiahEzekielSecond IsaiahHaggaiZechariah

BABYLONIAN EXILE SIXTH CENTURY

Third IsaiahJoelMalachiJonah

POST-EXILE

Identify three of Israel’s or Judah’s kings, and include achievements or activities (20 points). Identify three prophets and link them to the king of their times. What is the main theme of each of the prophets (20 points).

ESSAY QUESTION

A vision of Ezekiel where human bones reassemble themselves and are covered with human flesh

This kind of ‘resurrection’ referred to Israel as a nation, not individual resurrection

Later, in the Book of Daniel written centuries after Babylon and Ezekiel’s vision, notions of individual human resurrection is conceptualized.

RESURRECTION

A rocky hill or “citadel” in old Jerusalem that David captured and built his palace, housing the Ark of the Covenant.

ZION

Neighboring nomadic tribes, descendants of Esau according to Genesis

Traditional enemies of Israel, from the time of Moses down to Joshua, Gideon, Saul and David

AMALEKITES

An ancient city south of Jerusalem, associated with Abraham. Hebron is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in Palestine.

HEBRON

A Hebrew term meaning “anointed one”In ancient Israel it referred to a king or

priest who had been anointed and consecrated

King David was oneProphets said that an heir of David

would be a messiahLater in the New Testament, Jesus is

considered the Messiah (The Christ)

MESSIAH