Old Testament SurveyMinor Prophets

The Pentateuch

(Judaism: Torah) Old Testament History

Wisdom and Poetry

The Major and Minor Prophets

The Gospels and Acts

Writings of the

Apostles

I. Pentateuch (The Law)

II. Historical Books

III. Poetical Books (Wisdom/Poetry)

IV. Major Prophets

V. Minor Prophets

Five Literary Categories of

the Old Testament

What distinguishes a Major

Prophet from a Minor Prophet?

It is simply the size or amount of material

in each book that makes the determination.

Major Prophets contain more material

than the Minor Prophets.

• Prophet in Hebrew = navi (pl nevi’im)“One who is called” or “one who announces”

• The prophet is a link between the people and God.

• This is a strong contrast to Canaanite practice of seeking help from mediums who call up the dead.

• Their responsibility is to know and announce God’s will in the immediate situation in a way that the original audience can understand and respond to.

• Their job is to bring people back to obedience to the Torah, and failing that, to specify the punishment for their disobedience.

Historical Era Historical Books Prophetic Books

Division 1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings 17

2 Chronicles 10 - 28

Hosea, Amos,

Joel, Micah,

Obadiah, Jonah

Judah 2 Kings 18 - 24

2 Chronicles 29 - 35

Nahum, Habakkuk,

Zephaniah

Exile 2 Kings 25

2 Chronicles 36

Esther

Return Ezra

Nehemiah

Haggai,

Zechariah

Hardness Malachi

Minor Prophets

I. Hosea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE6SZ1ogOVU&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse: “My people are destroyed for lack of

knowledge; because you have rejected

knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to

me. And since you have forgotten the law of

your God, I also will forget your children”

(Hosea 4:6 ESV).

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name: Hosea, the eight

century prophet to the northern kingdom of

Israel, has given his name to this book as its

composer. His name means “Salvation”” in

Hebrew.

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Unfaithfulness”

The marital unfaithfulness to Gomer, Hosea’s

wife, became a symbol that Hosea used to

proclaim his message. The people of the

northern kingdom had become unfaithful to

the Lord by aligning with Baal, yet God

longed to take them back.

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: Hosea 1:1 identifies the

author as “Hosea son of Beeri.” Hosea’s

mission was to the northern kingdom, and he

was probably from that area as well. His

many illustrations drawn from agriculture

suggest he may have been a farmer. His

name means “Salvation."

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

E. Date and Location: Hosea’s ministry

probably began c. 760 B.C. and ended c. 720

B.C., two years after the northern kingdom’s

fall. It is likely that he is one who escaped. He

may have fled to the southern kingdom and

completed his writings there.

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

F. Recipients: Though he mentions Judah

as well, Hosea addressed his prophecies

primarily to the northern kingdom, which he

often referred to as “Ephraim,” the dominant

tribe.

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose: To warn of God’s impending judgment on

Israel while showing the balance between justice and his

love:

(1) God’s love does not mean he can forget sin. Sin must be

punished;

(2) On the other hand, God’s justice does not mean that he

desires to completely end his relationship with his wife

(Israel). God constantly tries to draw Israel back to himself.

Even in the wake of judgment he will preserve a remnant.

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

H. Meaning of Children’s Names:Jezreel = “may God scatter” or “may God sow”

Lo-ammi = “not my people” or “no kin of mine”

Lo-ruhamah = “not beloved” or “had not obtained

mercy”

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

I. Outline:I. A Case Study of Adultery: Gomer (1-3)

II. A Case Study of Adultery: Israel (4-14)

A. The charges against Israel (4-7)

B. The coming judgment of Israel (8-10)

C. The final restoration of Israel (11-14)

I. Hosea

Minor Prophets

II. Joel

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Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“I will restore to you the years

that the swarming locust has eaten,

the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,

my great army, which I sent among you”

(Joel 2:25 ESV).

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name: Joel, an otherwise

unknown Israelite prophet to Judah, has

given his name to this book as its composer.

His name means: “The LORD is God” in

Hebrew.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Locusts”

Joel described a locust swarm that devoured

the crops of Judah. He understood them to

be an army sent by God to judge His people

for their sins.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: Nothing is significantly known

about Joel except his father’s name (1:1) and

his familiarity with Jerusalem. Although there

are numerous Joels in the Old Testament, the

prophet bearing his name is known only from

this book. He only identified himself as “the son

of Pethuel” and did not name his hometown or

the kings of his ministry.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

E. Date: Determining the date of this book is

difficult because Joel names no Israelite kings. It is

apparent, however, that he was an early prophet:

(1) Joel’s order of placement within the 12 minor

prophets would suggest a date before 800 B.C.,

since these books are in rough chronological order;

(2) There are thematic similarities with other

prophets of this era such as Amos and Isaiah.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

F. Location: Joel ministered to the southern

kingdom of Judah, as seen by his reference to that

area:

(1) The “Temple of the LORD” (1:9, 14);

(2) “Zion” (a hill in Jerusalem, mentioned seven

times);

(3) Several references to Judah and Jerusalem.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

G. Background: Swarms of locusts were a constant

threat to farmers of the ancient Near East. Perhaps it was

during the reign of Joash (835-796 B.C.), that a terrible

plague of locusts struck Judah. The prophet Joel called his

people to repentance and pleaded with God to end the

plague. Yet he saw in the disaster a foreshadowing of a far

greater future plague: God’s final judgment on sin in the

Great Tribulation. Looking still farther into the future, he also

saw the blessings of the Millennium. Assuming he wrote

during Joash’s reign, Joel was among the earliest of the

writing prophets.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: The people of Judah living

in Jerusalem. The first hearers were people

and priests living in Judah, perhaps about

800 B.C. or about 500 B.C.

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

I. Outline:I. The Day of the Locust (1:1-14)

A. Divine Displeasure Expressed (1:1-5)

1. A Word for the Prophet (1:1)

2. A Word for the People (1:2-5)

a. The Descendants (1:2-4)

b. The Drunkards (1:5)

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

I. Outline “Continued”:B. Divine Displeasure Expands (1:6-14)

1. Desecration (1:6-7)

2. Desolation (1:8-12)

3. Desperation (1:13-14)

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

I. Outline “Continued”:

II. The Day of the LORD (1:15-3:21)

A. The Day of Assyria (1:15-20)

1. A Day of Destruction (1:15-20)

2. A Day of Darkness (2:1-10)

3. A Day of Deliverance (2:11-32)

a. A Call for Repentance (2:11-19)

b. A Call for Rejoicing (2:20-27)

c. A Call for Revival (2:28-32)

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

I. Outline “Continued”:B. The Day of Antichrist (3:1-16)

1. The Gathering of the Hebrew People (3:1)

2. The Gathering of the Heathen Peoples (3:2-16)

a. A Gathering of the Wicked (3:2-8)

b. A Gathering of the Warmongers (3:9-13)

c. A Gathering of the World (3:14-16)

II. Joel

Minor Prophets

I. Outline “Continued”:C. The Day of Anticipation (3:17-21)

1. A Wonderful Coming (3:17-18)

2. A Woeful Contrast (3:19)

3. A Welcome Conclusion (3:20-21)

II. Joel

Major Prophets

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Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

III. Amos

Major Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“I will plant them on their land,

and they shall never again be uprooted

out of the land that I have given them,”

says the LORD your God” (Amos 9:15 ESV).

III. Amos

Major Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Amos, the eighth-century prophet from Judah

to the northern kingdom of Israel, has given

his name to this book as its composer. His

name means: “Burden Bearer” in Hebrew.

III. Amos

Major Prophets

C. Key Term: “Injustice”Amos proclaimed God’s disgust with both the

pagan nations and the people of Israel

because of their many acts of injustice.

God holds all people everywhere, even those

who do not recognize him, responsible for

practicing social justice.

III. Amos

Major Prophets

D. Authorship: Amos, a shepherd (1:1; 7:14-15) from Tekoa, a

small hilltop town overlooking the Dead Sea, 10

miles south of Jerusalem.

III. Amos

Major Prophets

E. Date and Location:1:1 states that Amos prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (793-

753 B.C.) and the southern king Uzziah (Azariah, 790-740), and that

God’s message came to him “two years before the earthquake.”

Josephus dates this earthquake at the time of Uzziah’s apostasy, c. 750.

Amos prophesied at Bethel, where Jeroboam had erected one of his

golden calves. He may have ministered at the north’s capital city of

Samaria as well. His prophecies were probably compiled and recorded

at Bethel, Jerusalem, or Tekoa, perhaps shortly after the earthquake.

III. Amos

Major Prophets

F. Recipients: Although Amos was

concerned about the whole house of Jacob

(3:1, 13), his message was mainly for the

northern kingdom, especially those

associated with its idol worship at Bethel (7).

III. Amos

Major Prophets

G. Purpose: To call Israel to repent of:

(1) Outward actions such as violence, social

injustice, and idolatry;

(2) Inward attitudes such as pride and

heartless worship.

Amid his denunciations, Amos proclaimed the

coming messianic age.

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline:I. Introduction (1:1-2)

II. The Vigilance of the Prophet (1:3-2:16)

A. Lands Near to God’s People (1:3-2:3)

1) Those Always Considered as Gentile

Foreigners by Israel (1:3:10)

a. Damascus (1:3-5)

b. Gaza (1:6-8)

c. Tyre (1:9-10)

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):2) Those Always Considered as Genetic

Family by Israel (1:11-2:3)

a. Edom (1:11-12)

b. Ammon (1:13-15)

c. Moab (2:1-3)

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):B. Lands Native to God’s People (2:4-16)

1) The Doom of Royal Judah (2:4-5)

2) The Doom of Rebellious Israel (2:6-16)

a. The Formula (2:6a)

b. The Facts (2:6b-12)

c. The Future (2:13-16)

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):III. The Voice of the Prophet (3:1-6:14)

A. As to the Present (3:1-15)

1) The Lord’s Questions to Israel (3:1-9)

2) The Lord’s Quarrel with Israel (3:10-15)

B. As to the Past (4:1-13)

1) The Lord’s Scorn (4:1-5)

2) The Lord’s Scourge (4:6-13)

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):C. As to the Prospect (5:1-6:14)

1) The Distress of the Lord (5:1-15)

2) The Day of the Lord (5:16-20)

3) The Disgust of the Lord (5:21-27)

4) The Determination of the Lord (6:1-14)

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):IV. The Visions of the Prophet (7:1-9:10)

A. Judgment Restrained (7:1-6)

1) The Devouring Locust (7:1-3)

2) The Devouring Flame (7:4-6)

B. Judgment Required (7:7-17)

1) The Plumbline (7:7-9)

2) The Priest (7:10-17)

III. Amos

Major Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):C. Judgment Restored (8:1-9:10)

1) The Solemn Sign (8:1-3)

2) The Sobering Sermon (8:4-14)

3) The Startling Sight (9:1-4)

4) The Sudden Stroke (9:5-6)

5) The Sifting Sieve (9:7-10)

III. Amos

Minor Prophets

H. Outline (Continued):V. The Vindication of the Prophet (9:11-15)

A. Israel’s Privileges Restored (9:11-12)

B. Israel’s Prosperity Restored (9:13-14)

C. Israel’s Protection Restored (9:15)

III. Amos

Minor Prophets

IV. Obadiah

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Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Map:

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

B. Key Verse:

“For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.

As you have done, it shall be done to you;

your deeds shall return on your own head”

(Obadiah 15 ESV).

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

C. Meaning of Name:

Obadiah the sixth-century Israelite prophet

against Edom, has given his name to this

book as its composer. His name means:

“Servant of the LORD” in Hebrew.

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

D. Key Term: “Edom”

The people of Edom were descendants of

Esau who lived southeast of Israel. God’s

wrath against Edom for its sins is the single

concern of this book.

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

E. Authorship:Obadiah (1:1) Biographical details unknown.

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

F. Date:Perhaps around 590 B.C. however, dating is uncertain.

Obadiah did not mention the name of his father or any king,

and he left no personal traces in his prophecy. If the

Babylonian invasions of Judah are indeed the context for

Obadiah’s ministry, he was a contemporary of Jeremiah.

Scholars can only make a reasonable judgment about the

date of composition. The year 590 would fit the evidence.

This was the period after the first two Babylonian invasions,

but before the final disaster of 586 B.C.

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose: This books preserves the divinely

inspired prophecies Obadiah made during his (perhaps)

brief ministry. These prophecies served a twofold purpose:

(1) To warn the people of Edom of their coming doom;

(2) An encouragement to the people of Judah to believe that

God would punish one of their enemies for their sins against

God’s people.

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

H. Themes: “Judgment on Edom; triumph of God’s kingdom”

Obadiah was the only prophet whose message focused

extensively on Edom’s coming judgment. Others, however,

pronounced God’s judgment against Edom as a secondary

theme. Ultimately God will judge all his enemies and his

kingdom will triumph. Thus, this book has an ongoing

message for God’s people when their enemies seem to be

in control. In the end, “there shall be holiness” (17).

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

I. Unique Feature:

Obadiah contains the Old Testament’s most

detailed prophecy about the relationship

between the descendants of Esau and those

of Jacob, a topic that appears repeatedly

throughout the Old Testament.

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline:I. The Doom of Edom (1-16)

A. The Doom Declared (1-2)

1. The Name of the Prophet (1a)

2. The Nature of the Prophecy (1b-2)

a. Its Subject (1b)

b. Its Substance (1c-2)

i. Battle (1c)

ii. Belittlement (2)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:B. The Doom Described (3-9)

1. Edom’s Territory Subdued (3-4)

a. The Hollowness of Edom’s Pride (3b)

b. The Height of Edom’s Pride (3b)

c. The Humbling of Edom’s Pride (4)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:2. Edom’s Treasures Stolen (5-6)

a. The Indolent Greed of the Common Thief (5)

b. The Insatiable Greed of the Coming Thief (6)

3. Edom’s Treaties Scorned (7)

a. The Treachery of Edom’s Allies (7a)

b. The Triumph of Edom’s Allies (7b)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:4. Edom’s Troops Slaughtered (8-9)

a. The Death of Her Sages (8)

b. The Death of Her Soldiers (9)

C. The Doom Deserved (10-14)

1. Edom Encouraged Judah’s Foes (10-11)

a. Participating in the Spread of Violence (10)

b. Participating in the Spoils of Victory (11)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:

2. Edom Enjoyed Judah’s Fall (12-13)

a. Finding Pleasure in It (12)

b. Finding Profit in It (13)

3. Edom Enslaved Judah’s Fugitives (14)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:

D. The Doom Dated (15-16)

1. A Fixed Day (15a)

2. A Fearful Day (15b-16)

a. A Partial Fulfillment: The Downfall of the

Edomite Nation (15b)

b. A Postponed Fulfillment: The Downfall of

the End-Time Nations (16)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:

II. The Deliverance of Zion (17-21)

A. The Character of the Deliverance (17)

1. Rescue (17a)

2. Regeneration (17b)

3. Recovery (17c)

B. The Completeness of the Deliverance (18-20)

1. Judah’s Revenge (18)

2. Judah’s Revival (19-20)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

J. Outline “Continued”:

C. The Consummation of Deliverance (21)

1. Edom’s Salvation (21a)

2. Edom’s Sovereign (21b)

IV. Obadiah

Minor Prophets

V. Jonah

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Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse: “Then Jonah prayed to

the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

‘I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,

and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I

cried, and you heard my voice” (Jonah 2:2 ESV).

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Jonah, the eighth-century Israelite prophet

against Nineveh, has given his name to this

book as its central character and composer.

His name means: “Dove” in Hebrew.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Fish”

Although this book is not about the fish,

clearly Jonah’s being swallowed by the fish is

the most exciting and memorable incident in

the book. This is what keeps interest in the

book alive and makes the best known of all

the minor prophets.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: The book is anonymous. On

the other hand, according to uniform Jewish

and early Christian belief, Jonah wrote this

narrative of which he was the central human

figure. If so, he likely wrote down the account

of his ministry shortly after completing it.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

E. Date: The language of 2 Kings 14:25

suggests that Jonah was a contemporary of

Jeroboam II, and the events reported in his

book were most likely recorded soon after

they occurred (794 B.C. – 753 B.C.).

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

F. Background: Jeroboam II, king of Israel’s northern

kingdom from 794-753 B.C., was not only Israel’s longest-reigning king

but also one of its most successful, expanding Israel’s borders back to

what they had been more than 200 years before in the time of David and

Solomon (see 2 Kings 14:23-29). At the same time, however, Assyria

was growing in strength and pushing its way southward toward Israel,

which it would conquer in 722 B.C. Jonah, from the northern town of

Gath-hepher, had been used by God to predict Jeroboam’s military

successes (2 Kings 14:25). Now, however, the Lord had another mission

for him: to travel to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and call that mighty

and threatening nation to repentance. Although Nineveh would later

repent at Jonah’s preaching, its conquering Israel some 30 years later

suggests the revival did not endure. Nineveh would itself fall in 612 B.C.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose: Jonah is not the story of a man and a fish. Rather,

it is the story of a man and his God. It has much to teach about the

personal relationship between God and believers:

(1) Jonah was nationalistic in his faith, but God wanted him to see that

God’s compassion extends to non-Israelites as well (4:11);

(2) Jonah’s nationalistic zeal was probably selfish, as he saw Assyria as

a threat to Israel’s prosperity. God wanted to show Jonah that

compassion for sinners was more important than prosperity;

(3) Jonah was selfish on an individual level as well. If he could not

control world events, at least he would try to control his shade plant (4:5-

10)! God sought here as well to counter Jonah’s attitude of control and

anger.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: Since Jonah was from the

northern kingdom, the book is usually

considered to have been written to the north.

Since Assyria was clearly a threat to both

kingdoms, however, Jonah’s story would

have been interesting reading for all

Israelites.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

I. Themes: “God’s Mercy” and

“God’s Sovereignty Over Nature”

The mercy of God to those who do not deserve it is

one of the great themes of the Bible. In this book it

is cast in a new light. God’s sovereignty is seen

explicitly in four things. God prepared in the book:

(1) a great fish; (2) a gourd;

(3) a worm; (4) a vehement east wind.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

J. One Sentence Summary: After Jonah’s disobedience to God’s

command for him to preach in Nineveh

resulted in his being swallowed by a fish, he

then obeyed God and preached in Nineveh,

with the result that the entire city repented

and turned to God.

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

K. Map:

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline:I. The Word of God (1:1-16)

A. Jonah’s Secret Rejoicing (1:1-2)

The inescapable missionary challenge of:

1. The Man (1:1)

2. The Multitude (1:2a)

3. The Message (1:1:2b)

B. Jonah’s Swift Rebellion (1:3-5)

1. The Prophet Paying (1:3)

2. The Pagan’s Praying (1:4-5)

a. The Mariners were Alarmed (1:4-5a)

b. The Missionary was Asleep (1:5b

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):C. Jonah’s Sudden Realization (1:6-9)

1. Jonah’s Shame (1:6)

2. Jonah’s Blame (1:7-8)

3. Jonah’s Claim (1:9)

D. Jonah’s Stubborn Resolve (1:10-16)

1. His Decision (1:10-12)

a. The Sailor’s Questions Asked (1:10-11)

i. Why? (1:10)

ii. What? (1:11)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):b. The Sailor’s Questions Answered (1:12)

2. His Doom (1:13-16)

a. What the Sailor’s Did (1:13)

b. What the Sailor’s Desired (1:14)

c. What the Sailor’s Discovered (1:15-16)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):II. The Word with God 1:17-2:10)

A. Jonah’s Dreadful Prison (1:17)

B. Jonah’s Desperate Prayer (2:1-8)

1. What Jonah Reaped (2:1-6)

a. A Feeling of Horror (2:1-3)

b. A Flash of Hope (2:4)

c. A Foretaste of Hell (2:5-6)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):2. What Jonah Remembered (2:7)

3. What Jonah Realized (2:8)

C. Jonah’s Dying Promise (2:9-10)

1. His Surrender (2:9)

2. His Salvation (2:10)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):III. The Word for God (3:1-10)

A. Revelation (3:1-4)

1. The Prophet (3:1-2)

2. The Prophecy (3:3-4)

a. A Word about the Place (3:3)

b. A Word about the Proclamation

(3:4)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):B. Revival (3:5-10)

1. Faith (3:5)

2. Fasting (3:6-9)

a. Its Vast Extent (3:6-7)

b. Its Vital Expression (3:8)

c. Its Valid Expectation (3:9)

3. Forgiveness (3:10)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):IV. The Word about God (4:1-11)

A. Jonah’s Displeasure with God (4:1-9)

1. Jonah and His God (4:1-4)

a. Jonah’s Rage (4:1)

b. Jonah’s Resentment (4:2)

c. Jonah’s Request (4:3-4)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):

2. Jonah and His Gourd (4:5-8)

a. His Decision (4:5)

b. His Discomfort (4:6)

c. His Dismay (4:7-8)

3. Jonah and His Grudge (4:9)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):

B. Jonah’s Discovery about God (4:10-11)

1. An Appeal (4:10)

2. An Application (4:11)

V. Jonah

Minor Prophets

VI. Micah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you but to

do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk

humbly with your God?”

(Micah 6:8 ESV).

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Micah, the eighth-century Israelite prophet

from Judah, has given his name to this book

as its composer. His name is a short form of

Micaiah, meaning “Who Is Like the LORD” in

Hebrew.

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Idolatry”

The essential sin of Judah was idolatry, a

rejection of the “First Table” of the Ten

Commandments (the first four

commandments). This brought about

corruption, violence, and many other sins, a

rejection of the “Second Table” (the last six

commandments)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: Micah was from Moresheth

in Judah, about 20 miles southwest of

Jerusalem. His identity is verified by

Jeremiah, who quoted him and named his

hometown (compare 1:1; 3:12; Jeremiah

26:18).

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

E. Date:

Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham,

Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1), c. 740 B.C. – 690

B.C., the same time span as Isaiah’s ministry.

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

F. Background: About 10-20 years before

the northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria

in 722 B.C., Micah was called to prophesy to

both the northern and southern kingdoms.

Judah itself would barely escape destruction

by Assyria in 701 B.C.

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose: (1) To pronounce judgment for continual apostasy

and insincere religious observance (3:8; 6:6-7);

(2) To show that true faith has practical

manifestations, such as social justice and honesty

in business (6:8); (3) To proclaim God’s ultimate

plans for His people (2:12-13; 7:11-20).

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: The people of Judah living during Micah’s

lifetime. The first hearers were people living

in Judah during the end of the 700s B.C.

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

I. Themes:

• True religion;

• Social justice;

• Future restoration.

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

J. One Sentence Summary: Although Micah also prophesied against

Israel, his main message was against Judah,

who must repent of idolatry and injustice or

else go into exile – but then be restored to

divine blessing under the Ruler from

Bethlehem.

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

K. Map:

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline:I. The Prophecy of Retribution (1:1-3:12)

A. The Calamity 1:1-16)

1. The Coming forth of Jehovah (1:1-2)

2. The Coming focus of Judgment (1:3-16)

a. The Salient Points of Focus (1:3-9)

i. The Sin of Samaria was Spiritual (1:3-8)

ii. The Sin of Samaria was Spreading (1:9)

b. The Subsidiary Points of Focus (1:10-16)

i. The Advancing Foe (1:10-15)

ii. The Advertised Woe (1:16)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):B. The Cause (2:1-3:12)

1. The People (2:1-3:12)

a. The Robbers (2:1-5)

b. The Revilers (2:6-7)

c. The Resisters (2:8-9)

d. The Repudiators (2:10-11)

e. The Remnant (2:12-13)

2. The Princes (3:1-4)

3. The Prophets (3:5-12)

a. The Lying Prophets (3:5-7)

b. The Lord’s Prophets (3:8-12)

i. His Claim (3:8)

ii. His Courage (3:9-12)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):II. The Promise of Restoration (4:1-5:15)

A. Restoration Depicted (4:1-8)

1. Exaltation of the Kingdom (4:1)

2. Extent of the Kingdom (4:2)

3. Excellence of the Kingdom (4:3-5)

4. Exiles of the Kingdom (4:6-8)

a. Restored in Weakness (4:6)

b. Ruling in Power (4:7-8)

B. Restoration Delayed (4:9-5:6)

1. The Times of Israel’s Misery (4:9-13)

a. The Babylonian Empire (4:9-10)

b. The Beast’s Empire (4:11-13)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):2. The Times of Israel’s Messiah (5:1-6)

a. The Insult (5:1)

b. The Incarnation (5:2)

c. The Interval (5:3)

d. The Investiture (5:4-6)

C. Restoration Described (5:7-15)

1. The Remnant (5:7-8)

2. The Recovery (5:9)

3. The Revival (5:10-14)

4. The Revenge (5:15)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):III. The Plea for Repentance (6:1-7:20)

A. Israel’s Sins (6:1-16)

1. The Lord’s Controversy with Israel (6:1-8)

a. The Word of the Lord as Declared on the Hills (6:1-2)

b. The Warmth of the Lord as Displayed to the Hebrews (6:3-4)

c. The Will of the Lord as Discerned by the Heathen (6:5-8)

2. The Lord’s Condemnation of Israel (6:9-16)

a. Sin’s Deceptions (6:9-12)

b. Sins Disappointments (6:13-15)

c. Sin’s Distortions 6:16)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

L. Outline (Continued):

B. Israel’s Sorrows (7:1-6)

1. Blight (7:1-3a)

2. Bribery (7:3b-4)

3. Betrayal (7:5-6)

C. Israel’s Savior (7:7-20)

1. Israel’s Forgiveness (7:7-11)

2. Israel’s Foes (7:12-17)

3. Israel’s Future (7:18-20)

VI. Micah

Minor Prophets

VII. Nahum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y30DanA5EhU&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“The LORD is good,

a stronghold in the day of trouble;

he knows those who take refuge in him”

(Nahum 1:7 ESV).

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Nahum, the seventh-century Israelite prophet

against Nineveh, has given his name to this

book as its composer. His name means

“Comfort” in Hebrew.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Nineveh”

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the world

superpower of the 600s B.C. God’s wrath

against Nineveh for its sins is the concern of

this book. Nahum, the prophet of God’s

judgment, followed Jonah, the prophet of

God’s mercy, to Nineveh.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: Nahum. Biographical details

are unknown. Even the location of his

hometown, Elkosh (1:1), is uncertain.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

E. Date: The fall of Thebes (also called “No-amon,” 3:8),

which occurred in 663 B.C., had already taken place by

Nahum’s time. Assuming that Nineveh’s fall in 612 (the focus

of Nahum’s prophecy) was yet to come, Nahum’s ministry

would be dated sometime between those two events The zeal

for feasts and vows (1:15) may indicate a time after Josiah’s

reforms had reached their climax with the rediscovery of the

law in 621 B.C.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

F. Background: The end of the seventh-century was an

exciting time for Judah, as the great reformer Josiah (640-609) ruled in

Jerusalem. Over this time of blessing, however, loomed the threat of

invasion by Assyria. Nineveh, Assyria’s capital, had been the site of a

great revival in Jonah’s day, nearly 150 years before in about 750 (Jonah

3:4-10). But the revival had faded quickly, and Assyria destroyed Israel’s

northern kingdom in 722 B.C. and nearly destroyed Judah in 701 B.C.

Now Assyria had set its sights on Judah once again, so God called

Nahum to proclaim His final judgment against Nineveh. Nineveh’s doom

would come soon after Nahum’s warnings, when the rising Babylonian

empire defeated it in 612 B.C. Babylon would go on to win victories

against Judah in 605 B.C. and 597 B.C., finally defeating it in 586 B.C.

Zephaniah and Jeremiah were Nahum’s contemporaries.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose: 1) To announce Nineveh’s doom, but in a larger sense to

affirm that God punishes all sin. Though He is “slow to

anger,” He will not let wickedness go unpunished (1:3); (2)

To affirm God’s sovereign control over history. Nineveh’s

destruction was not coincidence or simply the transition from

one human empire to another. It was the direct result of

God’s judgment; (3) To assure Judah that God cares for His

own.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: The first hearers of Nahum may

have been the Ninevites themselves. Possibly the

prophet traveled there to deliver his message, just

as Jonah had done for an earlier generation.

Ultimately, however, this was a message for God’s

people. Nahum was preserved by the people of

Judah in their canon of Scripture at least partly

because it contained a message important to them.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

I. One Sentence Summary: Nahum prophesied that God would destroy

Nineveh because of its wickedness and

violence, never to rise again.

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

J. Map:

VII. Nahum

Minor Prophets

K. Outline:

VII. NahumI. Nineveh’s Doom Declared (1:1-15)

A. The Lord’s Patience (1:1-3a)

B. The Lord’s Power (1:3b-5)

C. The Lord’s Presence (1:6-8)

D. The Lord’s Purpose (1:9-14)

E. The Lord’s Protection (1:15)

II. Nineveh’s Doom Described (2:1-13)

A. The Siege of Nineveh (2:1-8)

B. The Sack of Nineveh (2:9-13)

III. Nineveh’s Doom Deserved (3:1-19)

A. The Fierceness of Nineveh (3:13)

B. The Filthiness of Nineveh (3:4-7)

C. The Folly of Nineveh (3:8-10)

D. The Fear of Nineveh (3:11-13)

E. The Fall of Nineveh (3:14-19)

Minor Prophets

VIII. Habakkuk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPMaRqGJPUU&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:“Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the

stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation”

(Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV).

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name: Habakkuk, the

seventh-century Israelite prophet to Judah,

has given his name to this book as its

composer. His name is possibly related either

to the verb “embrace” in Hebrew or to an

Assyrian plant called the “hambakuku.”

His name means “Love’s Embrace.”

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Dialogue”

The book opens a dialogue between the

prophet and God. The prophet asked God

questions about his ways, and God

answered. The book shows one righteous

way to bring concerns to God when his ways

appear incomprehensible.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: Habakkuk (1:1) was

apparently a Levite with experience in the

music ministry of the Temple (3:1, 19).

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

E. Date: It is likely that the book of Habakkuk was

written sometime between 610 B.C. and 605 B.C. The

prominence of Babylon in Habakkuk indicates a post-612

B.C. date, but Babylon apparently had not yet invaded Judah,

placing the book before 605 B.C. Though no kings are

mentioned, the nation’s sad spiritual condition suggests a

date near the end of Josiah’s reign, perhaps after the wicked

Jehoiakim replaced him in 609 B.C. (see 2 Chronicles 36:8;

Jeremiah 22:18-19).

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

F. Background: Israel’s northern kingdom had fallen to

Assyria in 722 B.C, leaving only the tiny southern kingdom of Judah in

the Promised Land. In 612 B.C., Assyria was itself conquered by

Babylon, the new masters of the ancient Near East. Now, Babylon was

threatening to invade Judah. Even worse, the reforms of the good King

Josiah, begun in 621 B.C., were losing their influence, and Judah’s

spiritual condition was at an all-time low (see 1:2-4). Into this situation

came Habakkuk, recording for his people what God taught him about his

coming judgment of both Judah and Babylon, his sovereignty over

human affairs, and his loving faithfulness toward his own.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose: To announce that:

(1) the sinful in Judah will be punished;

(2) though Babylon will be God’s instrument for

punishing Judah, it too will be punished in due time;

(3) God will preserve Judah’s faithful remnant (2:4).

To help Habakkuk himself (as well as his readers

be patient with God’s sovereign working in history.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: The people in Judah living

during Habakkuk’s lifetime. The first hearers

were the kings and people living in the land

of Judah during the years before the

Babylonian captivity.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

I. One Sentence Summary: When Habakkuk asked God questions about

the nature of evil and its punishment, God

answered by revealing his righteousness and

sovereignty, and the prophet then responded

with worship and faith.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

J. Map:

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

K. Outline: I. Perplexity of the Prophet (1)

A. 1st Problem of the Prophet (1:1-4)

“Why does God permit evil?”

B. God’s Answer (1:5-11)

“God was raising up Chaldeans to punish Judah” (v. 6).

C. 2nd Problem of the Prophet (greater than the first) (1:12-17)

Why would God permit His people to be punished by a nation

more wicked than they? Why did He not destroy the

Chaldeans?

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

K. Outline (Continued): II. Perspicuity of the Prophet (2)

A. Practice of the Prophet (2:1)

He took the secret problem to the secret place.

B. Patience of the Prophet (2:2-3)

He waited for the vision.

C. Pageant of the Prophet (2:4)

The great divide in humanity: One group, which is crooked, is

flowing toward destruction; the other group, by faith, is moving

toward God. This is inevitable.

D. Parable to the Prophet (2:5-20)

The application is self-evident from the vision. The Chaldeans,

in turn, would be destroyed. God was moving among the

nations.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

K. Outline (Continued): III. Pleasure of the Prophet (3)

A. Prayer of the Prophet (3:1-2)

The prophet, who thought God was doing nothing about evil,

now asks Him to remember to be merciful. Was he afraid that

God was doing too much?

B. Program of God (3:3-15)

God rides majestically in His own chariot of salvation (v. 8).

C. Position of the Prophet (3:16-19)

He will rejoice (v. 18). He has come from pain to pleasure.

VIII. Habakkuk

Minor Prophets

IX. Zephaniah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZknKPNvz8&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a

mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will

quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing”

(Zephaniah 3:17 ESV).

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Zephaniah, the seventh-century prophet from

Judah, has given his name to this book as its

composer. His name means “The Lord hides”

in Hebrew.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Day of the Lord”

Zephaniah predicted the future day of the

Lord as a time of ruin for Jerusalem. The

initial coming of the day of the Lord was

manifested by Judah’s fall to Babylon; its final

fulfillment lies in the future in the context of

Christ’s return.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship:

Zephaniah. Descended from King Hezekiah

(1:1) and therefore related to Josiah,

Zephaniah may have well influenced the

young king as he sought the Lord and tried to

promote spiritual revival.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

E. Date:Perhaps around 625 B.C. While Zephaniah’s

ministry is said only to have taken place in the days

of Josiah (1:1), it may well have been during the

years between the beginning of Josiah’s personal

awakening (632 B.C.) and the onset of his more

public revival efforts in 621 B.C.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

F. Background: After the enlightened reign of Hezekiah (728-686

B.C.), Judah had endured 55 years under two of its worse kings, Manasseh and

Amon, before Josiah was made king as age eight in 640 B.C. As he grew into

adulthood, Josiah proved to be the most godly of Judah’s kings. He experienced

a personal spiritual awakening in 632 B.C. at age 16 (2 Chronicles 34:3), and

after the law was rediscovered in 621 B.C., he led a nationwide revival (2

Chronicles 34:14-18, 29-33). Despite Josiah’s reforms and the initial positive

response of the people (2 Kings 23:3), many in Judah remained lukewarm in

their faith. Into this situation came Zephaniah, warning of the impending invasion

by Babylon and of the “day of the Lord,” the final and universal judgment as the

end of human history (1:1-3:7). Looking still further into God’s plans for his

people, he foretold Judah’s return from Babylon and the final, triumphant page of

human history, the glorious millennial kingdom of God (3:8-20). Nahum and

Jeremiah were Zephaniah’s contemporaries.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose:(1) To warn of the coming “day of the Lord” and

correct misconceptions about it. Many Israelite

thought it would be a day for rejoicing, but

Zephaniah revealed that idolatrous Israelites were

considered God’s enemies just as the Canaanites

had been. It is not nationality but spirituality that

counts; (2) To hold out hope for a remnant that will

survive God’s judgment (3:9-20).

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients:

The first hearers were the kings and people

living in Judah some forty years before the

Babylonian captivity.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

I. One Sentence Summary:

Although Zephaniah prophesied coming

judgment against the nations, his main

message was against Judah, whose sins

were so serious that they would go into exile

on “the day of the Lord,” but later they would

be restored to righteousness.

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

J. Map:

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

K. Outline:

I. A Sad Day Coming (1:1-3:8)

A. Judah and Jerusalem Judged (1:1-2:3)

B. Enemy Nations Judged (2:4-15)

C. Judah and Jerusalem Judged (3:1-8)

II . A Glad Day Coming (3:9-20)

IX. Zephaniah

Minor Prophets

X. Haggai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juPvv_xcX-U&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“The latter glory of this house shall be greater

than the former, says the LORD of hosts.

And in this place I will give peace, declares

the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:9 ESV).

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Haggai, the sixth-century prophet who

returned to Judah from Babylonian exile, has

given his name to this book as its composer.

His name means “Festive” in Hebrew.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Rebuilding”

The primary focus of this book is rebuilding

the Jewish temple in Jerusalem after the

return from Babylonian captivity.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship: Haggai. Both Haggai and

Zechariah are named by Ezra (Ezra 5:1; 6:14). Like

Nehemiah, who would come to Jerusalem much

later to rebuild its walls, Haggai was a man of

action: After the Temple had sat unfinished for 15

years, it took Haggai just 23 days to inspire the

people to resume the work. (The work would finally

be completed in about 515 B.C. – see Ezra 6:15.)

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

E. Date: 1:1 dates Haggai’s ministry in “the second year of King

Darius’s reign,” or 520 B.C. (compare Ezra 4:24). The book can be divided

into three separate prophesies, each given on a specified day of that year:

- First prophecy (1): first day of the sixth month, Elu (August-September)

(1:1);

- Second prophecy (2:1-9): 21st day of seventh month, Tishri (September-

October) (2:1);

- Third prophecy (2:10-23): 24th day of ninth month, Chislev (November-

December) (2:10, 20).

Haggai probably recorded his prophecies soon after giving them.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

F. Background:The first group of Jews returned from Babylonian

exile in 538 B.C. (Ezra 1), and in 536 B.C. began

rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 3:8-13). In about 535

B.C., however, deeply discouraged and under

intense opposition, their work had ground to a halt

(Ezra 4:24). 15 years later, in 520 B.C., God raised

us Haggai and Zechariah to encourage them in the

rebuilding and in personal holiness.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose:

(1) To encourage the rebuilding of the temple;

(2) To give instruction in holiness;

(3) To show God’s faithfulness.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: The Jews who had returned

from exile in 538 B.C.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

I. One Sentence Summary: When Haggai proclaimed God’s command to

rebuild the temple, giving God’s promises

that the glory of the second temple would

exceed that of the first temple, the people

obeyed with a willing heart.

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

J. Map:

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

K. Outline: I. The Call to Build (1:1-15)

A. The Background (1:1-2)

1. The Period (1:1a)

2. The Prophet (1:1b)

3. The Problem (1:2)

B. The Burden (1:3-11)

1. Its Context (1:3-4)

2. Its Content (1:5-11)

a. The Jews Condition Exposed (1:5-6)

b. The Jews Condition Explained (1:7-11)

i. The Cause (1:7-9)

ii. The Consequences (1:10-11)

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

K. Outline (Continued): C. The Blessing (1:12-15)

1. The Response (1:12)

2. The Reassurance (1:13)

3. The Revival (1:14-15)

a. The Truth (1:14)

b. The Time (1:15)

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

K. Outline (Continued): III. The Call to Behave (2:10-19)

A. The Blessing That Was Wanted (2:10-14)

1. The Principle of the Law (2:10-13)

a. Virtue Cannot Be Caught (2:10-12)

b. Vileness Cannot Be Contained (2:13)

2. The People of the Lord (2:14)

a. Unclean in Their Souls (2:14a)

b. Unclean in Their Sacrifices (2:14b)

B. The Blessing That Was Withheld (2:15-17)

1. The Neglected House (2:15)

2. The Negligent Heart (2:17b)

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

K. Outline (Continued):

C. The Blessing That Was Waiting (2:18-19)

1. The Ground of Blessing (2:18)

2. The Greatness of Blessing (2:19)

IV. The Call to Believe (2:20-23)

A. God Will Manifest His Power (2:20-22)

1. By Shaking the Elements (2:20-21)

2. By Shattering the Enemy (2:22)

B. God Will Magnify His Prince (2:23)

X. Haggai

Minor Prophets

XI. Zechariah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_106IfO6Kc0&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“Who are you, O great mountain?

Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.

And he shall bring forward the top stone amid

shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:7

ESV)

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Zechariah, the sixth-century prophet who

returned to Judah from Babylonian exile, has

given his name to this book as its composer.

His name means

“The Lord Remembers” in Hebrew.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Jerusalem”

This book focuses on the city of Jerusalem,

which still lay in ruins in Zechariah’s day.

Both the near-term rebuilding of the city and

the ultimate, everlasting destiny of Jerusalem

as the city in which God delights are in view.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship:Zechariah (1:1), who along with Haggai encouraged the

rebuilding of the Temple (see Ezra 5:1; 6:14). Zechariah was

a priest as well as a prophet. His grandfather was Iddo (1:1),

a priest who returned from the exile with Zerubbabel

(Nehemiah 12:4). Apparently Zechariah succeeded his

grandfather as head of that priestly family (Nehemiah

12:16). Zechariah would later be martyred on the Temple

grounds (Matthew 23:35). The Bible mentions 34 men

named Zechariah!

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

E. Date: The prophecies of 1-8 probably

would have been given between 520 B.C.,

when Zechariah and Haggai began

encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple, and

515 B.C., when the rebuilding was completed.

His final prophecies (9-14) are from later,

probably about 480 B.C.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

F. Background: Zechariah described his

prophetic call as simply “the word of the Lord.” For

more that fifteen years the Jews had been back in

Jerusalem, but the city was still in physical disarray.

The walls were still ruined, and the people were

questioning the future of the city. God raised up

Zecariah to encourage these Jews with a vision of

Jerusalem’s glorious future. He did not tell what

prompted the collection of his writings.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose:

(1) To encourage the rebuilding of the

Temple; (2) To give instruction in holiness

(rebuilt lives result in a rebuilt Temple!); (3) To

provide specific information concerning both

the first and second coming of Christ.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients: Israelites in Jerusalem after

they returned from exile. The first audience

was the people of Jerusalem that had

returned from exile. In particular Zerubbabel

the governor and Joshua the high priest

received some of Zechariah’s messages of

encouragement.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

I. One Sentence Summary:

Through night visions and prophetic oracles,

Zechariah predicted the welfare of Jerusalem

as God’s beloved holy city into which the

King would enter riding on a donkey, the one

also called God’s Servant and Branch.

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

J. Map:

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

K. Outline: I. Apocalyptic Visions (Messianic and Millennial) (1-6)

A. Introduction and Message of Warning (1:1-6)

B. Ten Visions (all in one night) (1:7-6:15)

1. Riders Under Myrtle Trees (1:7-17) 6. The Branch (3:8-10)

2. Four Horns (1:18-19) 7. Lampstand and Two Olive Trees (4)

3. Four Smiths (1:20-21) 8. Flying Roll (5:1-4)

4. Man with a Measuring Line (2) 9. Woman in Ephah (5:5-11)

5. Joshua and Satan (3:1-7) 10. Four Chariots (6)

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

K. Outline (Continued): II. Historic Interlude (7-8)

A. Question Concerning a Religious Ritual (Fasting) (7:1-3)

B. Threefold Answer (7:4-8:23)

1. When the Heart is Right, the Ritual is Right (7:4-7)

2. When the Heart is Wrong, the Ritual is Wrong (7:8-14)

3. God’s Purpose Concerning Jerusalem – Unchanged by Any Ritual (8)

III. Prophetic Burdens (9-14)

A. 1st Burden: Prophetic Aspects Connected w/ 1st Coming of Christ (9-11)

B. 2nd Burden: Prophetic Aspects Connected w/ 2nd Coming of Christ (12-

14)

XI. Zechariah

Minor Prophets

XII. Malachi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPGShWZ4Jvk&ab_channel=BibleProject

Note: This link is provided as a supplemental resource only. The instructor does not necessarily agree

with nor condemns the overall teachings of The Bible Project.

Minor Prophets

A. Key Verse:

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that

there may be food in my house. And

thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of

hosts, if I will not open the windows of

heaven for you and pour down for you a

blessing until there is no more need”

(Malachi 3:10 ESV).

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

B. Meaning of Name:

Malachi, the fifth-century prophet of Judah,

has given his name to this book as its

composer. His name means “My Messenger”

in Hebrew.

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

C. Key Term: “Messenger”

Malachi, God’s messenger, noted that while

true priests of God served as his messengers

(2:7), God would one day send “my

messenger” (3:1, John the Baptist) to prepare

the way for “the messenger of the covenant”

(3:1, Jesus).

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

D. Authorship:

Malachi (1:1). Biographical details unknown.

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

E. Date: About 430 B.C.

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

F. Background:With encouragement from the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the first

group of Jews return from captivity had finished rebuilding the Temple in

about 515 B.C. As the second and third waves of exiles returned in 457

B.C. and 445 B.C., Ezra and Nehemiah led the nation in spiritual revival.

In about 432 B.C., Nehemiah returned to Babylon for a while, and when

he returned to Jerusalem found that spiritual conditions had deteriorated

(see Nehemiah 13). It is generally thought that Malachi ministered at

about this time, reminding the people of God’s love for them, calling

them to repentance, warning of judgment, and foretelling great blessings

for those whose hearts were right.

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

G. Purpose:

(1) To rebuke the profaning of that which is

holy; (2) To rebuke the abuse of proper

human relationships; (3) To announce both

the judgment and the blessing of the coming

“day of the Lord.”

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

H. Recipients:

Israelites in Judah after the Babylonian exile.

The first audience was the people of Judah of

the second or third generation after the return

from captivity that had become lethargic in

their relationship to God.

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

I. One Sentence Summary: Malachi rebuked God’s people for specific

violations of the covenant, such as laws

concerning sacrifices, divorce, and tithes, but

he also prophesied the coming of the

Messenger who will set all things right.

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

J. Map:

XII. Malachi

Minor Prophets

K. Outline: I. God’s Love Stated (1:1-5)

II. God’s Love Scorned (1:6-3:18)

A. The priests’ contempt for God (1:6-14)

B. The priests’ contempt for the priesthood (1:6-14)

C. The people’s contempt for marriage (2:10-17)

D. The coming of John the Baptist and Christ (3:1-5)

E. Robbing from God (3:6-12)

F. No Benefit from godliness (3:13-15)

G. The Benefits of godliness (3:16-18)

III. God’s Love Shown (4)

XII. Malachi

Sources:

Easley, Kendell H. Holman QuickSource: Guide to Understanding the Bible, Nashville, TN:

Holman Bible Publishers, 2002.

Holman Study Bible NKJV, Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2015.

Journeying with God: A Survey of the Old Testament, Purposeful Design Publications.

McGee, J. Vernon. Briefing the Bible: Outlines to Encourage Reading the Bible Through in a

Year, Pasadena, CA: Thru the Bible Books, 1978.

Phillips, John. Exploring the Minor Prophets: The Book of the Twelve, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux,

1998.

Wilmington, Harold L. Wilmington’s Bible Handbook, Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale, 1997.

Ancient Israel Map: www.thebiblejourney.org (Accessed: 02-28-2021).