CHAPTER 8 THE DIVIDED KINGDOM

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 8 THE DIVIDED KINGDOM DATES AND BIBLICAL MATERIAL DATES The period begins with the death of Solomon in 931 BC The traditional date given by William Foxwell Albright was 922 BC Edwin R. Thiele more recently revised this to 931 BC The Northern Kingdom (called Israel after this time) survives until 722 BC (duration: 209 years) The Southern Kingdom (called Judah after this time) survives until 586 BC (duration: 345 years 136 years longer than the Northern Kingdom) The date of the division of the kingdoms Absolute dates Dates can be fixed with a higher degree of confidence beginning in the 10 th century BC Thiele gives the most detailed study of these dates 1 Three events can be dated with great precision (according to Thiele) Battle of Karkar BC Fall of Israel - 722/21 BC Fall of Judah - 587/86 BC BIBLICAL MATERIAL The books of Kings The historical narrative begins in 1 Kings 12 and continues through the end of 2 Kings The writer focuses on the sins of Solomon and the rebellion of Israel against Judah The books of Chronicles The commentary (not called historical narrative in Chronicles) begins in 2 Chron. 10 David and Solomon are not blamed with any fault for the division All fault for the division is placed on Israel (i.e. the Northern Kingdom) 1 Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, New Revised Version. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1983

2 How these passages present Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) Theology everything presented conforms to the theology in Deuteronomy David was the norm for all kings Covenant-centered theology i.e. the covenant promise to David (2 Samuel 7) Promise of Davidic succession (successors of David to rule in Jerusalem) Everlasting throne and kingdom of David National deliverance Israel to be God s people forever Prophets Non-writing prophets were active during this period (see the discussion of prophets on page 12) TENSIONS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH PRIOR TO THE DIVISION The monarchy vs. tribal autonomy Efforts at monarchial rule lasted for about 100 years without eliminating or controlling clan/elder identities. Tension between tribal autonomy and monarchial rule collided in 931/922 BC Ephraim vs. Judah (from Jacob s blessings in Genesis 48) (see Figure 19 Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh) Ephraim (grandson of Rachel) Judah (son of Leah) Ephraim, Joseph s son, was given prominence over Manasseh Jacob said of Ephraim: his offspring shall become a multitude of nations. (Genesis 48:19) Of Judah, Jacob said: The scepter shall not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10) This reminds us of Joseph s dream where Joseph s brothers, including Judah, are seen bowing down to him. Ephraim becomes the Joseph of later Israel. Judah becomes the dominant tribe identified with the South Ephraim becomes the dominant tribe identified with the North Primogeniture the term refers to the rights of inheritance where tribal authority and wealth goes to the firstborn Ephraim was not the firstborn, but received Jacob s blessing Judah was also not the firstborn, but was prominent among the other tribes

3 Isaac, Jacob, David, and Solomon are all examples of where the cultural practice of primogeniture was interrupted by God s will Ephraim Jacob Joseph Manasseh And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. (Gen. 48:13-14) Figure 1 Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh Abner (Israel) was murdered by Joab (Judah) - 2 Samuel 2-4 Abner was attempting to make peace with David David honored Abner and won the allegiance of Israel Moses blessing of the tribes of Israel Deuteronomy 33:1-29 Elevation of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) Insignificance of Judah Note also No mention of the tribe of Simeon The tribe of Dan is already at Bashan (although this passage was supposedly spoken prior to Joshua s conquest) Geography favored the northern tribes over Judah for centralized government Coronation of Ishbosheth after Saul s death (David already anointed by Samuel) Rejection of Ephraimites by Gideon (Judges 8:1-3) Identifications of David with Judah and Saul with Israel The revolt of Sheba (2 Samuel 20)

4 Note the phrasing of Sheba s declaration of separation from David in 2 Samuel 20:1 Compare the declaration to Israel s declaration of final separation from Judah in 1 Kings 12:16 Prophecy of Ahijah, a prophet from Shiloh, to Jeroboam I About that time, when Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had clothed himself with a new garment. The two of them were alone in the open country when Ahijah laid hold of the new garment he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. He then said to Jeroboam: Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "See, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes. One tribe will remain his, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. This is because he has forsaken me, worshiped Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and has not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, as his father David did. (1 Kings 11:29-33) Ahijah Solomon Was from Shiloh and represented the older nation of Israel which associated itself with Moses, the Law, Sinai, and the Tabernacle (located in Shiloh) Ahijah and the Shilohites represent a desire abroad in Israel to retreat from the Davidic- Solomonic state to a more ancient order, by revolution if need be. 2 Shows no regard here with the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7 or the promise of Davidic succession Represented the new nation of Israel 1 Kings 1:38-40 says that Solomon was crowned as king over Israel and over Judah Was clearly in succession from David Was ruling in Jerusalem Built and dedicated the Temple Prophecy of Shemaiah to Rehoboam Rehoboam is told by Shemaiah not to attack the north But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me." (1 Kings 12:22-24a) Economic problems Solomon s policies Conscripted labor (corvée) - mostly from the north 2 John Bright, A History of Israel, 3rd Edition, p. 231

5 Heavy taxation Rehoboam Continued (and worsened) the policies of Solomon Rehoboam s insult to the northern tribal leaders My little finger is thicker than my father s loins. Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yolk. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:10b-11) Rejected the appeals and advice from the north Figure 2 - Tell Yoknean. View from Mt. Carmel

6 SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THE DIVIDED KINGDOM ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE DIVIDED KINGDOM Archaeological concepts Two important terms archaeologists use Tell - (also spelled tel ) - a mound of ruins that conceal remains (see photo of a tell in Figure 20 - Tell Yoknean. View from Mt. Carmel) Khirbet - visible ruins (e.g. Qumran) A major concept about archaeology to remember The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. 3 Edwin Yamauchi s Fractional Points 4 Very little of what was made or written in antiquity survives Very few of the ancient sites have been surveyed or found Probably less than two percent of known sites have been meaningfully excavated Few of these sites have been more than scratched Only a fraction of the fraction that have been excavated have been published Archaeological evidence for the period of the Divided Kingdom Moabite Stone - tells of Omri s conquest of Moab and explains why Ahab received tribute from the Moabites (see Figure 21) Gezer Calendar - a calendar from the time of Solomon/Rehoboam that shows the type of calendar being used in that day (see Figure 22) Stele of Shalmaneser III - Tells of the wars of the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser III. The stele lists Ahab as a king of Israel and gives the size of his army and the fact that Ahab participated in the Figure 3 Moabite Stone Figure 4 Gezer Calendar 3 Quoted by Alfred J. Hoerth, Archaeology and the Old Testament, Baker Books, 1998, p. 22, n Edwin Yamauchi, The Stones and the Scriptures, See also Hoerth, Archaeology of the Old Testament, pp

7 Battle of Karkar, 853 BC Basalt stele found at Dan in A.D This is a broken stele, written in Aramaic, which mentions the house of David. (see Figure 24) Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III - shows conquests of Shalmaneser III in 841 BC. The obelisk says that Shalmaneser received tribute from Jehu, king of Israel. (There is an engraving on the obelisk that shows Jehu, king of Israel, bowing to Shalmaneser III) (see Figure 23) Sennacherib Prism - a six-sided baked clay prism (fifteen inches tall) found at Nineveh. Discusses Sennacherib s military campaigns, including his 701 BC invasion of Judah when Hezekiah was king Siloam Inscription - A carved inscription of the wall of the tunnel dug during the reign of Hezekiah in 702 BC Assyrian Eponym lists - A list developed by the Assyrians in which they assigned the name of some high government official, a governor, or even a king to a specific year. Each year was given the name of a different person. Ptolemy s Canon - A chronology developed by Ptolemy (A.D ) which starts in 747 BC Ptolemy recorded over eighty astronomical events (eclipses, etc.) which have been verified by modern astronomers. Figure 6 Dan Stele (House of David) CALENDARS USED IN THE TWO KINGDOMS Calendar differences Israel began its annual calendar in Nissan (March/April) Judah began its annual calendar in Tishri (September/October) Regnal years (the dates and duration of a king s reign) Accession year (Judah) Figure 5 Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III

8 A king was given credit for the year in which he died. The succeeding king would not count his first year until he had passed the month starting the calendar for his country (i.e. Nissan in the Israel, Tishri in Judah) Judah used this method at first Non-accession year (Israel) A king was given credit for the year in which he died AND the succeeding king would count that year as his first year. When the first day of that country s new year came, the king would then begin his second year. Israel used this method at first Neither Israel nor Judah stayed consistent with the way they counted Regnal years Each nation (and each scribe) used its own methods of calendars and Regnal years in determining how its own king s reign coincided with a king of the other nation. (E.g. Rehoboam of Judah is said to have reigned 17 years according to Judah s system. Israel s non-accession reckoning says that Rehoboam reigned 18 years). Overlapping reigns or co-regencies - there were nine co-regencies in Israel and Judah (i.e. periods during which two kings reigned in the same country at the same time). ISRAEL S NEIGHBORS EGYPT Pharaoh Shishak (a.k.a. Shoshenq I) was a native of Libya Gave asylum to Jeroboam I when Ahijah prophesied that he would become King in Israel and had to flee from Solomon (1 Kings 11:40) Invaded Judah, taking advantage of the civil war situation between Judah and Israel Rehoboam bought off Shishak with enormous quantities of Solomon s gold for the favor of not destroying Jerusalem (this was only five years after Solomon s death) - 2 Chron 12; 1 Kings 14 Shishak moved north and conquered cities throughout Israel and into Transjordan Shishak returned to Egypt and never came back to Palestine Solomon s gold was apparently used to build temples in Egypt during the reign of Shishak s son, Osorkon I

9 SYRIA Capital of Syria: Damascus Captured and controlled by David and Solomon Liberated and becomes a northern threat under Rezon Gains the upper hand in power and politics thanks to the civil wars between Israel and Judah Loses some of its political influence when Omri, king of Israel, arranges for his son, Ahab, to marry the Phoenician princes, Jezebel Loses some of its military strength during Ahab s reign due to the rise of the Assyrian kingdom Syria (under Benhadad) was allied with Israel (under Ahab) in 853 BC at the Battle of Karkar - Syria and Israel against Assyria (Assyria claimed victory but the outcome was more of a draw) Hazael succeeded Benhadad and significantly strengthened Syria Hazael s son, a second king by the name of Benhadad, saw decline in Syria s power Syria s last king, Rezin, lost his life and his kingdom to the Assyrian s (under Tiglath-Pileser III) in 732 BC ASSYRIA Capital of Assyria was Nineveh A nation named for its national god, Ashur (think of the people of Assyria as Ashur-ians ) At the height of its power, Assyria absorbed Syria, Israel, Judah, and Egypt as far as Thebes Began as a nation under Tiglath-Pileser I in about 1100 BC Is kept from westward expansion by the power of David and Solomon Fought against the Syria/Israel alliance at the Battle of Karkar in 853 BC when Shalmaneser III was king Experienced internal instability between 782 BC and 745 BC Permitted Uzziah (Southern Kingdom) and Jeroboam II (Northern Kingdom) to expand and secure the borders of Israel/Judah This was when we see the rise of the first classical prophets: Hosea, Amos, and Jonah Tiglath-Pileser III (called Pul in the Old Testament) ( BC) Stabilized Assyria beginning in 745 BC (probably just after the preaching of Jonah) Expanded Assyrian control into Babylon Began the practice of dividing conquered territories into smaller provinces and exchanging large groups of people with captives from distant areas

10 After Tiglath-Pileser III died Assyria continued to grow in strength Received tribute from Jehu, king of Israel (depicted in the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III) Shalmaneser V began a three-year siege against Israel Sargon II, usurped the throne from Shalmaneser V in 722 BC and conquered Samaria (the final demise of Israel) Sennacherib established the Assyrian capital at Nineveh. Ashurbanipal extended the borders of Assyria into Judah and Egypt Decline and defeat Nineveh fell in 612 BC Battle of Carchemish (605 BC) - final defeat of Assyria Babylon took control of Assyria and all its territory, including Judah

11 Figure 8 Assyrian Empire Figure 7 Babylonian Empire

12 PROPHETS DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROPHET Prophets had a specific call from God that motivated him to speak Was conscious of God s authority and on this basis spoke courageously and uncompromisingly A deeply spiritual person, often alone spending time with God Was usually a rugged individualist, showing no consideration for ritual or popular custom Was fierce in denouncing evil, whether in an individual or a nation Spoke insightfully of the future of people, the nation, and the kingdom of God PROPHETS IN MESOPOTAMIA Omen texts records of mysterious events (i.e. omens) at about the time of Abraham (c BC) Mari prophecy at about the same time, ecstatic prophets had dreams and visions and advised the kings based on these visions Akkadian prophecies so called Akkadian because they occurred in the region of the ancient Akkadians were contemporaneous with the biblical prophets of the first millennium BC appear to be more like apocalyptic pronouncements about prominent people THE HEBREW WORDS FOR PROPHET ḥōzeh means seer, or to gaze at a seer was thought to actually see the things of God rō eh same basic meaning as ḥōzeh nābî most frequently used word in Hebrew (about 300 times) similar to the Akkadian word for prophet suggests calling by God to service, not the act of seeing EARLY PROPHETS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Abraham - Genesis 20:7 Moses - Deuteronomy 18:18 (see also Ex. 33:11; Num. 12:8)

13 NON-WRITING PROPHETS Samuel c BC Elijah c. 870 BC (but 2 Chronicles 21:12-15 is a copy of a letter from Elijah to Jehoram, king of Judah, son of Jehoshaphat) Elisha c. 850 BC Named non-writing prophets Ahijah 1 Kings 11:29-39 Micaiah 1 Kings 22:7-28 Huldah the prophetess 2 Kings 22:14-20 Unnamed non-writing prophets 1 Sam. 10:10-12; 19:20-2; 1 Kings 13 Scribal assistants Baruch was Jeremiah s assistant Other prophets probably used writing assistants since their original prophecies were communicated orally records of prophecy were written later THE WRITING PROPHETS ISAIAH Date BC Author Two views of authorship of Isaiah The traditional view is that Isaiah wrote all 66 chapters Some recent scholars believe that Isaiah wrote chapters 1-39 and that one or more writers added chapters This view is often called Deutero-Isaiah meaning, a second Isaiah. Some scholars divide chapters into two sections: and This view uses the term Trito-Isaiah meaning a third Isaiah. Arguments for more than one author include the following issues: Time span of the book Some say Isaiah could not have lived long enough to have written it all (note: Isaiah died in c. 690 BC) Different subject matter Chapters 1-39 covers Isaiah s ministry through the reign of Hezekiah. Chapters deal with the exilic period (i.e. after 586 BC).

14 Different styles of writing The two major divisions contain some differences in style and vocabulary Mention of Cyrus the Great by name Some deny that the Holy Spirit could have inspired Isaiah to the point of actually knowing the name of a king more than a century before he reigned. 5 The arguments for more than one Isaiah are not sufficient to overcome the stronger issues of internal unity (i.e. there are more similarities than dissimilarities). Further, the rest of the Bible refers to a single author. The following factors are important: Differences in styles of writing are found in other Old Testament prophets (e.g. Zechariah) The differences in style between chapters 1-39 and can be explained. Chapters 1-39 are historical, relating to the period of Isaiah s life and ministry. Chapters are prophetic. Isaiah wrote them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, about a time yet to come (i.e. the Babylonian captivity). The Holy Spirit does have the power to inspire anything He chooses. Isaiah was a contemporary in Jerusalem of Hosea, Amos, and Micah Jewish tradition (in The Ascension of Isaiah) teaches that Manasseh murdered Isaiah by having him sawed in half (see also Heb. 11:37) 6 Some recent scholars believe that one person could not have written everything contained in this book. However, there is strong internal unity in the book that suggests that more than one person could not have written it. See the Author section in introduction to the book of Isaiah in the NIV Study Bible. Isaiah died in 681 BC, 95 years before Jerusalem would be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Events Isaiah began his ministry in 740 BC, the year that king Uzziah died (see Isa. 6:1). After 745 BC, Tiglath-Pileser III strengthened Assyrian and expanded westward. Syria and Israel created an alliance against Assyria and invited Ahaz (Southern Kingdom, BC) to join them. At first, Judah refused, wanting to remain neutral. The Syro-Ephraimite Alliance could not tolerate this on their southern flank. The alliance attacked Jerusalem in 735 BC, shortly after 5 Isaiah died in 690 BC. Cyrus the Great reigned from BC. 6 Bright says that there is no historical evidence to support Isaiah s death by Manasseh. John Bright. A History of Israel, 3 rd ed., p. 293.

15 the 20-year-old Ahaz had become king (2 Kings 15:37-38; 2 Kings 6:5; Isa. 7:1-2). At about the same time, Syria assisted the Edomites to capture Elath (city on the Gulf of Aqaba) (2 Kings 6:6). Edom then attacked Judah from the southeast. Further, the Philistines attacked southwestern Judah at the same time. Judah was now under attack on three fronts. Ahaz turned to Assyria for help (2 Kings 7-9). From BC, Assyria overran all of coastal plain of the Israel and most of the territory of the Northern Kingdom. In 732 BC, Assyria captured Damascus and executed Rezin, its king. All that was left of the Northern Kingdom was parts of the tribal areas of Ephraim and Manasseh. Hoshea, the last king of the Northern Kingdom, capitulated to Assyria. However, when Tiglath- Pileser III died, Hoshea tried to free the Northern Kingdom from Assyrian control. The new Assyrian leader, Shalmaneser V, was able to take over where Tiglath-Pileser III left off, and invaded the Northern Kingdom. Samaria fell in 722 BC. The consequences of Ahaz s decisions for Judah were twofold: The good news was that since Ahaz did not join the Syro-Ephraimite Alliance, Judah was not destroyed by the Assyrians The bad news was that Ahaz s alliance with the Assyrians turned Judah into a vassal state of Assyria (2 Kings 6:7f) Ahaz s legacy to Judah was Loss of its independence to Assyria Introduction of Assyrian religion and culture into Judah (2 Kings 16:10-18) The temple in Jerusalem became a temple devoted to the Assyrian gods The prophets tell that Ahaz never had faith in God and willingly accepted the Assyrian gods, even to the point of sacrificing his own son as a human sacrifice (Isa. 2:6-8,20; 8:19-22; Micah 5:12-14) It is interesting to note that two of the prophecies relating to the birth of the Messiah (Isa. 7:14 and Micah 5:2) occur in the context of the evil of Ahaz In 715 BC, Hezekiah ( BC) succeeded his father, Ahaz ( BC), as king of Judah. Hezekiah, Isaiah, and Micah were among those who wanted freedom from Assyrian occupation After 720 BC, Assyria s attention was focused on threats from the east, and especially from Babylon. During the early years of Hezekiah, Assyria posed no threat to Judah. In about 714 BC, a new Egyptian dynasty decided to retake territories it had lost to Assyria (especially along the coastal plain). Hezekiah was invited to join an alliance with Egypt. Isaiah

16 warned about the Egyptian resurgence (Isa ). In 712 BC, Assyria defeated Egypt and punished those who had joined the alliance. Fortunately, Judah had listened to Isaiah. Sargon II died in 704 BC and was succeeded by his son, Sennacherib. Sargon s death was during a losing battle and he was buried far from home. With Sargon s death, Babylon once again rebelled. Other nations on the fringe of the Assyrian empire joined in rebellion, thinking this was a good time to opt out of payments of tribute to Assyria. Hezekiah was among those refusing to pay tribute (2 King 18:7). In 702 BC, Babylon sent envoys to Hezekiah asking him to join in their resistant to Assyria (2 Kings 20:12-19; Isa. 39) 7. An alliance against Assyria was once again created. This new alliance included Egypt, Phoenicia, Edom, and many others in Palestine. Isaiah warned that all of this was folly (Isa. 30:1-7; 31:1-3). In 702 BC, as preparation for what Hezekiah knew would be an Assyrian invasion, he strengthened the defenses around Jerusalem and caused a 1,777 ft. tunnel to be dug (through solid rock) connecting the Gihon Spring with the Pool of Siloam. In 701 BC, Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13-14; 2 Chron. 32; Isa ). Sennacherib corroborates the story told in the Bible, although he exaggerates the Assyrian side of the story (see Sennacherib s Prism, Figure 15). In Sennacherib s Prism, the Assyrians recorded that their siege had Hezekiah like a bird in cage. Isaiah descries the conditions in Jerusalem as very bad (Isa. 1:4-9). Except for Assyria s exaggerations on Sennacherib s Prism 8, the Bible and the Assyrian records agree. Some scholars think there were two invasions. 9 The notes in the NIV Study Bible take the position that there was only one invasion (see the introduction to Isaiah). The only problem is that the story in 2 Kings 18:14-16 is not included in the accounts in 2 Chronicles 32 or Isa This textual issue is a fascinating, complicated, and irresolvable debate. Figure 9 Sennacherib's Prism 7 Note the wording of these two passages. They are almost identical. 8 For example, the Assyrians reports that Hezekiah lost the battle, paid huge tribute, and gave his daughters to the Assyrians as concubines. See John Bright, A History of Israel, 3 rd ed., p This is the view of William Foxwell Albright and John Bright. See John Bright, A History of Israel, 3 rd ed., pp. 298ff.

17 In 687 BC, Manasseh ( ), the son of Hezekiah ( BC) began reigning in Jerusalem. Manasseh gave up all resistance to Assyria, reversed all religious reforms made by Hezekiah, murdered Isaiah (perhaps?), and plunged Judah into a period of spiritual decline. Message The Holy One of Israel 10 Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. (Isa. 1:4) God is Israel s defense, its kings should not rely upon military alliances with others What answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation? "The LORD has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge." (Isa. 14:32) Prophecies of the Messiah Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isa. 53) The true people of God are those who hold Him in their hearts by faith "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one 10 Isaiah uses The Holy One of Israel 26 times. The phrase is found only six times outside Isaiah and at least one of these, 2 Kings 19:22, is in Isaiah s comments to Hezekiah. The phrase is distributed throughout the 66 chapters of Isaiah, supporting the internal unity of the book and Isaiah as its sole author. For more on the unity of Isaiah see the discussion of Author in the introduction to Isaiah in the NIV Study Bible.

18 who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood, and whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol. (Isa. 66:2-3) JEREMIAH Date BC Contemporaries: Zephaniah, Obadiah, and Habakkuk No event in chapters 1-51 occurred later than 580 BC 11 According to Jer. 1:1, Jeremiah ministered during the reigns of five kings in Judah: Josiah ( BC) Jeremiah began preaching in the middle of Josiah s reign Jehoahaz (609 BC) Jehoiakim ( BC) Jehoiachin ( BC) Zedekiah ( BC) Author Jeremiah is the most autobiographical of all the prophets. There is no doubt that Jeremiah was responsible for its content. However, Jeremiah did use an assistant, Baruch (Jer. 36:4-32). The date, place, and occasion of Jeremiah s death is not known. Jewish legend says that he was stoned to death in Egypt. Events Ashurbanipal ( BC), king of Assyria died Nabopolassar ( BC), founder of the Babylonian empire, began reigning (this is also the year that Jeremiah began his ministry) Nineveh, capital of Assyria, was captured in 612 BC by the alliance of Babylonians and Medes In 609 BC, Egypt marched northward to help the Assyrians because it feared the growing power of the Medes and Babylonians. The Egyptian army marched along the Via Maris and crossed into the Valley of Jezreel at Megiddo. Josiah tried to stop Egypt at Megiddo in 609 BC. Josiah was killed in this battle (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chron. 35:20-24). Jehoahaz (609 BC) reigned briefly when his father, Josiah, died. Jeremiah refers to Jehoahaz as Shallum (Jer. 22:11). 11 Introduction to Jeremiah, NIV Study Bible

19 In 609 BC, after returning from battle at Carchemish, Pharaoh Neco replaced Jehoahaz with Eliakim, another of Josiah s sons Eliakim s name was changed to Jehoiakim. Jeremiah had been a close friend of Josiah. The two held similar theological and spiritual views. After the death of Josiah, the kings of Judah mostly reject the messages of Jeremiah (Jer. 36:20-26). In 605 BC, Egypt lost in a second battle at Carchemish to the Babylonians (Jer. 46:1-2). Nebuchadnezzar moved quickly to attack Jerusalem, viewed as a vassal state of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar took some from Jerusalem as captives back to Babylon. These included Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Dan. 1:1-6). In 598 BC, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Jerusalem after Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylon. In this second attack, Nebuchadnezzar took Ezekiel captive to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also replaced Jehoiakim with his son, Jehoiachin. In 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar replaced Jehoiachin with Mattaniah, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah did seek Jeremiah s advice, but only secretly (Jer. 38:14-28). In 588 BC, Nebuchadnezzar began dismantling the province of Judah. Several fled Jerusalem, taking Jeremiah and Baruch with them to Egypt (Jer. 43:4-13). The last recorded words of Jeremiah are from Egypt (Jer. 44:24-30). Message God expects personal righteousness and social justice from his people "Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor. He says, 'I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.' So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red. "Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? (Jer. 23:13-15a) God is sovereign over all things But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the tribe of his inheritance the LORD Almighty is his name. (Jer. 10:12-16) See Jer. 51: These two passages are identical.

20 While the sins of fathers can make things bad for their descendants, in the final analysis each person is accountable for their own sins "In those days people will no longer say, "the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes his own teeth will be set on edge. (Jer. 31:29-30) God will answer the prayers of those who seek him "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jer. 33:3) EZEKIEL Date BC Author All we know about Ezekiel we learn from this book Ezekiel was taken captive in 597 BC and sent into Babylonian exile. Ezekiel was part of the group described in 2 Kings 24:14 He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left. (2 Kings 24:14) Ezekiel wrote the entire book in exile He was married and part of a family of priests Events Assyria had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 612 BC. The Babylonians began carving up the Assyrian empire. One of their objectives was to bring Judah under their control. The Judeans were fierce nationalists who opposed Babylonian oppression. This required the Babylonians to sweep through southern Palestine at least three times to end all opposition. In BC, a second wave of deportees was sent from Judah to join with Daniel and others who had been taken captive in 605 BC. This second wave of deportation included Ezekiel. In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem. Ezekiel, while in exile, was given a vision of this event on the day it occurred (Ezek. 24:1-15). Babylon was finally defeated by the Persian empire in 539 BC

21 Message God s ministers are to preach God s word, regardless of reception He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen for they are a rebellious house they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. (Ezek. 2:3-7a) God s judgment of sin is certain "'I the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" (Ezek. 24:14) God is at work in human affairs to show that He is sovereign and holy You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" (Ezek. 20:44) Spiritual death can only be restored to life by God Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. (Ezek. 37:11-13) DANIEL Date BC Author The traditional view is that Daniel wrote this book Some think the language and predictions in Daniel could not have been made from the 5 th century BC (perhaps they believe the Holy Spirit cannot see that far into the future). There is not sufficient evidence to deny Daniel s authorship. Events In 604 BC, Daniel was taken captive in the first of three waves of deportation (see discussion on the Exile on page Error! Bookmark not defined.).

22 He was accompanied by Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) In 597 BC, Ezekiel joined them in exile In 586 BC, Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians The book was completed shortly after Cyrus, king of Persia, defeated Babylon in 539 BC Thus, Daniel lived as a faithful Yahwist in exile in two great empires Message The sovereignty of God 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men. (Dan. 4:17) He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes. (Dan. 5:21) Prediction of the birth, rejection, and death of the Messiah (see the footnote in the NIV Study Bible) "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two sevens. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the 'seven, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Dan. 9:25-27) The righteous will be saved and live with God forever HOSEA "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance. (Dan. 12:13) Date B.C Author Tradition attributes this book to Hosea Hosea identifies himself as a citizen of the Northern Kingdom (Hos. 7:5) Hosea is thought to have lived until about 698 BC although his prophecies stop before the fall of Samaria in 722 BC

23 Events Probably the fall of Samaria in 722 BC. Hosea does not describe this even though he was living in that area during that time Hosea was a contemporary of Amos and Jonah Hosea s life Hosea married Gomer, a harlot Names of their three children (Hosea 1:11) Message JOEL Jezreel (a son) meaning God scatters Lo-Ruhamah (a daughter) meaning not loved Lo-Ammi (a son) meaning not my people The spiritual adultery of Israel But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. (Hosea 11:2a) Your sins have been your downfall (Hosea 14:1) God will not forget Israel and will save them if they repent Date I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? (Hosea 13:14) Dates range from c. 900 to 500 BC Joel is not known in the Bible outside of the books of Joel and Acts Author Traditionally attributed to a prophet by the name of Joel However, we have no other information than his name and that he was a prophet in the Southern Kingdom Events severe drought and a locust plague are portrayed as similar to God s coming judgment on Judah Message the day of the Lord is the pending judgment God has planned for Judah but God will deliver those who repent Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds

24 AMOS and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. (Joel 2:1-2) Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2:130 "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28) Date Amos 1:1 makes it easy to date this book to BC Author Traditionally attributed to a common man named Amos Amos lived in Tekoa ( a small agricultural community south of Jerusalem) Events Amos prophesied during the relatively prosperous and peaceful time of Uzziah (Southern Kingdom) and Jeroboam II (Northern Kingdom) Jonah was a contemporary of Amos. Jonah had prophesied this period of peace and expansion (2 Kings 14:25) Syria had been defeated and the Assyrians were experiencing internal trouble. This gave Israel and Judah the opportunity to strengthen and expand its borders. The result was self-indulgent wealth, immorality, and overconfidence. Amos condemns the sin and complacency of Israel. Amos is the first of the classical prophets, and first to direct his messages to the common people Message Social justice and personal righteousness But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:24) Israel had become too complacent and had lost sight of God Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! (Amos 6:1) Judgment and destruction is coming This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. "What do you see, Amos?" he asked. "A basket of ripe fruit," I answered. Then the LORD said to me, "The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. (Amos 8:1-2)

25 God will not completely abandon the people OBADIAH "Surely the eyes of the Sovereign LORD are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob," declares the LORD. (Amos 9:8) Date BC Author almost nothing is known about the prophet named Obadiah Events prophecies directed at Edom may suggest an earlier date (perhaps as early as the 9 th century BC). However, the events described are also consistent with the fall of Judah, and the language of Obadiah is similar to Jeremiah. Message JONAH The day of the Lord is near "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head. (Obad. 15) Date BC Author Probably not written by Jonah Jonah is referred to in the third person throughout the book Events Jonah prophesied during the relative peaceful and prosperous time of Jeroboam II (see Events under the discussion about Amos on page 24) His mission was to preach in the capital of the nation that would soon destroy the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC At the time, Nineveh was threatened by an invasion of people for the north and east. The people of Nineveh were primed by fear for their own security to hear Jonah s message. Nineveh, itself, was ultimately destroyed by the Babylonians in 612 BC Through Jonah, God was preparing the people of Assyria for the arrival of the people of Israel Jonah s work was similar to that of Elijah and Elisha in that it was inclusive of foreign nations

26 Message God s response to Nineveh s repentance When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10) Jonah (representative of arrogant Israel) learned that God loves all people and will accept any MICAH who repent But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" (Jonah 4:11) Date BC Author Micah lived close to Isaiah and was his contemporary Events Contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah The Northern Kingdom is in peril and falls to the Assyrians (722 BC) during Micah s ministry Waves of invasion by Tiglath-Pileser III ( BC) parts of both Israel and Judah were occupied by the Assyrians Damascus fell to the Assyrians in 732 BC Fall of Samaria in 722 BC Fall of Ashdod in 712 BC Message God will not continue to tolerate godlessness Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. (Micah 2:1-3) God will not completely abandon the people because His plan includes a Savior for all mankind who will be born in Bethlehem "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live

27 securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. (Micah 5:2-5a) God is merciful and will save those who trust in Him Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. (Micah 7:18) NAHUM Date BC Author Traditionally attributed to Nahum Nahum may have been from the region of Galilee. Capernaum (a town on the northwestern Events shore of the Sea of Galilee) means town of Nahum The fall of Thebes (a city in Egypt) is mentioned by Nahum in 3:8-9 this event occurred in 663 BC Nahum prophesies the fall of Nineveh (capital of Assyria). Nineveh is finally destroyed in 612 BC by the Babylonians Before Nahum, Jonah preached to the Assyrians (see discussion of Jonah on page 25) Nahum was a contemporary in Jerusalem with Habakkuk and Jeremiah Message God is slow to anger but will not let the guilt remain unpunished The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3) Nineveh will fall An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength! (Nahum 2:1) God is in control of human history Whatever they plot against the LORD he will bring to an end (Nahum 1:9a)

28 HABAKKUK Date BC Author other than his name, nothing is know of Habakkuk, and we do not even know what his name means Events Habakkuk is not known in the Bible outside this book His ministry is in Jerusalem during his last days (Habakkuk is a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah) The book of Habakkuk is a record of Habakkuk s dialog with God during a time of imminent Message crisis. He represents people of faith who are caught up in divine judgment. God is preparing the Babylonian army as His instrument of judgment I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. (Hab. 1:6) Even people of faith can wonder why God remains silent during evil times Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Hab. 1:13b) People of faith must know that their hope is in faith the righteous will live by his faith (Hab. 2:4b)- see footnote in NIV Study Bible The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. (Hab. 3:19) God is in control of human history ZEPHANIAH But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. (Hab. 2:20) Date BC Author Zephaniah was a fourth-generation descendent of Hezekiah (Zeph. 1:1) Events His prophecies relate to the early years of the reign of Josiah (Zeph. 1:1), when the evil effects of Manasseh and Amon remained in Judah He was a contemporary in Jerusalem with Nahum, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah

29 Message God s justice is sure and effective I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. (Zeph. 1:2) The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. (Zeph. 3:8b) People should fear the awesome power of God Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. (Zeph. 1:7) God will never forget the people of faith HAGGAI But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD. (Zeph. 3:12) Date 520 BC (note the precision of Haggai s reference to time in Hag. 1:1) Author Haggai is the speaker, but we do not know the identity of the writer. All references to Haggai are in the third person. Haggai is mentioned only in Ezra (5:1; 6:14) and possibly by Zechariah (8:9) Along with Zechariah, Haggai is mentioned by Ezra as two prophets in the postexilic period (Ezra 5:1; 6:14). Haggai is not listed as one of the returnees in Ezra. Some use the reference in Hag. 2:3 to argue that he was perhaps as old as 70 in 520 BC. Was he a returnee? Was he never taken into exile? Was he too unimportant for Ezra to list? We just cannot know these answers. Could Zechariah have been the one to preserve the words of Haggai? See Conjecture under Events Events in the discussion on Zechariah on page 30. With Zechariah, Haggai is one of the two prophets in Judah during the postexilic period. Some scholars believe Haggai was much older than Zechariah and may have remembered the glory of Solomon s temple before it was destroyed in 722 BC (see Hag. 2:3). About 50,000 Jews returned to Judah after the decree of Cyrus the Great (538 BC) While there was some opposition from the indigenous people of Palestine, the Jews who returned quickly lost interest in rebuilding the temple. Haggai encouraged the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple