Andrew Stepp OT Prophets
Major Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel NOTE: Minor = shorter, NOT less important! Major = longer Minor Prophets (The 12) Hosea Nahum Joel Habakkuk Amos Zephaniah Obadiah Haggai Jonah Zechariah Micah Malachi
Those years were characterized by three things: 760-460 BC (Amos-Malachi) (1) unprecedented political, military, economic, and social upheaval; (2) an enormous level of religious unfaithfulness and disregard for the original Mosaic covenant (3) shifts in populations and national boundaries, including enormous shifts in the balance of power on the international scene.
Prologue Part One: Growth of a Great Nation Part Two: Division and Exile Part Three: Restoration +/- Part Four: A Global Kingdom
Pre-Exilic (Israel) Pre-Exilic (Judah) Exilic Post Exilic Jonah Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Obadiah (?) Haggai Joel (?) Zechariah Malachi
I Kings 11-12 The Story of the United Kingdom of Israel dividing into two nations = Israel (North) and Judah (South) Let s just track Israel: The Kingdom in the North Capital is Samaria (Omri) They worshipped Yahweh! ( but that s what they named their 2 golden calves ) And they worshipped a LOT of other gods. 211 years 20 kings, none godly
Read about his reign in 2 Kings 14:23-29 Probably one of the most successful Kings of Israel Reigned 41 years Expanded Israel s Territory almost to the extent of David and Solomon s kingdom Defeated the Arameans, Damascus Luxury, Amusement, exported olive oil, wine, and horses densely populated (+/-350,000 population)
Yahweh was worshipped at Dan and Beth-el 2 golden calves. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam (2 Kings 14:24) All three prophets to Pre-exilic Israel are during his reign.
PRE-EXILIC PROPHETS ISRAEL Jonah Through a very reluctant prophet, God shows compassion for one of Israel s hated enemies. Amos In a period of rare economic prosperity and political strength for Israel, Yahweh announces their doom because she has failed to keep covenant with him. Hosea God s love for his adulterous bride.
2 Kings 17:1-20
In the south Capital is Jerusalem Worship at the temple 1 tribe 347 years 20 kings, some godly somewhat
Isaiah (740-700) Micah (737-690) Nahum (650) Habakkuk (630) Zephaniah (627) Jeremiah (627-580)
Isaiah and Micah prophesy in Judah during the downfall of Israel at the hands of Assyria (722 BC) Nahum prophesies against Assyria during King Manasseh (697-642) Habakkuk and Zephaniah prophesy during the reign of Josiah (639-608) Jeremiah prophesies through the final kings of Judah. (Jerusalem destroyed in 586)
Deuteronomy 28-30 They re Just Moses remixed
Alternating oracles of doom on Israel and Judah for their idolatry and social injustices and of future hope because of Yahweh s mercies Prophesied for a long period (737-690) Post Jeroboam II, in the rapid succession of the final kings of Israel Fall of the Northern Kingdom (722) Two primary issues with Judah that are the same as the Northern Kingdom: Idolatry (1:7; 5:12-14) Injustice (2:1-2, 8-11; 3:1-3, 8-11; 6:10-12; 7:2-3)
2:1-11 Evil plans and prophecies 4:1-13 In the last days 6:1-16 The case against Israel 7:14-20 Closing prayer
2 Kings 21-23
Prophesying against Assyria (capital = Nineveh) 70 years after the fall of the Northern Kingdom A prophecy of God s judgment against Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, and idolatry, concluding with the destruction of the city Why? Idolatry (1:14) Cruelty, injustice, and enslaving nation (3:4), cruelty is endless (3:19) Merchants have stripped the land (3:16)
1:1-15 Nineveh is in t-r-o-u-b-l-e! 3:1-7 I am against you! 4:18-19 Game over
Habakkuk enters into dialogue with God over the question of injustice (How do people get away with evil and God seems to do nothing?) and receives grounds to trust prophetic indignation over God s apparent toleration of injustice; prophetic confidence in the justice and power of God; the stance of the righteous is faithfulness and trust in God; God s assurance that the wicked will be punished Unique prophetic word b/c it is from he is the voice of the people to God It s hymn or prayer to be recited by the community
Complaint #1 1:1-4 Complaint #2 1:12-2:1 His Closing Prayer 3:1-19
Oracles of coming catastrophic judgments against Jerusalem (thus Judah) and surrounding nations, plus an oracle of restoration for a remnant of Judah. Chapter 1 The Day of Lord is near Chapter 2 Prophecies against Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Cushites, Assyrians Chapter 3 What will happen to Jerusalem
This is the point of the class! Micah: 7 ch. (2 days) Nahum: 3 ch. (1 day) Habakkuk: 3 ch. (1 day) Zephaniah: 3 ch. (1 day) Next week: Jeremiah and Lamentations