It Is Written In The Prophets Dedication: To the God of all true prophecy, Yehowah. Theme Scriptures: The One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago, the things that have not been done, the One saying; My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do. (Isaiah 46:10) For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it, for it will without fail come true. It will not be late. (Habakkuk 2:3) Copyright 2007 By Jerome Cameron Goodwin All Rights Reserved All Bible References are from The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures Copyright 1984 By The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York
Page 2 1:1 1 Chapter 1 The word of Yehowah 2 that occurred to of Moresheth, 3 in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, that he visioned concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hebrew, Mi khah'; Shortened form of Micaiah (Hebrew, Mi kha'yehu, meaning Who Is Like Yehowah?), as in (2 Chronicles 18:13) in M, Greek, Mi khai'as, Latin, Mi'cha See Appendix 1C 2 Or, the Morashtite 1 is the writer of the Bible book bearing his name and he served as a prophet of Yehowah during the reign s of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, circa 777-717 B.C.E. was a contemporary of other Hebrew prophets Hosea and Isaiah. The exact duration of his prophetic activity is uncertain. His prophesying apparently closed by the end of Hezekiah s reign, when the composition of his book was completed. was a native of the village of Moresheth, southwest of Jerusalem. Who was, and under what kings, and in which time period, did he serve Yehowah God? When did his prophetic activity end? Where was from in Israel, and where was this village located? 2 As a resident of the fertile Shephelah, the prophet was well acquainted with rural living, from which he was inspired to draw a number of meaningful illustrations. prophesied during very turbulent times when false worship and moral corruption flourished in Israel and Judah, also when King Hezekiah instituted religious reforms. What kinds of things was well acquainted with? What kind of a time was it when he prophesied? 3 of Moresheth himself happened to be prophesying in the days of Hezekiah the king of Judah and went on to say to all the people of Judah; This is what Yehowah of armies has said; Zion herself will be plowed up as a mere field, and Jerusalem herself will become mere heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the House will be for high places of a forest. (Jeremiah 26:18)
Page 3 It Is Written In The Prophets future? What had prophesied for the outcome for Jerusalem in the 4 At length Azariah lay down with his forefathers, and they buried him with his forefathers in the City of David, and Jotham his son began to reign in place of him. (2 Kings 15:7) Who came to rule Israel after Azariah? 5 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah the king of Judah became king. (2 Kings 15:32) Who ruled Israel while Jotham was king in Judah? 6 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son. (1 Chronicles 3:12) Who was Jotham s father, and grandfather? 7 Twenty-five years old was Jotham when he began to reign, and for sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. (2 Chronicles 27:1) How old was Jotham when he became king in Judah, and for how long did he reign? 8 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and for sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem, and he did not do what was right in the eyes of Yehowah his God, like David his forefather. (2 Kings 16:2) How old was Ahaz when he became king in Judah, and for how long did he reign? What was his reign like? 9 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and for sixteen years he reigned in Jerusalem, and he did not do what was right in Yehowah s eyes, like David his forefather. (2 Chronicles 28:1) How old was Ahaz when he became king in Judah, and for how long did he reign? 10 Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, the king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem for war against it, and he proved unable to war against it. (Isaiah 7:1) Who was king of Israel during the reign of Ahaz? 11 The word of Yehowah that occurred to Hosea the son of Beeri in the
Page 4 days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, the king of Israel. (Hosea 1:1) When did Hosea prophesy in Israel? 12 And it came about in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah the king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, the king of Judah, became king. (2 Kings 18:1) Who was king of Israel while Hezekiah was king of Judah? 13 Hezekiah himself became king at the age of twenty-five years, and for twenty-nine years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. (2 Chronicles 29:1) How old was King Hezekiah when he began his rule in Judah, and for how long did he reign? 14 Now it came about in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib the king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and proceeded to seize them. (Isaiah 36:1) Who came up against Hezekiah in his fourteenth year of being king? 15 The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, that he visioned, concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1) When did the prophet Isaiah prophesy to Israel and Judah? 16 And he proceeded to buy the mountain of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and began to build on the mountain and call the name of the city that he built by the name of Shemer the master of the mountain, Samaria. (1 Kings 16:24) Who built the mountain of Samaria? 17 Hear this word, YOU cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who are defrauding the lowly ones, who are crushing the poor ones, who are saying to their masters; Do bring, and let us drink! (Amos 4:1) How did Yehowah God refer to the leaders of Samaria, for what were they doing to the people of Israel? 18 Building Zion with acts of bloodshed and Jerusalem with unrighteousness. ( 3:10) What did the men of Judah build Zion with?
Page 5 It Is Written In The Prophets 1:2 Hear, O YOU peoples, all of YOU, pay attention, O earth, and what fills you, and let the Sovereign Lord Yehowah serve against YOU as a witness, Yehowah 1 from his holy temple. 2 One of 134 scribal changes from YHWH to Adho nai' See Appendix 1B From his holy temple Hebrew, me heh khal' qodh shoh'; Latin, tem'plo sanc'to See (Matthew 23:16) Footnote 1 now calls for the people of the earth to all pay attention to his prophesying, for Yehowah God has come to serve as a witness against them, Yehowah from his holy temple. What does now call to attention regarding his words, for who has come to bear witness against them? 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for Yehowah himself has spoken; Sons I have brought up and raised, but they themselves have revolted against me. (Isaiah 1:2) What should all the earth do, when Yehowah God speaks? What did Yehowah God bring up and raise, yet how did they come to act, contrary to his fine ways? 3 Do listen, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will bear witness against you. I am God, your God. (Psalms 50:7) How did the Psalmist show, that Yehowah God would speak to his people, for what was he to them? 4 And I will come near to YOU people for the judgment, and I will become a speedy witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against those swearing falsely, and against those acting fraudulently with the wages of a wage worker, with the widow, and with the fatherless boy, and those turning away the alien resident, while they have not feared me, Yehowah of armies has said. (Malachi 3:5) Who did Yehowah God state, would bring his people into judgment? What acts by his people would bring his speedy action against them? 5 Yehowah is in his holy temple. Yehowah, in the heavens is his throne. His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men. (Psalms 11:4)
Page 6 Where does Yehowah God reside, and what does he view from there, thus examining them closely? 6 But Yehowah is in his holy temple. Keep silence before him, all the earth! (Habakkuk 2:20) Who has come into his holy temple, and how should all the earth respond to his presence among them? 7 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of Yehowah. (Jeremiah 22:29) What pleading request does the Psalmist make to all mankind? 8 And they, for their part, said to Jeremiah; May Yehowah prove to be a true and faithful witness against us if it is not according to every word with which Yehowah your God sends you to us that we shall exactly do. (Jeremiah 42:5) 1:3 What did the exiles of Jerusalem who were spared during its destruction, tell Jeremiah, that they would faithfully do, yet did they? For, look! Yehowah 1 is going forth from his place, and he will certainly come down and tread upon earth s high places. See Appendix 1C 2 1 now calls attention to the fact that Yehowah God has come down from his heavenly dwelling, and he will certainly come down and tread upon earth s high places, and that all earth s inhabitants should take note of this. What does now relate to the people that Yehowah God is doing, and who should take note of this? 2 But our God is in the heavens, everything that he delighted to do he has done. (Psalms 115:3) What things does Yehowah God do, both in heaven and on earth? 3 For, look! Yehowah is coming forth from his place, to call to account the error of the inhabitant of the land against him, and the land will certainly expose her bloodshed, and will no longer cover over her killed ones. (Isaiah 26:21) Why is Yehowah God coming forth from his own place, and what will he expose within the land, that is being covered over? 4 And a spirit proceeded to bear me along and I began to hear behind me the sound of a great rushing; Blessed be the glory of
Page 7 It Is Written In The Prophets Yehowah from his place. (Ezekiel 3:12) What voice did Ezekiel hear while being carried along by a spirit? 5 He kept making him ride upon earth s high places, so that he ate the produce of the field. And he kept making him suck honey out of a crag, and oil out of a flinty rock. (Deuteronomy 32:13) How did Yehowah God bless and protect his people Israel, while in the wilderness? 6 Happy you are, O Israel! Who is there like you, a people enjoying salvation in Yehowah, the shield of your help, and the One who is your eminent sword? So your enemies will cringe before you, and you, upon their high places you will tread. (Deuteronomy 33:29) Why should Israel have been a happy people, and how would their enemies feel before them, because of Yehowah God? 7 For, look! The Former of the mountains and the Creator of the wind, and the One telling to earthling man what his mental concern is, the One making dawn into obscurity, and the One treading on earth s high places, Yehowah, the God of armies, is his name. (Amos 4:13) How does Amos describe Yehowah God to his people? 8 Do lift up your steps to the long-lasting desolations. Everything the enemy has treated badly in the holy place. (Psalms 74:3) How did the Psalmist bemoan the treatment of Israel by her enemies? 9 And people will enter into the caves of the rocks and into the holes of the dust, because of the dreadfulness of Yehowah and from his splendid superiority, when he rises up for the earth to suffer shocks. (Isaiah 2:19) How will people come to feel, and what will they do to escape the anger of Yehowah God, when he comes forth in judgment? 10 O, if only you had ripped the heavens apart, that you had come down, that on account of you, the very mountains had quaked. (Isaiah 64:1) 1:4 How did Isaiah show, that men do not take seriously enough, Yehowah God s anger against them? And the mountains must melt under him, and the low plains themselves will split apart, like wax because of the fire, like waters being poured down a steep place.
Page 8 1 When Yehowah God turns his attention to the inhabitants of the earth, then the mountains or governments of men, will melt under him, for he is coming to rule the earth in righteousness. Also the low plains, referring to the common people who live lives of moral shallowness, will then split apart like wax under a flame flowing away from his glory, and they will be like waters poured down a steep place. What will melt when Yehowah God turns his attention to them, for how will he rule the earth then? What do the low plains refer to, and how will they react to his burning anger against their moral decay? 2 Mountains flowed away from the face of Yehowah, this Sinai, away from the face of Yehowah, Israel s God. (Judges 5:5) How did Moses describe how mountains responded to Yehowah God mighty power? 3 The mountains themselves proceeded to melt just like wax, on account of Yehowah, on account of the Lord of the whole earth. (Psalms 97:5) What will the mountains then do, before his burning anger against this system of things? 4 Yet Yehowah s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a hissing noise, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth, and the works in it, will be discovered. (2 Peter 3:10) mankind? How will Yehowah God s great day of judgment come in upon What will then be dissolved and melt, and what will be discovered or brought to light then? 5 Though its waters be boisterous, foam over, though the mountains rock at its uproar. (Psalms 46:3) How did the Psalmist describe, how the earth will then respond to Yehowah God s great power? 6 As smoke is driven away, may you drive them away, as wax melts because of the fire, let the wicked ones perish from before God. (Psalms 68:2) men away? How did the Psalmist illustrate, how Yehowah God would drive wicked 7 And the Sovereign Lord, Yehowah of the armies, is the One touching the land, so that it melts, and all the inhabitants in it will have to
Page 9 It Is Written In The Prophets mourn, and it will certainly come up like the Nile, all of it, and sink down like the Nile of Egypt. (Amos 9:5) What will happen to the land when Yehowah God touches it? 8 And his feet will actually stand in that day, upon the mountain of the olive trees, which is in front of Jerusalem, on the east, and the mountain of the olive trees must be split at its middle, from the sunrising, and to the west. There will be a very great valley, and half of the mountain will actually be moved to the north, and half of it to the south. (Zechariah 14:4) before him? Where then, will Yehowah God come to stand, and what will be 1:5 It is because of the revolt of Jacob, that there is all this, even because of the sins of the house of Israel. What is the revolt of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places 1 of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? The high places MVg, LXX, the sin of the house; Syriac, the sin 1 Now shows why Yehowah God is thus coming, it is because of the revolt of Jacob, and because of the sins of the house of Israel. And what is that revolt? It is Samaria, the ten tribe Kingdom, which today is paralleled by modern day Christendom. And what are the high places of Judah? They are Jerusalem, which today parallels Jehovah's Witnesses Governing Body and their leading men. his people? What reason does now give for Yehowah, thus coming against What is the revolt of Israel, then, and now? 2 And it came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against Yehowah their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and they began to fear other gods. (2 Kings 17:7) Why did Yehowah God bring his burning anger against his people? 3 Is not this what you proceeded to do to yourself by your leaving Yehowah your God during the time of his walking you in the way? (Jeremiah 2:17) How did Jeremiah show, that Yehowah God s people had left him? 4 At the time that I would bring healing to Israel, the error of Ephraim is
Page 10 also actually uncovered, and the bad things of Samaria, for they have practiced falsehood, and a thief himself comes in, a marauder band actually makes a dash on the outside. (Hosea 7:1) How did Hosea show, what Yehowah God would uncover as the error of his people? 5 And he kept sacrificing and making sacrificial smoke on the high places, and upon the hills, and under every luxuriant tree. (2 Kings 16:4) What did Israel keep doing, upon every high hill within their land? 6 And the high places of Beth-aven, the sin of Israel, will actually be annihilated. Thorns and thistles themselves will come up upon their altars. And people will in fact say to the mountains; Cover us! And to the hills; Fall over us! (Hosea 10:8) 1:6 What high places were to be annihilated within Israel, and what did Yehowah God promise would come up over them? And I shall certainly make Samaria a heap of ruins of the field, the planting places of a vineyard, and I will pour down into the valley, her stones, and her foundations, I shall lay bare. 1 Yehowah now states through, that he will make Samaria nothing but a heap of ruins of the field. She will serve only as a planting place of vineyards. Yehowah will himself make all her stone structures fall, and her foundations he will lay bare to the ground. Samaria? What does Yehowah God state through, that he would make of 2 Have you not heard? From remote times it is what I will do. From bygone days I have even formed it. Now I will bring it in. And you will serve to make fortified cities desolate as piles of ruins. (2 Kings 19:25) What had Yehowah God stated from bygone days, that he would do as a malediction toward his disobedient people? 3 And I will tear down the wall that YOU men have plastered with whitewash, and bring it into contact with the earth, and its foundation must be exposed. And she will certainly fall, and YOU must come to an end in the midst of her, and YOU will have to know, that I am Yehowah. (Ezekiel 13:14)