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HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE?
CHAPTER 5
OLD TESTAMENT
BOOKS OF PROPHECY[Nevi Im]
The prophets[nabi](Grolier's Encyclopedia) were called by God to preach a message to the people(God's Prophetic Word). They were the spokesmen from God to the people. Prophet means "called by God"(Nave's Topical Bible). They were also called seers(First Kings 9:9; Second Kings 17:13; Isaiah 29:10; 30:10; Micah 3:6-7), considered preachers(Amos 7:16), men of God(First Kings 17:18,24; Second Kings 5:8,14), the servants of God(Amos 3:7; Jeremiah 7:25; Ezekiel 38:7), the messengers of God(Second Chronicles 3:15-16,Isaiah 44:26; Haggai 1:13), and watchmen(Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17; 33:2,6,7; Hosea 9:8).(My Servants The Prophets)
The message was this:
1) God is the ruler of all history(Isaiah 10:5-15; Habakkuk 1:5-11,12-17; Ezekiel 38:3-4,10-11,16; Ezekiel 39:2-3; Acts 17:24-26; Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 2:10; 13:8; Second Peter 3:2-7; Revelation 4:8-11);
2) All need to be right with God(Isaiah 30:1-2,15; Ezekiel 2:17-21; Hosea 5:13; Amos 4:6-12; Luke 6:46; John 8:24; 9:31,39,41; Romans 3:21-24; Second Corinthians 5:11; James 4:7-10,17; Revelation 2:10);
3) God is our moral foundation of both Religion and of Society(Jeremiah 7:1-15; Isaiah 28:16; Amos 2:7-12; Luke 6:48; Acts 4:12; First Corinthians 3:11; Second Timothy 2:19; Hebrews 11:10), so one must beware the "new morality" of the false prophet(Jeremiah 23:9-22; Deuteronomy 13:2-4; Matthew 7:15,22; 24:11; Ephesians 4:14; Second Timothy 3:1-7);
4) God is both our Judge and our Hope(Isaiah 6:13; 28:5-7; 29:5; 31:5; Amos 9:11; John 5:22; 12:48; Romans 2:2-16; 3:4,6,26; 8:6-14; Hebrews 7:25; 9:27);
5) The coming Messiah {The Christ} is the key figure of all human history(Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37:26-27; John 1:1-5,7,10; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:2,10; 3:1; 12:24);
6) The prophet's call wasn't by invitation(Amos 7:15), and the call is true, because God carefully guides the prophet completely in His unchangeable truth(Deuteronomy 18:17-22; First Kings 22:19-22,28; First Chronicles 29:29; Hebrews 13:8,9; First Peter 1:23-25; Second Peter 1:19-21). This included proof in prophesy. If it came true, then God directed that prophet, if not, then the prophet was false. Examples include: Balaam(Numbers 23,24)-[Predicted David's coming]; Moses(Deuteronomy 28)- [Assyria to conquer Israel, Jerusalem to be destroyed, and the Jews scattered]; and Isaiah(13,14)- [Babylon would be destroyed].
Many prophets warned of danger, but they were not listened to(Jeremiah 6:10; Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; Second Corinthians 5:11). Just as the prophets then, we warn. It is the Lord that condemns the sinner; the messenger does not(John 8; 12; 14:23; 15:7; Romans 12:19; Second Corinthians 5:11). The Word of God is the Judge(John 12:48). The word given by the prophets endured persecution(Jeremiah 36:20-26; Matthew 24:35; Luke 11:49-52). Because the prophets were human, and others written about in the Bible were human, the Bible shows both their mistakes as well as their triumphs(Genesis 12; 15; First Kings 19:23; Romans 7:14-25; Galatians 2:11-21; Hebrews 11:4-39). Many prophets existed: many false prophets, and some true prophets. Examples from the Bible include: Balaam(Numbers 22:5,8), Elijah(First Kings 17:1), Elisha(Second Kings 5:8), Huldah[prophetess, a lady prophet](Second Kings 22:14-20), Oded(Second Chronicles 28:9-11), and even King Saul is mentioned as a prophet(First Samuel 10:10,11). The Hebrew or "Rabbinic" Bible doesn't separate the Major and Minor Prophets, but just simply calls them the books of prophets or of prophesies(Understanding The Old Testament). These prophets give details concerning the coming Christ/Messiah: from the lineage of David(Ezekiel 37:24; Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:14-16; Zechariah 3:8; Matthew 1:1); a forerunner of Christ would come(Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:1-14; Luke 1:76); The Christ would be born in the town of Bethlehem(Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1); of a virgin(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23); he was sent to die for all his people's sins(Isaiah 53; Luke 22:37; Romans 6:3,4); and would be the anointed conqueror(Isaiah 63:1-6; Romans 8:37; Colossians 2:15); and sitting forever on the throne of Glory(Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 19:28; Mark 14:61,62; 16:19; Romans 1:20; First Timothy 1:17).
These prophets lived and taught the people [both Jew and Gentile] in different times and places, covering a period of about 400 years(The Encyclopedia Of Religion And Ethics). Isaiah, Joel and Micah lived and preached to Judah before the fall of Jerusalem[587 B.C.](Getting Acquainted With The Old Testament). Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah prophesied around the time of the fall of Jerusalem and during the exile(The Encyclopedia Of Religion). Daniel, and Ezekiel lived and worked in Babylon during the exile(God's Prophetic Word). Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi followed the remnant back to Judah[538 B.C.]. Hosea and Amos were the prophets to Israel before it was finally destroyed[722 B.C.]. Jonah and Nahum were sent by God to Ninevah to preach to them, the Gentiles. Obadiah preached against Israel's longtime enemy, Edom(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible).
MAJOR PROPHETS
These books are named Major Prophets because of the length of the books(The Compact Survey Of The Bible). For example, Isaiah has 66 chapters. The Bible places the five Major Prophets first, immediately followed by the twelve minor Prophets(Clarke's Commentary).
ISAIAH- A prophet to Judah for about 40 years, during the reigns of four kings, from King Jotham, to King Hezekiah(Who's Who In The Old Testament). He was called by God around 740 B.C., upon King Uzziah's death(Isaiah 6:1,9). He prophesied about Cyrus[559-530 B.C.] allowing the Jews to return to rebuild Jerusalem{Even mentioning his name more than 150 years before Cyrus was born!}(Isaiah 44:28-45:4) Isaiah predicted in prophesy of the Messiah's birth, death, and eternal rule(Halley's Bible Handbook). Because of this, Isaiah is sometimes called the "Messianic Prophet"(Bible Handbook- A Guide For Basic Bible Learning). Scholars believe that Isaiah was killed by Manasseh by being sawed in half(Universal Jewish Encyclopedia). The longest name in the Bible is in Isaiah 8:1,3(Guinness Book Of World Records).
JEREMIAH- Lived about 100 years later than Isaiah, born about 640 B.C. and was called about 627 B.C.(Second Kings 22-25; Second Chronicles 34-36; Jeremiah 1:2). He prophesied for about 40 years, and was known as the weeping prophet(Jeremiah 8:6; 9:1-10). Jeremiah dictated what God directed to his secretary, the scribe Baruch(36:4,10; 45:1). Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would fall to the Chaldeans, and was branded a traitor(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible). He also wrote the book of LAMENTATIONS, lamenting the waywardness of the people(Isaac Asimov's Commentary On The Bible). Jeremiah is said to have died in exile in Egypt(Peloubet's Bible Dictionary). Scholars believe that Jeremiah was stoned at Tahpankes(Hours With The Bible).
EZEKIEL- Was a priest(Ezekiel 1:1-3), who was carried away during the captivity, about 597 B.C.(14:14,20;33:21). He lived about the same time as Daniel, and prophesied for 22 years(Clarke's Commentary). God spoke to him between a wheel(Ezekiel 10:6-10). His wife died of a stroke(8:1). He prophesied of the return of God's people to Jerusalem and also of the restoration of the temple(Bible Handbook- A Guide for Basic Bible Learning). Ezekiel correctly prophesied IN DETAIL how Tyre would be destroyed(Ezekiel 26:4-12), and 250 years later Alexander the Great fulfilled that prophecy(Archeaology And The Bible). Tradition states that Ezekiel was burned to death(Universal Jewish Encyclopedia).
DANIEL- Served God for 70 years, from a young man(Daniel 1:2-21), when carried away about 600 B.C. to the city of Babylon(Who's Who In The Old Testament). Babylon was the capital city of the Babylonian Empire. He was thrown into a den of lions, and God rescued him(Daniel 6). It was once believed that Belshazzar never existed, until evidence was found that Belshazzar was actually a king and had been killed(Archeaology And The Religion Of Israel). Historic evidence shows Babylon to have been a magnificent city, with walls 300 feet high, 80 feet thick, 35 feet deep, covering 60 miles, with 250 towers, and with 100 gates made of brass(Guinness Book Of World Records). The palace itself was 7 miles around with ruins showing one building alone having covered 37 acres(Hours With The Bible). A reservoir to supply water was found to have been over 140 miles in circumference and 180 feet deep. In addition, a canal 400 miles long still has visible traces(Ancient Monarchies). The gardens were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, covering a square 400 feet in size, rising up like a pyramid to 400 feet in height, and using hydraulic machines to water the gardens(Ninevah And Babylon). It was no wonder that King Nebuchadnezzar bragged(Daniel 4:30). Daniel wrote part of the book in Aramaic(2:4-7:28), a Syriac language, of which both Ezra(Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26) and Jeremiah(Jeremiah 10:11) also used in certain portions of their writings(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible).
MINOR PROPHETS
The Minor Prophets wrote short books [such as Obadiah with just one chapter] with most of them averaging about three chapters(Understanding The Old Testament). There are twelve Minor Prophets(God's Prophetic Word).
HOSEA- Means "Salvation"(Handy Dictionary Of The Bible). Some scholars believed he lived about 790 B.C.(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible), although others argue closer to 746 B.C.(My Servants The Prophets), and still others think it was about 720 B.C.(The Big Picture Bible Timeline), but all agree that he lived over 700 years before Christ. He was told to marry Gomer, and then she committed adultery(Who's Who In The Old Testament). She then ran away(Hosea 3:1,2), and eventually Hosea bought her back from slavery, which symbolized God and Israel(1:2;2:14-20). God is shown as a loving Husband calling Israel, his bride, back to him. God tells Hosea that man often doesn't listen to what God says(Hosea 8:12). Hosea was a prophet for over 40 years(Clarke's Commentary). Some Scholars believed he lived long enough to have been killed by Manasseh(The Chronology Of the Bible).
JOEL- Historians think he lived about 800-750 B.C.(Halley's Bible Handbook), because Joel mentions a plague of locusts(Joel 1:1-2:27). Joel describes God as a Judge(3:1-12), punishing the guilty while protecting the innocent(God's Prophetic Word). Joel warned against sinning against God(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible). Tradition states that the prophet Joel was killed by the sword(Interpreter's Bible). The prophet is quoted in the New Testament, for example in Acts(Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21).
AMOS- He was a shepherd and a fruit gatherer from the Southern Judah city of Tekoa(Amos 1:1;7:14-15), during the period of King Jeroboam II(7:10). He was not an established religious leader, but was called by God to preach to Northern Israel against Israel and her neighbors(Halley's Bible Handbook). Around 751 B.C., he began to prophesy(The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia). He prophesied that the people of Damascus would go in exile to Kur(Amos 1:5), fulfilled in 732 B.C.(My Servants The Prophets), about twenty years later. This is established by historic records, such when a great earthquake occurred(Amos 1:1). Historians have also found recent evidence supporting the Bible(9:7), in that the Philistines came from Crete(Mysteries Of The Bible). Amos is also remembered as the prophet of Justice(Bible Handbook- A Guide For Basic Bible Learning). Later in his life, Amos wrote down his prophesies(All The Men Of The Bible). He was believed killed by Manasseh during the great persecution(The Heart Of Hebrew History).
OBADIAH-Most scholars believed he lived about 800 B.C., during King Ahaz' reign(Handy Dictionary Of The Bible), while others argue about 586 B.C.(Workbook Through The Bible), when Edom was at war with Judah(Obadiah verse 19). Obadiah preached about two different mountains, one belonging to Edom, the other belonging to God(Isaac Asimov's Commentary On The Bible). Edom's would fall, while God's mountain would stand forever(Obadiah 9,16). Some think he might have been King Ahab
=s steward that hid 100 prophets(First Kings 18:3-16), while some think he was the Levite supervisor employed by Josiah(Second Chronicles 34:12), while still others believe he was just a little known prophet, with the exception of writing one book(Harper's Bible Dictionary). It doesn't really matter, because God chose him to write this one chapter book(Obadiah 1). He was thought to have been killed by King Manasseh(The Chronology Of the Bible).JONAH- The reluctant prophet. The son of Amittai, he lived during King Jeroboam II, and preached in the Northern Kingdom of Israel(Second Kings 14:25). He was sent to Ninevah, a barbaric city of gentiles of about 120,000(Jonah 4:11), although some believe the reference to be 120,000 children(Handy Dictionary Of The Bible). The city of Ninevah was the capital city of the Assyrian Empire(Encyclopedia Britannica). It took three days to travel inside it(Jonah 3:3), or about 60 miles in circumference. The walls were 100 feet high, with 1500 towers 200 feet high, and wide enough for three chariots(Ninevah And Babylon). In 600 B.C. the city was destroyed. Jonah tried to run away from God, rather than obey, only to be swallowed by a big fish,[or some versions say a whale](Jonah 1:17). Jonah lived about 790 B.C., and Jesus tells of Jonah(Matthew 12:39-44; Luke 11:32) as a real, historical person(Halley's Bible Handbook). It's been documented that a small child survived being swallowed by a shark for several hours(Ripley's Believe It Or Not). In 1931, a man on a whaling Expedition fell into the water after his boat was smashed by the tail of a whale. Two days later, as the whale was captured and being cut up, the man was found unconscious in its stomach. His skin had suffered some due to the acids in the whale
=s stomach, but otherwise he was completely unhurt(World Book Encyclopedia).If God, who is no respecter of persons(Acts 10:34), allowed someone to survive being in a shark or a whale, then God, who had a special mission for Jonah(Jonah 1:2), would have prepared the animal for Jonah(1:17) to survive for three days(What Is The Bible All About?).MICAH- He lived around the year 730 B.C.(Clarke's Commentary), and prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah(Jeremiah 26:18; Micah 3:12). He prophesied in Judah for about 30 years(WorkBook Through The Bible), during the time of Hosea, Amos and Isaiah(Jeremiah 26:18; Micah 1:1). He told of the good news that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem(Micah 5:2). He told the people that the prophets were posted as watchmen to warn of the Lord's coming judgement(7:4; Ezekiel-3:17-21). Tradition says that Micah was killed by Manasseh(Interpreter's Bible).
NAHUM- Lived sometime about the year 660-630 B.C. and he also preached to Ninevah, just as Jonah did(Isaac Asimov's Commentary On The Bible). He told of God being a terrible storm, sending his judgement on the Assyrian capital(Nahum 1:1,3; Luke 11:32). The word Nahum means "comforter"(Anchor Bible Dictionary). He was a native of Elkosh, 20 miles south of Jerusalem(Compact Survey Of The Bible). He was believed to have been killed by Manasseh during the great persecution(Hours With The Bible).
HABAKKUK- Lived around the year 650-600 B.C. and preached in Judah(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible). He battles a similar problem as Job, as to why God's people suffer, and the sinners go free(Understanding The Old Testament). God answers that the final Judgement will even all scores(Matthew 25:31-46; Hebrews 2:2-5; 3:6). God measures the nations, and they are found to be wanting(Habakkuk 3:6; Daniel 5:27; James 1:4; Matthew 5:11,12,48). God told Habakkuk that because Judah was wicked, they would be destroyed by the Chaldeans, and then assured Habakkuk that later God would destroy the wicked Chaldeans for their sins. His own people must learn to live by trust and faith in God(Bible Handbook- A Guide For Basic Bible Learning). Scholars believe that he was a temple musician(Habakkuk 3:19) and a Levite(Everyone In The Bible), who was concerned with the problems of his time(Harper's Bible Dictionary). Of the scholars who believed he lived about 650 B.C., they believe he was killed by King Manasseh(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
ZEPHANIAH- [
AJehovah Hides@](Genenius= Hebrew Lexicon) Lived sometime about 640-625 B.C. in the southern region of the country of Judah(Halley's Bible Handbook). He preaches of God, the King and ruler(Zephaniah 3:15) exercising judgement on the wicked (3:5; Deuteronomy 32:35; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:25-27; 7:24; Romans 3:5; 12:19; Second Corinthians 5:10; Second Thessalonians 1:8,9; James 3:1; First Peter 4:17-19; Jude 6,15), including Judah. Zephaniah prophesied how God would bring the eventual return of his erring people(3:20) to the city of Jerusalem(Encyclopedia Judaica). Zephaniah was a descendant of King Hezekiah(Zephaniah 1:1), and believed to be a third cousin of King Josiah, during whose reign he prophesied(Illustrated Dictionary And Concordance Of The Bible). He prophesied at the same time as Jeremiah. Some scholars argue that he was believed killed by Manasseh, while others argue that it was during Jehoahaz or Jehoiakim=s reign(The Chronology Of The Bible).HAGGAI- Lived before and about 520 B.C.,(The Heart Of Hebrew History) and went as an old man with the remnant [the obedient Jews] to rebuild the House of God(Haggai 1:8) in Jerusalem(The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia). The name Haggai means "Festival" and scholars believe that he might have been born during a Jewish festival(Illustrated Dictionary And Concordance Of The Bible). Haggai worked with Ezra(Ezra 5:1-2), Zechariah(6:14), and Nehemiah during the return(Who's Who In The Old Testament). He had witnessed the destruction of the temple some 66 years before(Peloubet's Bible Dictionary).
ZECHARIAH- Lived as a young man about 520 B.C. during King Darius
= reign in Persia(Everyone In The Bible), prophesying of four horns(Zechariah 1:18-21), horses of judgement(1:7-17), and also of God cutting off the wicked(9:6), while saving the remnant(8:6-8; Matthew 20:16; Luke 3:23,24). He prophesies of THE BRANCH, the coming Messiah(Zechariah 6:12-14). Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would come riding into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey(9:9; Matthew 21:2-5), in great triumph(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible). He was killed between the altar and the temple(Luke 11:51).MALACHI- Means "My Messenger"(Easton's Bible Dictionary). He lived about 450-400 B.C.(Isaac Asimov's Commentary On The Bible), soon after Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem(Clark's Commentary), and told that the people were robbing God(Malachi 3:7-12; Matthew 23:14; John 10:18). The Prophet criticized God's people because of a general lack of interest in God(Understanding The Old Testament). He complained of the moral and religious decline(Bible Handbook- A Guide For Basic Bible Learning). This is the Last Book of the Old Testament(The Encyclopedia Of Religion And Ethics).
Questions
1. What does the word prophet mean?
2. What was the message preached by the prophets?
3. How many Books of Major Prophets are there?
4. How many Books of Minor Prophets are there?
5. What's the difference between a Major and a Minor
Prophet?
6. Is there historic evidence supporting the existence of
the prophets?
7. Were God's prophets listened to?
8. Do people listen to God's message today?
9. Why should we study the prophets?
10. What happened to most of the prophets?
Please send any comments,suggestions,additions or corrections to: