My Understanding of Religion
Page 18
Amos was the first Hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named after him. He came from the village of Tekoa (now a ruin about 12 miles from Jerusalem) in the southern kingdom of Judah. YAHWEH took him from following the flock and made him a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos travelled to Israel, and was active there during the reign of Jeroboam the second (786 BC to 746 BC). He foretold the destruction of Israel and predicted the destruction of Judah. Although Amos, who is the third Minor Prophet, is called the first of the writing prophets, someone else probably compiled The Book of Amos - perhaps disciples who shared his theology. The book can be separated into three parts: prophecies against Israel and other nations (chapters 1-2), prophecies against Israel for injustice (chapters 3-6), and visions of various fates YAHWEH could visit upon Israel during its destruction. Many scholars believe verses 8 to 15 of chapter 9, which predicts restoration for Israel, were added to Amos at a later date. The day of the Lord is a significant motif in Amos.
Nothing is known about the life of Obadiah, the fourth Minor Prophet. Scholars believe that The Book of Obadiah was written after the fall of Judah - possibly in the middle of the 5th century BC when Jews returned to the area around Jerusalem. The work contains just 21 verses. A main theme of the book is the coming day of the Lord and the destruction of Edom over that country's 'violence against thy brother Jacob'. Another theme is the return of Jews to the Promised Land.
The fifth book of the Minor Prophets, The Book of Jonah, contains no prophecies. It was probably composed between about 500 BC and 250 BC in protest at the exclusiveness of a post-exilic Judaism that championed the notion of a pure blood race of Jews, which was set in motion by the reformers Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5th century BC. An important theme of Jonah is the idea that YAHWEH is a not just the God of Israel, but the God of all nations.
Micah wrote the sixth book of the Minor Prophets, The Book of Micah. He did so in the 8th century BC. The book can be separated into two parts: chapters 1-3 contain judgements against Samaria (the capital city of Israel) and Jerusalem, chapters 4-7 contain promises of restoration for the Hebrews, and the outpouring of God's anger and fury upon the heathen 'such as they have not heard.' In the day that YAHWEH comes forth out of his place the mountains shall be molten and the valleys shall be like wax before the fire, says Micah. One of Micah's predictions, which became important to Christians, was of a Davidic ruler who would come from Bethlehem and bring peace to the earth. Micah uses the harlot motif against Samaria.
Nahum is the seventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets. The Book of Nahum was probably composed between 626 BC and 612 BC - date of the destruction of Nineveh. Nahum's book contains three chapters. Its main theme is the overthrow of Assyria and the destruction of Nineveh.
Habakkuk, 'the prophet upon Shigionoth', was the author of The Book of Habakkuk. He may have been a prophet of the Jerusalem Temple during part of the 7th century BC - possibly between 605 BC and 597 BC. He is the eighth Minor Prophet. The Book of Habakkuk contains three chapters. Chapter one starts with a protest that YAHWEH will not hear the prophet's cry, and goes on to say YAHWEH will 'raise up the Chaldeans'. The second chapter concerns a vision about a 'proud man' who spoils many nations, and who is destined to be spoiled by a 'remnant of the people'. Chapter three is a hymn forecasting punishment for 'the heathen' and 'salvation' for the Hebrews.
Composed between 640 BC and 630 BC by the prophet Zephaniah, The Book of Zephaniah is the 9th book of the Twelve Minor prophets. It contains three chapters. In the first chapter the prophet says YAHWEH will 'utterly consume all things from off the land.' Judah and Jerusalem will be punished, and those who worship other gods will be 'cut off.' Chapter two predicts the destruction of Assyria and Nineveh. The last chapter informs the reader that YAHWEH will gather all nations in order to punish them, and that Israel will be restored. The day of the Lord is the dominant theme of Zephaniah's work. It is a theme that was originally developed by Amos and Isaiah - Zephaniah's use of the theme may have influenced Jeremiah.
The 10th book of the Twelve Minor Prophets is The Book of Haggai. Haggai helped to mobilize 'the remnant' for the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, in 516 BC, after the Babylonian Exile. The book is made up of two chapters and contains four oracles. Oracle number one calls for the rebuilding of the Temple as a matter of urgency, oracle number two is designed to encourage the people in their building efforts, oracle number three contains a promise of blessing, and oracle number four declares that Zerubbabel will be established as the Davidic ruler.
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