Prophets of the Old Testament

The books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, considered major due to their length.

The twelve prophets (Hosea-Malachi) whose books are shorter in comparison to the others.

Prophetical books of the Old Testament, appearing between Isaiah and Malachi.

Prophets who lived and prophesied before the Babylonian exile.

Prophets who prophesied during the Babylonian exile, a significant historical event.

Prophets who prophesied after the return from the Babylonian exile.

Prophets who lived and prophesied in the 8th century BC, during the Assyrian period.

A time of Assyrian dominance in Southwest Asia, as described in the Old Testament.

The three main prophets appearing in the scrolls, Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha.

Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, seemingly reneged on his agreement with Hezekiah, demanding Jerusalem's unconditional surrender.

Isaiah predicted that Sennacherib would not conquer Jerusalem, and God would intervene.

Jerusalem was spared from Assyrian siege due to a divine intervention causing a pestilence, or other unforeseen events; Assyria turned back.

The influence of the 8th-century prophets on the public worship in Jerusalem was relatively short-lived, facing backlash.

Manasseh's reign witnessed a return to idolatrous practices and persecution of the prophets following Hezekiah's reformation.

Although Assyria initially succeeded in conquering Egypt under Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, the empire declined and ultimately fell to Babylon.

The prophets Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah focused on the moral standards of conduct within Israel, emphasizing obedience to God as more important than ritual.

The prophets' moral teaching (8th Century Prophets) was centered around God's character and righteous judgment, seeing human sins as disobedience to a holy God.

The prophets' messages were based on theological and moral principles from previous revelations from God, emphasizing God's righteousness and the importance of Israelites' obedience.

Jonah, a prophet of God, was initially reluctant to preach to Nineveh but ultimately complied, with the city accepting the message and experiencing God's mercy.

Amos was an 8th-century BC prophet. A shepherd and farmer, he emphasized justice and God's demand for righteous conduct.

Amos prioritized ethical conduct, justice, and righteousness in society, emphasizing God's call for moral discrimination and avoiding judgment through sin.

Amos condemned the social injustice and oppression of the poor and marginalized by the rich in Israel, emphasizing God's concern for the vulnerable.

Amos spoke against the pagan worship (idolatry) and empty religious practices common in Israel, contrasting true worship with empty rituals.

Hosea used his marriage and family life as a metaphor for God's relationship with Israel, highlighting God's enduring love and faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness.

Hosea compared Israel's unfaithfulness to God with adultery, highlighting the disastrous consequences of spiritual infidelity and the importance of faithfulness in a relationship with God.

God demands justice, ethical conduct, and purity from all people, holding the chosen nation of Israel accountable for their actions, including those violating the law of the land.

God's response to the sinfulness of Israel was not solely punishment but an expression of deep concern and a desire for repentance and revival, although judgment may occur.

Israel's practice of worship without pleasing God and mixing with other religions, similar to religious prostitution.

Micah urged righteousness, condemning oppression and greed among the rich, while highlighting the importance of justice, mercy, and faithfulness as essential moral virtues.

The Book of Isaiah is believed to have been composed over time by several authors; not a single person. Proto-Isaiah, Deuteron-Isaiah, and Trito-Isaiah are parts of this work, possibly written by different authors with different perspectives.

The first section of the Book of Isaiah (chapters 1-39), attributed to the 8th-century BCE prophet Isaiah.

The second section of Isaiah (chapters 40-55), written by an anonymous prophet during the Babylonian Exile.

The third section of Isaiah (chapters 56-66), composed after the return from exile.

Hosea portrays God's love for sinners through two examples: the faithful but neglected husband who keeps loving his wife, and the caring parent who refuses to give up on a disobedient child.

The Book of Isaiah's overall structure is seen as a reflection on the destiny of Jerusalem — first its judgment due to sin, and then an eventual restoration expected.

The book of Isaiah is structured into two sections, chapters 1-33 and 34-66. The first is about warnings and promises, the second reports on fulfilled judgment and imminent restoration.

In ancient Israel, supplementing existing texts anonymously was common and not considered improper.

These chapters imply Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian Exile is already occurring. This differs from earlier chapters, which don't assume the exile is in progress.

The prophet Isaiah, active around 700 BC, is considered the author of a significant portion of the book.

Isaiah's message emphasized Israel's need for holiness, righteousness, and returning to God, as opposed to sin.

Eighth-century prophets focused on the moral conduct of their contemporaries. They linked God to ethical behavior, believing actions were more important than rituals.

The prosperity of the 8th century saw wealth, but it also entailed a simultaneous forgetting or shallow worship of God.

The period from approximately 625 to 538 BCE where several key prophets delivered messages as Israelites faced exile in Babylon.

Prophets who lived and prophesied during the Babylonian Empire's dominance in Judah and Palestine.

A crucial battle in 605 BCE, where Necho of Egypt was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, leading to Babylonian control of Palestine and Syria.

A rebellion against Babylonian rule in Judah, resulting in the capture of Jerusalem and the deportation of its population.

The complete destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the Hebrew monarchy in 586 BCE.

Two major prophets of the Babylonian period, whose writings heavily influenced biblical literature.

Three minor prophets of the Babylonian period, known for their shorter writings on important biblical themes.

A prophecy by Zephaniah predicting a universal 'day of Jehovah', around 627 BCE, possibly in response to Scythian threats.

A prophecy focused on the approaching downfall of Nineveh, described as a 'bloody city', around 607 BCE.

A prophecy around 600 BCE, marked by a questioning of God's rule, representing a unique perspective in prophetic writings.

The ministry of Jeremiah, a key prophet during Judah's crisis under Babylonian rule, spanning from 626 to 586 BCE.

Prophets who prophesied after the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian exile.

Post-exilic prophets who emphasized the rebuilding of the Temple and observance of religious law.

A central theme in the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, emphasizing its importance for the Messianic kingdom.

A focus on the rules and practices of religious law, common in post-exilic prophecy.

Ezekiel's emphasis on rebuilding the Temple shaped the approach of Haggai and Zechariah.

Likely composed by an unknown prophet around 450 BCE, criticizing social evils like mixed marriages.

A book of visions and stories set after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. It lacks a clear author.

The period of Jewish captivity in Babylon.

Jeremiah, a prophet from Anathoth (northern kingdom), opposed the Davidic dynasty's power in the south, envisioning a society without a king and temple as indispensable elements.

Ezekiel, a contemporary of Jeremiah, was exiled to Tel-Abib near the Chebar canal in 597 BCE, and prophesied until 570 BCE, witnessing the decline of Judah before its fall.

Ezekiel criticized popular hopes for speedy restoration and announced the end of the old temple, emphasizing the coming of a more glorious temple in a transformed world.

Joel used the devastation of a locust plague as a prophetic warning of a greater judgment to come from the north against Judah, emphasizing the need for repentance.

The post-exilic prophets, spanning almost four centuries after the Babylonian exile, faced varying conditions and lacked the unity of earlier groups.

The Persian period of Old Testament history spanned from the fall of Babylon (538 BCE) to Alexander the Great's conquest (332 BCE).

Key events of the Persian period included the return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah and Ezra).

Following the conquests of Alexander the Great (332 BCE) and leading to the Maccabean revolt (165 BCE), the Greek period saw growing conflict between inherited Jewish faith and Greek civilization.