Nevi’im II

1. Nevi’im II The Prophets

2. A prophet • Navi (Nabi) “one who announces” or one who is called” in Hebrew • Nevi’im is the plural form of the word • One who proclaims the word or will of the deity

3. Language • Poetic • Rhythmic • Full of metaphors and figures of speech • Parallelism • One line “parallels” another • i.e. “He expected justice, but found bloodshed; integrity, but only a cry of distress” Isa. 5:7

4. oracle • Pronouncement believed to be divinely inspired • Not a person, but the message

5. Prophecy • Develops along with the monarchy • It does not refer to Mosaic Law very much • As the monarchy declines, so does prophecy

6. Kinds of Prophecy • Ecstatic prophecy • Distinguishing true prophets from false • Apocalyptic “unveiling” or “revelation” • Prophecy around royal courts • Linkage between exclusive worship of Yahweh and ethical behavior

7. escatology • From a Greek word meaning the study of the last things • It is about the ultimate destiny of humanity • In relation to the prophets it is those prophets who speak to final fulfillment and final hope • The ultimate destiny of the universe

8. mid 8th to 5th centuries BCE • Scribes began the process of assembling oracles under the individual prophet’s names • The books reveal Yahweh’s will during periods of social and political crisis

9. Elijah • In Elijah’s prophecy, a pattern emerges that other prophets also follow • Personal revelation • Spiritual proclamation • Political engagement

10. Three Great Crises • The Assyrian Threat • The Babylonian Crisis • The Post-exilic Readjustment

11. Outside threats • Assyrian Empire threatened the existence of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah

12. Assyria • Assyria began a series of military conquests 747-727 BCE • It seized Babylon, Syria, Palestine, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel • Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom is sacked

13. Northern Kingdom Israel falls to Assyria • 722-721 • Sargon II is the leader of Assyria

14. Assyrian Threat of the Eighth Century • Amos • Hosea • Isaiah of Jerusalem • Micah

15. Amos and Hosea • Warns inhabitants of the northern kingdom that their failure to worship Yahweh exclusively and the way they ignore ideals of social justice will lead to the nation’s destruction

16. Assyria Falls • Assyria falls 612 BCE • Babylonian Crisis, and Judah defeated • Exile in Babylon

17. Babylonian Exile Sixth Century • Jeremiah • Obadiah • Ezekiel • Second Isaiah • Haggai • Zechariah

18. Post-Exile • Third Isaiah • Joel • Malachi • Jonah

19. Essay Question • Identify three of Israel’s or Judah’s kings, and include achievements or activities (20 points). Identify three prophets and link them to the king of their times. What is the main theme of each of the prophets (20 points).

20. resurrection • A vision of Ezekiel where human bones reassemble themselves and are covered with human flesh • This kind of ‘resurrection’ referred to Israel as a nation, not individual resurrection • Later, in the Book of Daniel written centuries after Babylon and Ezekiel’s vision, notions of individual human resurrection is conceptualized.

21. Zion • A rocky hill or “citadel” in old Jerusalem that David captured and built his palace, housing the Ark of the Covenant.

22. Amalekites • Neighboring nomadic tribes, descendants of Esau according to Genesis • Traditional enemies of Israel, from the time of Moses down to Joshua, Gideon, Saul and David

23. Hebron • An ancient city south of Jerusalem, associated with Abraham. Hebron is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in Palestine.

24. Messiah • A Hebrew term meaning “anointed one” • In ancient Israel it referred to a king or priest who had been anointed and consecrated • King David was one • Prophets said that an heir of David would be a messiah • Later in the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah (The Christ)