One of the main objectives of the Bible commentator is to reconstruct the historical setting in which the declarations of the prophets were originally made. Chronology of the Latter Prophets and the Intertestamental Period. The close of his ministry is tentatively set by some scholars at 510. Following this line of interpretation, some have gone to the extreme of proposing a Christian migration to Palestine. However, 2 Kings 14:25 states that Jonah also pronounced a prophecy concerning the expansion of Israel that was fulfilled by Jeroboam II. They voluntarily accepted God as their sovereign, and this constituted the nation a theocracy. This fact is recognized by the various New Testament writers, who quoted Isaiah more than 90 times. chapter 9:7; Isaiah 66:23). Any idea that the return of the Jews to their ancestral home, that is, to the new state of Israel, may in any way be related to Bible prophecy is without valid scriptural foundation. ; (locust and Day of the Lord pictures in Joel), written against Edom (which was enemy of Jerusalem under Jehoram? The short book of Obadiah, consisting of only 21 verses, is not dated and its chronological setting is uncertain. See also Jewish history which includes links to individual country histories. At the time of the Babylonian captivity God had specifically announced that that experience was not to mark a full end of Israel as Gods people (Jeremiah 4:27; 5:18; 46:28). Continued obedience was necessary to the continuance of divine favor, whereas persistent disobedience must inevitably culminate in the rejection of the Jewish nation as Gods chosen instrument for carrying out the divine plan (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). ;vx(>_w$ [U-hFzy\v?>}_|z|wxuzv/jO]vNNrz'_=}2 @/^? ), success must and will comethrough Israel after the spirit. It is certain, however, that he lived and labored in the southern kingdom, and that his main prophecy dealt with Assyria in general and Nineveh in particular. Gods promises are made conditional upon mans cooperation and obedience. The Hebrew people were to acquire wisdom and skill in all cunning work, that is, a high degree of inventive genius and ability as artisans, for the manufacture of all kinds of utensils and mechanical devices. Among them about 30,000 are specified (Ezra 2 and Neh 7) as belonging to the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Ninevehs destruction, which came in 612, is referred to as a future event, indicating that Zephaniahs work preceded this date. Elijah claimed that there was no reality except the God of Israel, stressing monotheism to the people with possibly unprecedented emphasis. The Temple is mentioned as still existing (chapter 2:20), which shows that the book was written before Nebuchadnezzars destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. God may reject one nation or group of people in favor of another if those first summoned persistently refuse to cooperate with Him (see Jeremiah 18:6-10; cf. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Owing to the failure of the Jews as Gods chosen people, many of the prophecies of the Old Testament, such as those affirming the worldwide mission of Israel and the ingathering of the Gentiles (see Genesis 12:3; Deuteronomy 4:6-8; Isaiah 2:2-5; 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 56:6, 7; 60:1-3; 61:9; 62:2; Zechariah 2:11; 8:22, 23; etc. 1 0 obj Jonah fled his call because it was the Assyrians who were destroying the Jews. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Hosea, Prophet Hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of Israel and spoke the messages of the Lord. Yet the book contains no clear indication of the time in which the prophet lived. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. The late date is taken here, without prejudice toward an early one. The Kings of Israel & Judah Why Study the Kings? The present-day return of the Jews to Palestine and the establishment of the modern state of Israel do not imply reinstatement as Gods people, present or future. In Babylon: prophecy of Ezekiel, Return to the land under Persian rule, and writings of Ezra-Nehemiah To their own question, What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them? the Gentiles would answer, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:7, 6). Thus it had been with Enoch (Genesis 5:24), Abraham (chapter 26:5), and Joseph (chapter 39:2-6). The kingdom was divided following Solomons death (see 1 Kings 11:33-38). Interactive Timeline of the Kings & Prophets Interactive Timeline of the Kings & Prophets Psalm11918.org Our recent studies of the writings of the prophets have brought our attention to the era of the kings of Israel and Judah. Note by whom it was spoken, to whom it was addressed, and the circumstances that called it forth. Then Gabriel came to reassure him of the restoration of his people and the eventual coming of the Messiah (verses 24, 25). It is impossible to date the devastating plague of locusts that the prophet so vividly describes and compares with the terrors of the coming day of judgment. However, these messages pertaining to the then-distant future were intended, not only to inspire patience, comfort, and hope in the day they were first given, but also to provide men of Christs day with confirming evidence of His Messiahship. The table below shows where in time the prophets fit within the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The prophet Zephaniah traces his genealogy back to an important personage by the name of Hizkiah, probably King Hezekiah (the names are the same in Hebrew) of Judah. Zechariah probably belonged to a priestly family (chapter 1:1; cf. If the nation had been faithful to its trust and had appreciated the high destiny reserved for it by God, the whole earth would have awaited the coming of the Messiah with eager expectancy. All rights reserved. But because of apostasy it was the predictions of national honor and glory that could not be fulfilled. % If these rules are consistently followed the resulting interpretation can be accepted with confidence. This tables shows the reigns of each of the Kings of Judah and Israel, The establishment of the Hebrew monarchy did not affect the basic principles of the theocracy (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 8:7). Nations that had known nothing of the true God would run to Jerusalem because of the manifest evidence of divine blessing that attended Israel (chapter 55:5). In Abraham God found a man ready to yield unqualified obedience to the divine will (Genesis 26:5; Hebrews 11:8) and to cultivate a similar spirit in his posterity (Genesis 18:19). For Haggai, the drought of the land and the ruin of the temple are inseparable. All dates are given according to the Common Era, not the Hebrew calendar. Between the return from Babylon and the rejection of the Messiah, Israel was to have its second and final opportunity as a nation to cooperate with the divine plan (see Jeremiah 12:14-17). Some believe that the prophet refers to the conquest of Jerusalem at the time of King Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10, 16, 17) in the 9th century; others believe that the prophet is speaking of Jerusalems destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. Nehemiahs first term lasted from 444 to 432 B.C. Galatians 3:27-29; see on Deuteronomy 18:15). Though the prophet looked at events about him, he also could see far beyond his own day. Israels unwillingness to submit to the restrictions and requirements of God, prevented them, to a great extent, from reaching the high standard He desired them to attain, and from receiving the blessings He was ready to bestow upon them. According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses of Judaism. In view of the light they had received from God, they were even worse than the heathen, to whom they felt so much superior. **All dates are approximate time periods of each prophet's ministry. Any nation and kingdom that would not serve Israel was to perish chapter (60:12). And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other (Deuteronomy 28:63, 64). All nations of earth were to share in the blessings so generously bestowed upon Israel. "yonah" (dove) Sent to warn the inhabitants of Ninevah (Capital of Assyria) of God's Judgement. In spite of Israels ultimate failure, a limited knowledge of the true God and of the Messianic hope was widespread when the Saviour was born (see on Matthew 2:1). The promises God made to Abraham endured through his descendants and the prophets, and they continue to stand true alongside the church's existence today. All rights reserved. Captivity, he said, had confirmed the curse that came because of disobedience (verses 11, 12) and Jerusalem lay desolate (verses 16-19). You can check these in your browser security settings. 4. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the Messiah, after the flesh, was a Jew, that the charter members of the Christian church were all Jews, and that Christianity grew out of Judaism. But to go beyond that which is clearly set forth by Inspirationin the immediate context of the passage concerned, in the New Testament, or in the Spirit of prophecyis to substitute personal opinion for a plain Thus saith the Lord. Where Inspiration has not thus clearly spoken it is our privilege to compare scripture with scripture in an endeavor to understand more perfectly the mind of the Spirit. 3. Superior intellect. Examine the prophecy in its entirety. *The prophets are listed according to their order in the Scriptures. Mormons have distinctive beliefs on what a prophet is. For example, the judgment that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah, literal cities of the ancient past, is used by Bible writers as descriptive of the judgment God will eventually bring upon all the world. He says specifically that by Jew he does not mean a literal Jew but one converted at heart, whether he be Jew or Gentile (chapter 2:28, 29). From generation to generation these holy men of God (2 Peter 1:21) called Israel to repentance and righteousness and kept alive the Messianic hope. They forgot that God abhors a multiplication of the forms of religion (Isaiah 1:11-18; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:7; Malachi 2:13), and asks of man nothing but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with his God (Micah 6:8; cf. Some prophets overlap, lived in different areas, or the chronology cannot be estimated with any accuracy. They eagerly sought the power of His kingdom, but were unwilling to be guided by its principles. After the murder of Gedaliah, the new governor of Judea, the Jews of Mizpah, fearing the revenge of Nebuchadnezzar, went to Egypt and took with them Jeremiah as well as his secretary Baruch (chapter 43:6). This concept of the role of Israel is reiterated again and again throughout the Old Testament. Sinai God entered into covenant relation with Israel as a nation (Exodus 19:1-8; 24:3-8; Deuteronomy 7:6-14) upon the same basic conditions and with the same ultimate objectives as the Abrahamic covenant. A comparison between some of his prophecies and those of Amos indicates that Hosea was a younger contemporary of Amos (cf. The blessings of health. They rejected the Light of the world, and henceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight. But it was not until his 3rd year in captivity, the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar, that young Daniel gave the first proofs of his prophetic calling (chapters 1:5, 17; 2:1, 19). Partial compliance on their part with the will of God made possible a partial fulfillment of the covenant promises on Gods part. The work of no other prophet can be dated so definitely as that of Haggai. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Christianity is a historical religion, and its inspired messages are anchored to the hills and valleys, the deserts and rivers, of the ancient world, and to literal men and women who once walked the earth. The church in this generation has been endowed by God with great privileges and blessings, and He expects corresponding returns. They cherished the idea that they were favorites of Heaven, and were ungrateful for the opportunities so graciously afforded them. The Talmud (Megillah 14a) says that there had been twice as many prophets as the number of people who left Egypt (2,600,000), but only those whose messages were for future generations were recorded. Biblical Archaeology - Significant Discoveries from Ancient Empires. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. According to His beneficent purpose, the covenant promises were to have met fulfillment in large measure during the centuries following the return of the Israelites from the lands of their captivity. Ezekiel 38:16, 18-23; 39:1-7). prophecies of Elijah, Micaiah, and Elisha. Prophets arose in Israel during the period when Israel's kings challenged the people in powerthe political rulers and the economic elite. He purposed to make them an honor to His name and a blessing to the nations about them. Any interpretation that fails to give these matters due consideration does violence to the Scriptures. Had Israel as a nation preserved her allegiance to Heaven, Jerusalem would have stood forever, the elect of God (Jeremiah 7:7; 17:25). Paul emphasizes the fact that the rejection of literal Israel as Gods chosen instrument for the salvation of the world does not mean that individual Jews can no longer be saved (chapters 9:6; 11:1, 2, 11, 15), for he is a Jew himself (chapters 9:3; 10:1; 11:1, 2). He would renew His covenant with them (Jeremiah 31:10-38; Ezekiel 36:21-38; Zechariah 1:12, 17; 2:12), including its accompanying blessings (Jeremiah 33:3, 6-26; Ezekiel 36:8-15). Yet many of the promises, particularly those concerning the giving of the gospel to the nations and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom, could not be fulfilled to them because of their unfaithfulness, but would be fulfilled to the church on earth preparatory to Christs return, particularly to Gods remnant people, and in the new earth. Formal worship took the place of sincere religion (cf. Haggais courageous ministry was responsible for the resumption of the rebuilding of the Temple in the time of Darius I, after the work had ceased for some time (Ezra 4:24; 5:1). If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Below is a list of the prophets with dates, kings and historical events regarding Israel and her prophets. 3. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. That some of the words he uses are also found in Jeremiah (Obadiah 1, 3, 4; cf. Contributors: Alice Mathews Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board December 9, 2010. A|D.X#. It would become an object lesson of the results of acting in harmony with moral, as with natural, law. --"when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken". Hence, Jonah was probably the earliest of the prophets under discussion. A study of the Old Testament prophets that consists primarily of lifting selected passages here and there out of their historical context and arbitrarily applying them to our dayas if the prophet spoke exclusively for our benefitis fraught with grave danger. In the prophetic picture God is represented as gathering the nations to Jerusalem (Joel 3:1, 2; Zephaniah 3:6-8; cf. They would have no part in all that Christ stood for (see on Matthew 3:2, 3; Mark 3:14). They grasped at the material blessings so generously offered them, but refused the spiritual graces that would have transformed their lives and fitted them to be His representatives. As the people cooperated with the directions God gave them in regard to the culture of the soil, the land would gradually be restored to Edenic fertility and beauty (Isaiah 51:3). Israel was confronted with the choice of blessings or curses. Henceforth, he says, there is no difference between Jew and Greek (chapter 10:12, 13). Yet in mercy, God still bore with His people, and in due time Messiah came (Malachi 3:1-3). In a mysterious way known only to God the prophets words were sometimes intended to meet their fulfillment in the then far-distant future. The fourth school of interpretation may, at times, arrive at a valid application of the predictive portions of Old Testament prophecy to the church today and to its future experience, but neglects the primary application of these messages to their historical setting, and proceeds, quite arbitrarily, to determine that certain selected passages were written more or less exclusively for the church today. He played an important role during two momentous periods: (1) under Ahaz, during the war between Syria and Israel (chapters 7-11), and (2) under Hezekiah, during a siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib chapters 36; 37). We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Since Jothams sole reign began after the death of his father Uzziah in 740/39, the initial date for Micahs prophetic ministry should probably be placed after that date. The prophets did not always clearly understand messages they themselves had borne pointing forward to the distant future, to the coming of the Messiah (1 Peter 1:10, 11). Hosea. In the endeavor to account for this seeming enigma, Bible expositors have set forth various explanations: 1. During the siege, reprobate Israelites would be slain by their foes (Zechariah 13:8; 14:2). One royal visitor to Jerusalem exclaimed, The half was not told me! (1 Kings 10:1-9). His work is characterized by skill in the use of language, a well-balanced syntax, and a lively and impressive poetry. Since no conclusive evidence for any of these three views exists, all are presented here: 1. Daniel 5:25-28; Matthew 21:40-43; 22:3-10; Luke 14:24). The earth would thus be rid of those who opposed God (Zechariah 14:12, 13). Joel is not displayed as the dates are uncertain and estimates range from the 9th to the 4th centuries b.c. 2 Kings 20:1-5; and of promised blessing, see Exodus 6:2-8; cf. <>>> For two of them (Joel and Obadiah), however, no conclusive evidence as to the time of their work exists, and scholars differ widely in their views concerning this matter. Unparalleled prosperity. Pests and diseases, flood and drought, crop failureall these would eventually disappear. The remaining messages and prophecies, found in chapters 9-14, are not dated, a fact that prevents us from fixing the duration of the prophets activity. This prophecy must have been pronounced either before Jeroboam came to the throne (approximately 793 B.C.) His early ministry seems to have coincided with the last years of King Uzziahs reign (see Introduction to Isaiah), but his official call to the office of a prophet came in 740/39, the last year of King Uzziah (chapter 6:1). His call came to him sometime in October/November, 520 B.C., in the same year as Haggais first appearance (chapter 1:1). Jerusalem would have become a great missionary center, and the earth would have been set ablaze with the light of truth in one grand, final appeal to those who had not as yet accepted the invitation of divine mercy. There is no surer protection against the speculative vagaries of religious visionaries than a clear knowledge of the historical context of Scripture. If chapter 52, a historical appendix, was written by the prophet, he must have lived until 561, when Jehoiachin was released from prison by King Evil-Merodach of Babylon (see chapter 52:31).
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