Lecturer 9: Prophetic Literature (Pre-exilic prophets)
By Juliana Nzuki
THE PROPHETIC ERA
INTRODUCTION:
The biblical description of a prophet is someone called by God to receive God’s message and to deliver it
in accordance with God’s instruction. The Hebrew title for prophet is “Nabi”, other titles given to a prophet
in the bible includes, “man of God”, “A Seer”, “A servant of Jehovah”, all suggesting a prophet’s intimate
relationship with God and his total loyalty to him. There are two types of prophets in the Bible namely:
1. Oral prophets
These are prophets who made prophecies but did not write any books. These include prophets like;
Ahijah, Iddo, Jehu, Elijah, Elisha, Obed, Shamaiah, Azriah, Hanani, Jahaziel, Huldah, Micaiah,
Nathan, and Eliezer.
2. The writing prophets
These were prophets who prophesied as well as writing prophetic books. These include the major
and minor prophets. They wrote a total of 17 books. These prophets prophesied during specific
periods of Israel’s history. The prophetic books are classified into: Major and Minor prophets. The
major prophets are understood to be major because of the length of their books and the themes they
convey which often are more than the minor prophets’. However, there is no minor or major God’s
message.
3. The recipients of the prophetic messages:
Both the major and minor prophets directed their prophetic messages to:
a. The Israelites (The Northern Kingdom)
b. The people of Judah (Southern Kingdom)
c. Both the Northern (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah)
d. A few prophesied against foreign nations.
4. The eras or periods of the prophetic ministry/message
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THE PRE-EXILIC PERIOD
This was the period before the Israelites and the people of Judah went to Assyrian and Babylonian captivity
respectively. God because of gracious love raised two prophets to prophesy during this period. These ones
include Isaiah, Jeremiah (Major Prophets), Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (Minor
Prophets).
THE PRE-EXILIC PROPHETS (11 PROPHETS)
DATE (B.C) PROPHET MESSAGE RECIPIENTS REIGN OF:
740- Isaiah The salvation of Yahweh for his Jews in Judea Uzziah, Jotham,
people through the redemption of the (Southern Ahaz, Hezekiah
680 (major prophet) messiah. The Hebrews are required to Kingdom)
abide by the covenant and be
optimistic of Gods comfort and
deliverance.
627- Jeremiah (major Warning of God’s impending Jews in Judea and Josiah, Jehoahaz,
prophet) judgment because of the rampant sins Babylonian Jehoiakim,
585 among the Hebrew people without captivity (Southern Jehoiachin,
repentance God will subject them to Kingdom) Zedekiah.
captivity in Babylon. God however
will restore them back to himself
under a new covenant.
586 or Jeremiah Laments and mourning over what
(Lamentations) befell Judah in 586 BC. The
585 Babylonians destroyed the holy city
of Jerusalem and the temple of God.
Many of the Jews were then taken to
Babylon as exiles.
755- Hosea The steadfast unfailing love of God Israel (Northern Uzziah, Jothan,
for Israel despite her continued Kingdom) Ahaz, Hezekiah.
715 rebellion against him. They have
adulterated their faith and defiled
themselves with idolatry
835- Joel Warning against Judah for the Judah (Southern Not certain
coming judgment in the day of the Kingdom)
796 Lord. he calls on Judah to repent for
God to restore his relationship with
them and bless them.
765- Amos God’s impeding judgment against Israel (Northern Uzziah,
Judah for her socio- political Kingdom) Jeroboam II
750 economic and religious evils. He also
has a message of hope to the faithful
remnants.
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840 Obadiah Pronounced the judgment of Edom Judah (Southern Rehoboam,
because of her pride and rejoicing Kingdom) Jehoram,
over the misfortunes that befell Jehoash,
Jerusalem. Amaziah
850- Jonah God’s impending judgment over Ninevites Jeroboam II of
Nineveh and God’s willingness to (Assyrians) Israel ministered
780 forgive them if they repent of their after the time of
wickedness. Elisha before
Amos and Hosea.
740- Micah Shows how the people failed to abide Mainly to Judah Jotham, Ahaz
by the stipulation of the covenant. and partly to the and Hezekiah
690 Obedience meant blessing and Northern Kingdom
disobedience would lead to curses
which will lead them being cast from
the promised land.
630- Nahum The prediction of the fall of Nineveh The Ninevites Josiah. He was a
as God’s retribution against the (Assyrians) contemporary of
612 wicked Assyrians of Nineveh. They Zephaniah and
were proud, cruel, and planning evil Jeremiah.
against God’s people.
606- Habakkuk Conveys Habakkuk’s perplexity Josiah
about God’s delay to punish Judah as
604 well as his astonishment that God
could use a wicked nation like
Babylon to punish his people.
However, he is revealed with
appropriate answers to his perplexing
questions.
625 Zephaniah Zephaniah speaks to the people of Josiah
Judah whose moral and spiritual life
had been dulled by the evil influence
of the reigns of Manasseh and Amon.
He warns them of God’s impending
judgment on the day of the Lord due
to their disobedience.
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THE MESSAGE OF THE PRE-EXILIC PROPHETS
The pre-exilic prophets delivered messages touching on various socio-political, economic, and
religious evils committed by the Israelites, the people of Judah and even the surrounding nations.
The following is a summary of their messages:
1. Judgment: several pre-exilic prophets warned the Hebrew people of God’s impending
judgment if they were not going to repent and turn away from their evils. Both the major
and minor prophets were entrusted by God to deliver this message to the Hebrews. God
also raised some prophets to direct their judgment messages to some of the surrounding
nations. These prophets included Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos Jonah, Nahum, and Obadiah,
among others. Their prophetic messages revolved around God’s wrath against them
because of their general wickedness and their mistreatment of the Hebrew people.
2. Warning against Political Abuses: the prophets took cognizance of the rampant political
abuses that were exemplified during the reigns of some of the ungodly kings that ruled both
in the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Isaiah, Amos, and Micah among others
prophesied against the social injustices witnessed in both Israel and Judah. The less
fortunate in the society like the widows, orphans and aliens were oppressed and treated
unjustly. Amos and Micah on this same vein addressed both Israel and Judah warning them
of God’s impending judgment due to their oppression of the poor, corruption of the judicial
system, extravagance of the ruling class and the exploitation of the Business Community
who went to the extent of using deceptive scales in their business.
(How are political leaders abusing their powers nowadays?)
3. Moral Decadence: the pre-exilic prophets spoke strongly against moral decadence among
the Hebrews. This behavior did not only have a bearing in social disorder but also
spiritually. The widespread immorality which ranged from fornication, adultery, incest,
bestiality, and homosexuality were enhanced due to the Hebrew indiscriminative mingling
with the pagan nations. Prophet Jeremiah and Hosea warned the Hebrews against their high
level of immorality which signified their drastic fall from the stipulation of the covenant.
Hosea conveys how God detested the Israelites spiritual prostitution. Amos highlights how
immorality was so rampant among the Hebrews to the extent that a son and his father could
even share the same woman (incest).
(How is our present-day society characterized by moral decay?)
4. Rebellion against the Covenant: many of the pre-exilic prophets prophesied against the
Hebrews deliberate rebellion the stipulations of the covenant and asked them to repent and
abide by it. Isaiah on the other hand appealed to the Hebrews of both the Northern and
Southern kingdom to restore their relationship with God and abide by the covenant of the
law, which if they do not, they will face the wrath of God.
5. Warning against False Prophets: during the pre-exilic era when wickedness was so
rampant among the Hebrew people, they were convinced that God’s wrath was about to be
revealed and dreaded. However, this dread was wished away by emerging false prophets
who gave soothing messages to the people assuring them of prosperity and abundant
blessings to come and not touching on the people’s sins. God raised prophets like Jeremiah
to condemn these prophets and warn the people against relying on their deceptive messages
lest they face God’s judgment.
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6. The day of the Lord: some of the pre-exilic prophets were given messages of judgment
which did not only focus on imminent judgment but also futuristic. Prophets like Joel and
Zephaniah prophesied God’s judgment and restoration which will be fully manifested
during the end time or on ‘the day of the Lord’ (Second coming of the Messiah).
7. Idolatry: most of the pre-exilic prophets warned the Hebrews against turning to idolatry.
Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah prophesied against the Hebrews turning away from
worshipping their only God as stipulated in the covenant and turned to idol gods and
goddesses. These prophets warned that such practice would lead to God’s wrathful
judgment.
(State some idols that are being worshipped in our contemporary society).
8. Description of the suffering they will go through: some of the prophets like Jeremiah
vividly described the nature of suffering the Hebrews would undergo during the exile. This
kind of prophecy earned Jeremiah the nickname “The prophet of doom.”
9. Syncretism: this was one of the most common sins committed by the Hebrews. This is the
mixture of religious beliefs. The Hebrews tried their level best to maintain their covenant
relationship with God but at the same time practice pagan religious beliefs. This act was
detestable to God and most of the prophets highlighted on this.
10. The Messianic Promise/Restoration: amidst the tough prophetic messages they
delivered, a good number of the pre- exilic prophets had a message of hope and restoration.
Isaiah who has been nicknamed the “Messianic” prophet is known for his comprehensive
message of restoration of the Hebrew people through the messiah. He prophesied of the
birth and the mission of the messiah which included; his presence with his people
(Immanuel), he will heal his people from their diseases, free them from iniquity , suffer to
save his people from sin, establish an eternal peaceful kingdom and bring down and destroy
the power of the evil one(Isaiah 7;14,9;6-7, 53;1-10).Jeremiah on the other hand prophesied
of the new covenant inaugurated by the Messiah which will be written not on stone tablets
but on people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31;31-34).
Discussion Question:
What are some of the socio-political, economic, and religious evils the pre-exilic prophets could
address if they were prophesying in our contemporary society?
