Malachi, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Malakiy “My Messenger”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)Malachi

Background: This book indicates that after the time of Haggai and Zechariah things deteriorated again. The people felt disappointed with God (1:2-5), the religious leaders were corrupt and slipshod in their duties (1:6-2:9) and everybody disobedient to God’s laws (2:10-16) while at the same time treating him with contempt (2:17-3:18). Ch4 looks forward to the time when injustice will be dealt with and those who are loyal to God will be restored.

Author: Malachi but some say scholars say there is no such prophet exist,so the author might be unknown.

Date and Location: 430BC, in Jerusalem

Purpose:
-Rebuke the profaning of that which is holy
-rebuke the abuse of proper human relationship
-To announce both judgment and blessing of the coming of the Lord

Unique Features: for its length, Mal. Includes more question (some 25) than any Bible book-including     perhaps the famous one: “will a man rob God” (3:8)

-The most famous OT passage on giving (3:8-10)

Comparison:
-Rv. and Mal. concludes with warnings

(4:6 Rv11:3-6)
-Mention Elijah (4:5 Rv11:3-6)

Entire Bible: Ch4 looks back at OT and forward to the NT

- 4:4*Moses and the law
- 4:5, 6*Christ and his kingdom

Abbreviations: Mal./ Ml

MV: Hearers, Doers, Readers, Jas1:25 Rv1:3

Bib1Yr: 1Co4Not Above Scripture

Zechariah,The Book of The Prophet

[He. Zekaryah or Zekaryahu “Yah has remember”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Zechariah

Background: Like Haggai, this prophet encouraged the people to take up work they had left off and complete Temple building. His messages are given in a series of visions (ch8) and concern other issues as well as the rebuilding. Ch9-14 are in a different form, more typical of prophetic messages. Theme is the future age: Israel’s deliverance, God’s triumph and the work of the Messiah. 14chs

Author: Zechariah

Date and Location: 1-8 probably given bet. 520BC when Zechariah and Haggai began encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple and 515 when it is completed; 9-14, probably about 480.

Recipients: See Haggai:Recipient

Purpose:

-Encourage the rebuilding of the Temple

-Give instruction of Holliness

-To provide specific information concerning 1^st and 2^nd coming of Christ

Unique Features: For its length

-Christ-center prophecies than any OT book. (Except Is)

-Quoted from or alluded to by other Bible books more than any OT books

Comparison:

Is

-Uses “Lord Almighty” images and names for the Messiah: servant (3:8 Is42:1; 52:13; 53:11); Branch (3:8 Is8:14; 28:16)

-nations worshipping in Jerusalem in the Messianic Age (14:16)

-Day of the Lord or that day (2:11; 3:10; 14:1; Is2:5-4:1)

Rev

-Measuring Jerusalem (2:1, 2 Rv21:15)

-2 witnesses connected with olive trees and lampstands (4:11-14 Rv11:3, 4)

-Babylon (5:11 Rv18)

Abbreviations: Zech./ Zec./ Zch./Zc

MV: Disciples, Jn8:31, 32; 10:34, 35

Bib1Yr: 1Co1Church of Corinth   

Haggai, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Chaggay “festival”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)Haggai

Background: haggai and Zechariah belong to the same period (520BC). Many Jews had returned to Israel to rebuild their national life. Initially they worked with enthusiasm but opposition brought the work of rebuilding temple to standstill. Haggai rallied the people, showing that the economic difficulties they had their priorities wrong. The important thing for their national life was God’s house and God had greater things in store if they would only learn to put him first. 2chs

Author: Haggai

Date and Location: 1:1records in the 2ndyr of king Darius’reign or 520BC (compare Ezr4:24)

3prophecies:-Elul(1:1) –Tishri(2:1-9) –Chislev (2:10-23)

Recipients: Jews who had return from exile in 538BC

Purpose:
-Encourage rebuilding of the Temple
-To give instruction in holiness
-To show God’s faithful

Unique Features:
-Like Ez., precise on dates
-“this is what the Lord Almighty say”, signifying the seriousness of his message and God is speaking to his people.

Comparison:Ez
-Millennial Temple, 2:9 Ez40-42
-Earthquake (2:6Ez38:19)
-Names for Messiah: David (Ez37:24); Zerrubbabel (2:33)


Jer.
-Signet ring: royal authority (Jr22:24 Hg2:23)

Abbreviations: Hag./ Hg

MV: Yokefellow, Php4:3 Jd22,23

Bib1Yr: Ro11, 12Work and Grace

Zephaniah, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Tsephanyah or Tsephanyahu “Yah has Secreted”]

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Zephaniah

Background: Zephaniah worked just before Jeremiah. The theme of the book is God’s universal judgment. Ch1 deals with the judgment of Israel but 2:1-3 promises that this may be averted if they turned back to God. The remainder of Ch2 foretells the punishment of some Israel’s neighbors. Beyond the judgment of Jerusalem the prophet sees hope. 3Chs

Author: Zephaniah

Date: While Zephaniah’s ministry is said only have taken place in the days of Josiah (1:1) it may well have been the years between the beginning of Josiah’s personal awakening (632BC) the onset of his more public revival efforts in 621

Location: Jerusalem (1:4, 10, 12)

Purpose:
-Correct misconception on the say of the Lord, many Israelites thought it would be rejoicing, but he reveal that idolatrous Israel were God’s enemies
-To hope a remnant will survive God’s judgment (3:9-20)

Unique Features:
-“The day of the Lord” is found more in Zep than in any other Bible book.

Comparison:Ge
-God’s cutting off Humankind (1:3Ge6:7)
-Of Ammon and Moab (Ge19:36-38Zep2:8-11)
-God’s resting (Ge2:2, 3Zep3:17)

Abbreviations:Zeph./ Zph./ Zep/Zp

MV: Praisers of God, Is12:1

Bib1Yr: Ro7Wretched Man

Habakkuk, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Chabaqquq “embrace”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Habakkuk

Background: Because Habakkuk mentions Babylon (1:6) it is assumed that he worked at the end of the 7th c. BC. The prophet .questions God about his justice: why does he turn a blind eye to cruelty and wickedness? How can he use wicked people to punish people who are better than them? God gives no direct answer (2) but promises that one day he will punish all oppression and injustice. Ch3 is a poem about God coming to punish all wickedness and concludes with a statement by the prophet of his trust in God, no matter what happens. 3chs

Author: Habakkuk


Date Location: The prominence of Babylonia Hab indicates a post-612BC., but Babylon apparently had yet invaded Judah, placing the book before 605. Though no kings mentioned the nation’s sad spiritual condition suggests a date near the end of Josiah’s reign, perhaps after the wicked Jehoiakim replaced him in 609 (2Ch36:8 Jr22:18, 19)

Recipients: Among Judeans (1:2-4)

Purpose: To announce
*Judah’s sinfulness will be punished
*Though Babylon will be God’s instrument for punishing Judah, it too will be punished in due time.
*God will preserve Judah’s faithful remnant (2:4)

Unique Features:
*Consist entirely of a dialogue between God and his prophet (parts of Jonah, Job and a few other books feature such dialogue). All other prophetic books consist mainly of records of prophets’ preaching
*Hab saw one of the greatest manifestation of God’s glory (3:3-15)
*Hab and Jer were the last prophets to the Southern Kingdom before Babylonian captivity-thus Hab’s 11th hour explanation as to why God was using Babylon and whether or not a remnant would survive


Comparison:
Isa
*Taunt the proud Babylonians (2:6-20 Is14)
*Woes (2:6, 9, 12, 15 Is5:5-23) and other occurrences
*The righteous or just who trust in the Lord (2:4Is26:1-10)
*Visible manifestation of God (3 Is6)
*NT quotes 2:4 with emphasis:
*The righteous, Ro1:17
*will live, Ga3:11
*by faith, He10:38

Abbreviations: Hab./ Hb

MV: Kings and Priests and Sisters, Rv1:6 MK3:35
Bib1Yr: Ro1, 2Rome   

Nahum, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Nachum “Comfortable”]

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Nahum

Background: This prophet announces the destruction of Nineveh, capital of Assyria. In the opening verses Nahum speaks of God as “slow to anger” but also that he will not leave the guilty unpunished. It is for this reason that God must now punish Nineveh for extreme cruelty. Ch2,3 are poem about the siege of Nineveh. This took place in 612BC. 3chs

Author: Nahum

Date and Location: The Fall of Thebes (No-Amon, 3:8) which occurred in 663BC had already taken place by Nahum time. Assuming that Nineveh’s fall (focus of Nahum’s prophecy) was yet to come, Nahum’s ministry would be dated sometime between those 2 events. The zeal for feast and vows (1:15) may indicate a time after Josiah’s reforms reaches its end with the rediscovery of the law in 621

Recipients: For the Jews under the Assyria

Purpose:
*To announce Nineveh’s doom
*Affirm God’s control over history
*To assume Judah that God cares for his own

Unique Features:
*Good source of information about Assyria’s destruction. Others: Is (Assyria and Babylon), Jeremiah (Babylon), Obadiah (Edom), Zeph (Judah), Ez (Egypt), Da (Babylon and Persia)
*Na-Obad., were the only prophets pronouncing doom on pagan nation without mentioning Israel’s sin
*Na records Assyria’s cruelty, more ruthless by far than Israel’s other foes

Comparison:Is-Ro
*Deliverance from Assyria (1:5)
*Isa writes some 100yrs uses similar words (Is40:9; 52:7)
*Paul writing some 700yrs later uses similar words (Ro10:15)

Abbreviations: Nah./ Na./ Nh

MV:Face Like an Angel, Ac6:15

Bib1Yr: Ac17-20Escape

Micah, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Miykah or Miykayah “Who(is)like Yah(God)”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Micah

Background: This prophet lived and worked a little later than Amos and Hosea and about the same time as Isaiah and what he has to say is very similar to them. He worked in the Southern Kingdom and condemned social injustice and inequality, and corruption among the political and religious leaders. God must punish his people but beyond Micah speaks of a future which will center of Jerusalem temple when a descendant of David will emerge to lead God’s people against her enemies (4-7). 6:6-8 seems to sum up the message, not only of Micah, but of all the prophets of this period. 7chs


Author: Micah


Date and Location: He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (1:1) c.740-690, same time span as Isaiah’s ministry.


Recipients: Both concerns North and South Kingdom (1:1) but since he was from South Kingdom and only mentioned Southern Kings. It is generally assumed that his ministry was primarily to Judah.


Purpose:
*Pronounce judgment for continual apostasy and insincere religious observance (3:8; 6:6, 7)
*Show true faith, practical manifestations like social justice and honesty in business (6:8)
*Proclaim God’s ultimate plans for his people (2:12,13; 7:11-20)


Unique Features: The number and Precision of his prophecies:
*Northern Kingdom’s fall (1:6, 7)
*Judah’s invasion by Sennacherib in 701BC (1:9, 12)
*Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple (3:12)
*Judah’s Babylonian captivity (4:10)
*Judah’s return from captivity (4:10)
*The exact name of Christ’s birth-place (5:2)
*He was one of the few writing prophets referred to my name (Jer26:18)


Comparison:
Isa
*Shared one (4:1-3 Is2:2-4), they may have borrowed from Joel (Jl3:10)
*Use nakedness (1:8 Is20:2)
*People coming from Assyria and Egypt (2extremes of the Near East) in the Messianic age (7:12 Is19:23-25)

Jer
*Quoted 3:12 writing more than a century (Jr26:18)
*Greedy prophets and priests (3:11Jr6:13) and false prophets (3:5 Jr6:14)
*A remnant Israelites (7:18 Jr23:3; 44:28)

Abbreviations: Mic. / Mi

MV: Testimonizers, 2Co1:12-14
Bib1Yr: Ac8-10Saul and Cornelius

Jonah, The Book of the Prophet

[He. Yonah “Dove”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Jonah

Background: God told the prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh, capital of Assyria (a cruel enemy of Israel) that God was going to punish her. After attempts to evade God’s orders, Jonah reluctantly preached in the city and the Ninevites turned to God. Jonah was furious with God for showing mercy to such wicked people and God tries to demonstrate to the prophet that he feels compassion even for Israel’s enemies. 4Chs

Author: Jonah
*The Jonah of 2K14:25 was like Jonah of 1:1 “son of Amittai’
*Jesus considered Jonah as a real person (Mt12:39-41; 16:4 Lk11:29-32)
* The book is presented as history, with actual people and place-names given.
_although the book is actually a book about Jonah and someone else may have done the writing. Jonah is rightfully considered its author since he alone would have had knowledge of all the events recorded


Date and Location: T he language of 2K14:25 suggest that Jonah was a contemporary of Jeroboam II and events reported in his book were most likely recorded soon after they occur (7953)

Recipients: All Israelites

Purpose:
*Jonah was nationalistic but God wants him to see that God’s compassion extends to non-Israelites as well (4:1 1)
*God wanted to show him that compassion for sinners was more important than prosperity
*Jonah was selfish on individual level as well. If he could control events, at least his shade (4:5-10). God sought here as well to counter Jonah’s attitude of control and anger.


Unique Features:
*Except for 3:4, the book of Jonah is actually about his ministry than his actual prophecy
*Like Jonah, Habakkuk, consist largely of a dialogue between God and his prophet

Comparison:
Ac
*missionary to call to reach Gentiles and both had Joppa connection: Jonah (1) and Peter (Ac10)


Abbreviations: Jon./ Jnh./ Jona

MV: Servant of God, 1P2:16
Bib1Yr: Jn21 Ac1The Last Day

Obadiah, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Obadyah or Obadyahu “serving Yah’]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)Obadiah

Background: This is the shortest OT book and we know nothing about the prophet. 

The theme is punishment of Edom, which lay south-east of the Dead Sea. The Edomites (Esau) and thus related to Israelites, yet they were long-standing enemies. 

The reference in this book suggest that when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army in 587BC the Edomites did nothing to help and maybe even took some advantage of Judah’s fate. While Edom disappeared from history Obadiah foretells the return of Israel to her own land

Author: Obadiah

Date: Uncertain

Purpose:

*Predict Edom’s fall

*Predict judgment against any persons or nations consumed with pride

*God will restore Israel

Unique Features:

*Most detailed prophecy about the relationship between descendants of Esau and Jacob

Comparison:

Jer.

*1:1-9 identical with Jer49:7-22

Jl

*Writing a short later than Joel, Obadiah spoke of Edom’s violence against Judah (1:10 Jl3:19)

*Speak of pagan nations “casting” lots for God’s chosen people and city (1:11 Jl3:3)

*Pagan receiving just deserts for mistreating Israel (1:15 Jl3:4, 7)

*The day of the Lord (1:15 Jl1:15; 2:1; 3:14)

*People on Mt. Zion escaping the destruction (1:17 Jl2:32)

Abbreviations: Obad./ Oba./ Ob

MV: Strait Gate, Lk13:24

Bib1Yr:Jn15, 16The True Vine

Amos, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Amos ”burdensome”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Amos

Background: This prophet came from the Southern Kingdom but worked in the Northern Kingdom slightly earlier than Hosea. 

In ch1,2 he speaks of God’s Judgment on the surrounding nations but also on the complacent Northern Kingdom.

 In ch3 he announces that God has broken off the covenant agreement with his people in the Northern Kingdom and the few chs. shows why: oppression, social injustice, religious hypocrisy. 

5 visions (7-9) show that there is still time to turn back to God, but in the last 2 visions punishment is inevitable. A hope for something beyond God’s judgment is expressed in the last few verses. 9Chs

Author: Amos


Date and Location: He prophesied during the reigns of Jeroboam II (793-753) and southern King Uzziah (790-740), 2yrs before the earthquake. Josephus dates the earthquake at the time of Uzziah’s apostasy c.750 (2K15:1-7). Amos prophesied at Bethel (1K12:25-33) and may have ministered at North capital of Samaria. Probably compiled and recorded at Bethal, Jerusalem, or Tekoa, perhaps shortly after the earthquake.

Recipients: Though concerning about the whole of Jacob, his message mainly for North kingdom during its idolatry at Bethel (7)

Purpose: Calling for repentance of
*Outward actions (violence, social injustice and idolatry)
*inward attitudes (Pride and heartless worship)
*Amid his denunciations, Am. Proclaim the coming Messianic Age



Unique Features:
*Only prophet called from one part of the divide kingdom to prophecy in the other part
*Am shows that an effective minister of God does not need any prescribed level of education or social; he/she needs only a call from God (7:14, 15)

Comparison: see Joel

Abbreviations: Amo./ Am


MV: Pride, Pr16:18
Bib1Yr:Jn10Parables

Joel, The Book of the Prophet

[He. Yoel “YHWH is his God”]

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Joel

Background: Ch1, he speaks of the devastation caused by a plague of locusts. This may have been a real event or a vision but in either case it is a symbol of the invading army which God will use to punish his people to turn back to God. (2:1-11) Joel calls the people to turn back to God while there is time and speaks of a special outpouring of God’s Spirit (2:12-32). Ch3 concerns a final and universal judgment. 3Chs

Author: Joel

Date: Difficult to say

Location: Judah (Southern Kingdom)

*”Temple of the Lord”, 1:9, 14

*”Zion”(a hill in Jerusalem, mention 7x)

*Several reference to Judah and Jerusalem

Purpose: To plead with God to end the plague of locust

Comparison:

Amos

*Mountains “dripping” with wine (3:18Am9:13)

*The Lord will roar from Zion (3:16Am1:2)

*The day of the Lord will be dark, not light (2:2, 10, 31; 3:15; Am5:18, 20)

Isaiah

*When “the day of the Lord” is at hand, the sun and moon will not give its light (2:10; 3:15; Is13:6)

*Pouring of God’s spirit (2:28Is32:15; 44:3)

*Joel “bear plowshare” for Armageddon (3:10), Isa., writing some 100yrs after Joel reverses it (Is2:4see Mi4:3)

Abbreviations: Joe./Joe/ Jl

MV: Condemned, Jn3:18 Mt12:37

Bib1Yr: Jn5,6Bread Miracle

Hosea, The Book of The Prophet

[He. Deliverer]

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Hosea

Background: This prophet lived and worked in the Northern Kingdom in the year of its existence. Through his own experience of a broken marriage Hosea gained a deep insight into Israel’s relationship to God. The covenant made at Sinai was like a marriage, but like Hosea’s own wife Israel had left God to worship Canaanite gods. Hosea speaks movingly of the sadness of God feels because of his love for Israel even though she deserves to be punished. 14Chs


Author: Hosea

Date and Location: Hosea’s ministry probably began c.760BC.and ends 720, 2 yrs after the Northern kingdom fall. It is likely that he is one of them who escaped (2Ch30:1-9). He may may have fled to the Southern kingdom and completed his writing there.


Recipients: Though he mentions Judah as well, he addressed his prophesies primary to Northern kingdom w/c he often referred to as “Ephraim”, the dominant tribe.


Purpose: The balance between Justice and love:
*God’s love does not mean he can forget sin. Sin must be punished.
*God’s Justice does not mean ending his relationship with his wife (Israel). Even in the wake of judgment preserve a remnant


Unique Features:
*Ho. was the only prophet from the Northern Kingdom, who recorded his prophecies
*The only prophet to minister to the North right up to its fall

Comparison
*Illustrates a husband (God) and wife (Israel) (2:19Is54:5)
*Had children with symbolic names (1:4, 6, 9 Is7:3; 8:3, 4, 14)
*Both called God “The Holy One” (11:9, 12; 30x in Isaiah)


Abbreviations: Hos. / Ho./ Hsa

MV: Lake of Fire, Rv19:20
Bib1Yr:Lk22-24Crucifixion