舊約先知的歷史舊約先知的歷史

舊約先知的詞藻舊約先知的詞藻 hozeh (seer)hozeh (seer)

ro’eh (seer)ro’eh (seer)

兩個詞語都是從兩個詞語都是從““ to see” to see” 及 “及 “ to to gaze at” gaze at” 所演化過來，也是與先知的功能相所演化過來，也是與先知的功能相乎，表示先知謹見並看見上帝啟示內的真理。乎，表示先知謹見並看見上帝啟示內的真理。

舊約先知的詞藻舊約先知的詞藻 nabi’ (“prophet”)nabi’ (“prophet”)

與 與 Akkadian Akkadian 的動詞 的動詞 nabu, nabu, ““to call” to call” 關注上帝的呼召和先知的委身。關注上帝的呼召和先知的委身。

““man of God”man of God”此字集中描述，先知就是上帝的代表。此字集中描述，先知就是上帝的代表。

王國前期的王國前期的先知傳統 先知傳統

1500-1050 1500-1050 BCBC

「先知」首次於創世紀「先知」首次於創世紀

亞伯蘭就是「先知」 ( 創 二十 7) ，這是對先知普遍的形容，亞伯蘭與上帝溝通並接受祂的訊息。

先知的職份先知的職份 : : modeled after modeled after the ministry of Mosesthe ministry of Moses

In Deuteronomy 18:17-18, the Lord promises to raise up a prophet like Moses for the people of Israel.

Refers to the succession of prophets who will speak for God to each generation of Israelites (see 18:20-22)

Prophetic Office: modeled Prophetic Office: modeled after the ministry of Mosesafter the ministry of Moses

Moses establishes the tests for a true Moses establishes the tests for a true prophet in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and prophet in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:21-22:18:21-22:

1) must be an Israelite1) must be an Israelite

2) must speak in the Lord’s name2) must speak in the Lord’s name

3) must not encourage worship of 3) must not encourage worship of false gods false gods

4) must give prophecies which come 4) must give prophecies which come to pass to pass

5) must speak truth consistent with 5) must speak truth consistent with previous revelation previous revelation

Prophetic Office: modeled Prophetic Office: modeled after the ministry of Mosesafter the ministry of Moses

Moses is recognized as the Moses is recognized as the greatest of the OT prophetsgreatest of the OT prophets

Deut 34:10 states that there has Deut 34:10 states that there has been no prophet like Mosesbeen no prophet like Moses

Leaves anticipation of the coming Leaves anticipation of the coming of this greater prophet (Jesus)of this greater prophet (Jesus)

Pre-Classical Pre-Classical ProphetsProphets

1050-760 1050-760 BCBC

Pre-Classical ProphetsPre-Classical Prophets

Israel’s desire to have a king results in the division of civil and spiritual authority in Israel. God establishes the office of prophet (with Samuel) as a means of keeping the power of the king under the authority of the word of the Lord.

Prophets and Kings in Israel

GOD IS KING

“ We want a king like the nations”

KING PROPHET

“ Thus saith

the Lord”

Civil Authority Spiritual Authority

Pre-Classical ProphetsPre-Classical Prophets

The pre-classical prophets minister primarily to the kings of Israel:

* anointing kings chosen by God

* confronting kings over disobedience to God’s will

Pre-Classical ProphetsPre-Classical Prophets

Samuel

anoints Saul

confronts Saul’s disobedience

anoints David

Pre-Classical ProphetsPre-Classical Prophets

Nathan

promises establishment of Davidic dynasty

confronts David’s sin with Bathsheba

indicates Solomon as the divinely appointed successor to David

Pre-Classical ProphetsPre-Classical Prophets

Elijah and Elisha

confront Ahab and his house for Baal worship and unfaithfulness to the Lord

Classical Classical ProphetsProphets

750-430 750-430 BCBC

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

The classical prophets appear on the The classical prophets appear on the scene in the 8scene in the 8thth century BC. Their century BC. Their ministry begins at the same time ministry begins at the same time as Assyria is rising as a dominant as Assyria is rising as a dominant power in the ancient Near East and power in the ancient Near East and the Lord is preparing to use Assyria the Lord is preparing to use Assyria (and later Babylon) to bring (and later Babylon) to bring judgment against his sinful peoplejudgment against his sinful people

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

Ministry is primarily to the nation at Ministry is primarily to the nation at largelarge

Call the people to repent in the light Call the people to repent in the light of impending judgment and exileof impending judgment and exile

Writing prophets whose oracles are Writing prophets whose oracles are written downwritten down

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

While the oracles of the classical While the oracles of the classical prophets were written down, it is prophets were written down, it is important to remember that these important to remember that these prophets were primarily preachers prophets were primarily preachers rather than writers. Often, a scribe rather than writers. Often, a scribe or disciples of the prophet were or disciples of the prophet were responsible for recording the responsible for recording the prophet’s words for later generationsprophet’s words for later generations

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

Read the following two examples of Read the following two examples of how a prophet’s message came to be how a prophet’s message came to be written down:written down:

Isaiah 8:16-17Isaiah 8:16-17

Jeremiah 36:1-7, 15-32Jeremiah 36:1-7, 15-32

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

The classical prophets are generally The classical prophets are generally divided into three groups (based divided into three groups (based on the time of their ministry)on the time of their ministry)

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

The Assyrian ProphetsThe Assyrian Prophetsto Israelto Israel

Jonah (785-775 BC)Jonah (785-775 BC)Amos (760-750 BC)Amos (760-750 BC)Hosea (755-723 BC)Hosea (755-723 BC)

to Judahto JudahIsaiah (740-681 BC)Isaiah (740-681 BC)Micah (735-690 BC)Micah (735-690 BC)

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

The Babylonian ProphetsThe Babylonian Prophets

Nahum (630 BC)Nahum (630 BC)Habakkuk (620 BC)Habakkuk (620 BC)Jeremiah (627-580 BC)Jeremiah (627-580 BC)Daniel (605-530 BC)Daniel (605-530 BC)Obadiah (600 BC?)Obadiah (600 BC?)Ezekiel (593-570 BC)Ezekiel (593-570 BC)

Classical ProphetsClassical Prophets

The Post-Exilic (Persian) The Post-Exilic (Persian) ProphetsProphets

Haggai (520 BC)Haggai (520 BC)Zechariah (520-518 BC)Zechariah (520-518 BC)Joel (500 BC?—some date earlier)Joel (500 BC?—some date earlier)Malachi (430 BC)Malachi (430 BC)

In the Hebrew Bible…In the Hebrew Bible…

We have different arrangement and We have different arrangement and classifications for the OT Books. The classifications for the OT Books. The Hebrew Bible is arranged in three sections:Hebrew Bible is arranged in three sections:

LawLawProphetsProphetsWritingsWritings

In the Hebrew Bible…In the Hebrew Bible…

The The ProphetsProphets consist of: consist of:

The Former Prophets—the historical The Former Prophets—the historical books where the ministry of the books where the ministry of the prophets prophets plays a key role in shaping plays a key role in shaping Israel’s Israel’s historyhistory

The Latter Prophets—the books of The Latter Prophets—the books of the the classical prophets that we have classical prophets that we have just just discusseddiscussed

In the Hebrew Bible…In the Hebrew Bible…

Daniel is not in the prophetic Daniel is not in the prophetic books but appears instead in books but appears instead in the Writings, because while the Writings, because while Daniel contains much prophetic Daniel contains much prophetic material, Daniel himself did not material, Daniel himself did not hold the office of prophethold the office of prophet

The End of ProphecyThe End of Prophecy

The Jews were in basic agreement that The Jews were in basic agreement that the office of prophet ceased with the office of prophet ceased with Malachi. 1 Maccabbees (one of the OT Malachi. 1 Maccabbees (one of the OT apocryphal books) laments the end of apocryphal books) laments the end of the prophetic office:the prophetic office:

So there was great distress in Israel, So there was great distress in Israel, such such as had not been since the time that the as had not been since the time that the

prophets ceased to appear prophets ceased to appear among them among them (1 Macc 9:27)(1 Macc 9:27)