Essay 5 | Prophets- Specific

Question 1

For each of the prophets that have been covered (e.g. Hosea, Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.), be able to discuss some of the issues associated with the composition of the books as well as the historical situations in which it arose.

Answer 1

Hosea:

• Redaction Criticism: hopeful strains intermixed with doom (unity despite diversity)
• Prose vs. Poetics (was prose added later?)
• Theme/ theology - baal is not the one that control fertitlity and nature yhwh is; god as spouse to israel’ israel as an unfaithful spouse; draws on history of israel being unfaithful (harem analogy)
• Exodus- past prefigures the future: chaos to hope; suffering to redemption/restoration
• Historical: Final decades of the north

Micah:
- Redaction
* Clear connection with Isaiah and Micah
* Probably a collection of Micah, as well as post-exilic authors
- Very loose structure
Themes/theology- does not have a high regard for jerusalem or zion (fallibility of Zion in contrast to Isaiah)
- holds jerusalem leaders accountable
- concerned with traditional covenant and justice
- concerned with international sphere (4:2)
- appeal to exodus ideal.
- Contemporary of Isaiah
- “Country Bumpkin”

Amos:

• redaction criticism critical
• commonly assumed theories: there was a prophet Amos, active in mid 8th BCE; he/ his disciples circulated various oracles; he/ his disciples wrote these oracles down; later traditions supplemented these “original” prophesies (the “epilogue” 9:11-17- Hope, Davidic Dynasty, Presumes Exile)
• is it all form amos? or some ofrom amos or none form amos?
• theology- 1. end is coming 2. there are good reasons for that end 3. yhwh will cause the end ( still unified voice)
• focused on socio-economic issues
• divine punishment (israel die no matter what) but also praise (o god throughout)
• ATIOT highlights oracles agains the nations in first 2 chapters
• common denominator of violating social norms
• yhwh has a special relationship to israel
• way of situating israel among the nation’s as not so special becase god did exodus for others
• focused on economic issues (farmers land rights)
• using courts to take land

1st Isaiah: (1-39)

• you are righteous because god is righteous
• yhwh righteouness and holiness
• yhwh’s zion
• Injustice tied to yhwh’s character: contrasts Amos/Micha’s covenant focus
• davidic monarchy is god ruler on earth
• focus on zion
• yhwh cosmic plan international god (ch 13)
• history first two major evnents 1 syrio-ephriate attack & neo assyrian threat
• isaiah tells to stand firm god will protect

2nd Isaiah: 705 BCE (cha 36-38)

• threat of assyria
• Themes/Theology:
• Comfort (hope for exilic community)
• Sovereignty- Cyrus as Messiah
• Futility of Idols
• Servant
• 2nd Exodus = better than 1st
• Feminine imagery for YHWH
  * Compassionate YHWH
• Historical: exile

Jeremiah

• Themes/theology: False reliance on the temple (ch 7); false prophesy (ch 28); False reliance on idols (ch 44)
• Gods sovereignty (prophet to the nations): pluck up & destroy, then rebuild and prosper
• Deuteronomic themes (rhetoric of responsibility)
• Covenant theme/marriage metaphor:
  1. New Covenant
  - Internalization of Torah
  - Renewal of Covenant
  - Universal knowledge of YHWH
  - Forgiveness of Sins
  2. Israel will equally pursue relationship
• How to view God in an exilic situation
  1. God as fount of water (2:13- hope)
  2. God as failed brook (15:18- cause for anger)
  3. God as weeping (9:1- caring/cause for regret)
• Consolation (ch 30-33)

Ezekiel
Themes/Theology:
- Priestly themes
1. Did not follow purity rituals
- Movement of God
1. God can go into exile
2. God leaves
- Radical Restoration
1. New Temple
- God's Sovereignty 
1. Universal Judgement
2. Teach all who God is 
- Immediate retribution and blessing
- Transforming power of God 

Haggai 
Themes/Theology: 
- davidic ruler
- need to rebuild temple 
Historical: 
- post exile- pre temple
- Economic view of the times: responding to drought

Malachi
Composition:
- Post temple
Themes/Theology: 
- faults of the priesthood: better gifts to governor than God
- Rejection
     * Jacob over Easau
     * Navigation of Social situation
         - No foreign marriages
         - Negative aspects of divorce

3rd Isaiah
Themes/Theology: 
- Post exilic 
- Radical inclusion: Eunuchs & Foreigners, Jerusalem as magnet 
- Reiteration of YHWH as mother

Question 2

Are they always united in responding to the same event(s)?

Answer 2

No- refer to prophet breakdown