W HEN WAS J OEL W RITTEN ? The word of the Lord that came to Hosea - - PDF document

THE EARLIEST PROPHETS

BS601 — Prophetic Literature, Rev. Aaron Decker Second Semester 2018, Semenari Theoloji Malaysia

• St. John’s Bible, https://imagejournal.org/article/eat-this-scroll/; https://www.judydouglass.com/2014/02/kingdom-women-deborah-prophet-judge-military-leader/

WHEN WAS JOEL WRITTEN?

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel. The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake. The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel.

The BBC’s Doctor Who, of course. Found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSzm53M0PxA

WHAT WAS THE DISASTER?

Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your ancestors? (1.2b) What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten… (1.4a) Fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have burned all the trees of the field. (1.19b) Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes. (2.2b) But “Like” a powerful army (2.5b)

Red Locusts. https://www.pazimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-34635-army-red-locusts-invade-zimbabwe-attack-crops.html

WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?

Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your

• clothing. (2.12)

But why? Return from what?

Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse of the Heart, https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/turn-around-bright-eyes-bonnie-tyler-touring-australia/

HOW DID PEOPLE RESPOND?

Blow !ע#ִ% the trumpet in Zion. Sanctify !&ְ() a fast. Call !א+, a solemn assembly. Gather !פְסִא the people. Sanctify !&ְ() the congregation. Assemble !צְב, the aged. Gather !פְסִא the children, even infants at the breast. (2.15–16)

Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. (2.18)

https://www.walkingwithalimp.net/2019/01/23/biblical-repentance-sackcloth-and-ashes-and-being-willing-to-humiliate-yourself/

A PROPHET DIVIDED

1.1–2.17: Prophecy of Doom for Judah —————————————— 2.18–2.32: Prophecy of Hope for Judah 3.1–3.16: Prophecy of Doom for the Nations 3.17–3.21: Prophecy of Future Hope for Judah

https://leaderxpress.com/blog/cut-meeting-time-in-half/

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FIXING THE DESTRUCTION

What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has

• eaten. (1.4)

A great and powerful army

• comes. (2.2)

The grain is destroyed, the wine drys up, the oil fails. (1.10) Assemble the aged, gather the children. (2.16)
 I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has

• eaten. (2.25)

I will remove the northern army from you. (2.20) I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be

• satisfied. (2.19)

Your old shall dream dreams and your young shall see

• visions. (2.28)

THE SPIRIT COMES

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, male and female, young and old, slave and free. (2.28–29, par.) Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp! But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit

• n them!” (Num. 11)

Peter’s sermon in Acts 2. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3.28)

https://www.justprayer.gracespace.info/category/spirit-pentecost/

THE BEGINNINGS

OF PROPHECY

The Pentateuch and Former Prophets

https://scrolls4all.org/scrolls/the-scribe/

MIRIAM

Miriam is the first real

• prophet. (Others are named

prophet, but only later, and have other vocations. What does that mean?) Song at the Reed Sea in response to the crossing. Confrontation with Moses. Additional stories in the Rabbinic Midrash.

Sefira Ross, https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4058906/jewish/21-Jewish-Prophets-Everyone-Should-Know.htm

DEIR ‘ALLA INSCRIPTION

El sent Baalam a vision, which he tells his friends, family, and “the assembly.” Destruction including darkness, birds and animals overtake civilization, in order to harm Ishtar (goddess) The message is heard, the bad gods are punished, and Ishtar is saved Strange little excerpts, followed by a condemnation for prophecy (upon whom?)

https://www.ancient.eu/image/10089/the-balam-text-from-deir-alla/

BAALAM

Great prophet, bested by his own donkey Baalam is proven a true prophet by his inability to speak against God What would have happened if Balaam did curse the Hebrews?

https://www.fisheaters.com/animalsbalaam.html

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DEBORAH

Both Judge and Prophet Narrative Arc of Judges


Dennis Olson, The Death of the Old and the Birth of the New

War Leader! Sings of Victory, Like Miriam

Gustave Doré, Deborah Praises Jael, https://www.artbible.info/art/large/213.html

ECSTATICS/COURT PROPHETS

Communities of impoverished prophets, ecstatic mysticism (eg. 
 1 Sam 10.9–13) We don’t know what their prophetic speech was like Seers connected to the king: Samuel, Nathan, Dan, Michiah ben Imlah, etc.

The Ecstasy of St. Catherine of Siena by Pompeo Batoni, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_ecstasy

NATHAN IN 2 SAM 7

But that same night the word of the Yhwh came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Yhwh: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? (vv. 4–5) הוהי רַמָא הֹ:, koh ‘amar Yhwh Called the Messenger Formula. Used to distinguish between the prophet’s words and God’s words Also הוהי םֻאְנ, nə’um Yhwh, A saying of Yhwh.

NATHAN IN 2 SAM 7

Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince

• ver my people Israel (v. 8)

“Therefore,” ןֵכַל, lakhen Often a special word too, which indicates the turn from judgment to punishment But here it’s missing from the Hebrew, which makes this a problematic translation (הָ%ַע = now)

ELIJAH AND ELISHA

Northern Kingdom Prophets Man of God, םיִהCֱאָה &יִא, ish ha’(e)lohiym What do they prophesy? Elijah has primacy in the story There are hints that Elisha has primacy in development Elijah’s work is directed at worship of the Ba’al of Tyre through Jezebel (and Ahab)

Photo by Richard Anderson, http://www.betsyporter.com/Prophets.html

THE WRITING PROPHETS

None of the prophets we have discussed seem to be anything like the so-called “writing” prophets or “latter” prophets Difference, but connection Remember that this is an

• ral culture and that none

the prophets (probably) could write

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hebrew-bible/

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