The Prophets In Their Contexts
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We cannot understand the prophets without knowing their context. They spoke into specific situations. If we do not know those situations, we cannot understand what they were talking about.
CAUTION: Some of the dates are uncertain. For example, some people date Obadiah and Joel as the earliest prophets but others would place them among the latest. You will simply have to compare the suggestions and see which you think is most likely (or recognise the various options). Sorry about that but nobody knows for sure.
930 B.C. - Israel divides into the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah
The Divided Kingdom
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Amos
Other references
None.
Amos is described in 1:1 as one of the shepherds of Tekoa. It seems he was merely a shepherd but was convicted by God to speak out against the corruption that he saw (7:14-15) .
Dates
About 760-750 B.C. - Amos prophesiedÂ
Amos' prophecy occurred:
Amos 1:1Â
2 years before the earthquake
when Uzziah was king of Judah
and when Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel
Context and message
Amos' audience
Although he was from Tekoa in Judah (the southern kingdom), Amos' message is described as "concerning Israel" (1:1), that is, the northern kingdom. He starts with a list of denunciations against a number of surrounding countries but then hones in on Israel.
Amos prophesied in a time of prosperity when people thought that all was well, butÂ
there was much injustice. The poor, in particular, were abused by the wealthy and powerful.
there was immorality
God had sent Nazarites and prophets but the people had corrupted and silenced them.
Amos' Message
The surrounding nations will be judged for their evil and cruelty but Israel will also be judged for its sin and injustice. There are graphic descriptions of the severity of the judgement. When Amos saw a vision of a plumb line, God said that he was measuring the people with a plumb line (7:7-8). A vision of ripe fruit signified the ripeness of Israel for judgement (8:1-2). People would try to run but God would find them (9:1-4)
God had already withheld rain etc. but the people had not returned to Him. Therefore they must prepare to meet their God. God would judge and the people would be destroyed. They long for the Day of the Lord (perhaps thinking that God will deliver them) but that day will be terrible (5:18-27)
But God also appeals to them to "Seek me and live" (5:4, 6) and to seek good, not evil (5:14-15).
God gave Amos visions of total destruction: (7:1-6): a swarm of locusts, and fire. When Amos cried out for mercy, God relented.
Amos was opposed by Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, who reported him to King Jeroboam, claiming that Amos was raising a conspiracy (7:10-17). Amos responded by declaring terrible judgement on Amaziah.
Amos prophesied a time when there would be a famine not of food and drink but of the word of God. People would search to hear God but he would be silent.
After, graphic descriptions of total destruction, the last five verses of the book suddenly announce that God will restore and rebuild the nation. Crops would again be bountiful. Israel would never again be uprooted from their land (9:11-15).
721 B.C. - Israel is conquered by the Assyrians
Israel In Exile in Assyria
Judah
Jeremiah
Other references
Dates
1:2-3 - Jeremiah prophesied through the reigns of Kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah when the people of Jerusalem went into exile, from the 13th year of Josiah to the 5th month of the 11th year of Zedekiah.
25:1 - the fourth year of Jehoiakim = first year of Nebuchadnezzar.
25:3 - 13 years after the 13th year of Josiah.
28:1 - the 5th month of the 4th year of Zedekiah.
28:17 - the 7th month of the 4th year of Zedekiah.
32:1 - 10th year of Zedekiah = 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar.
35:1 - during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah.
36:1 - 4th year of Jehoiakim.
36:9 - 9th month of the 5th year of Jehoiakim.
39:1 - 10th month of the 9th year of Zedekiah.
39:2 - 9th day of the 4th month of the 11th year of Zedekiah.
45:1 - 4th year of Jehoiakim.
46:2 - 4th year of Jehoiakim.
49:34 - early in the reign of Zedekiah
51:59 - 4th year of Zedekiah.
52:1 - 11th year of Zedekiah.
52:4 - 10th day of 10th month of 9th year of Zedekiah.
52:5 - 11th year of Zedekiah.
52:6 - 9th day of the 4th month (of the 11th year of Zedekiah)
52:12 - 10th day of 5th month of 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar.
52:28 - Nebuchadnezzar's 17th year.
52:29 - Nebuchadnezzar's 18th year.
52:30 - Nebuchadnezzar's 23rd year.
52:31 - 27th year of Jehoiachin's exile = the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon. (25th day of 12th month)
Context & message
Nahum
Other references
There are no other references to Nahum.
Date
Probably just prior to the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C.
Context and message
A prophecy against Assyria, predicting its demise.
The Downfall of Assyria and Rise of Babylon
612 B.C. - Assyria and its capital, Nineveh, were defeated by the Babylonians
Exile in Babylon
586 B.C. - Judah is conquered by the Babylonians
The Conquest Of Babylon By the Persians
539 B.C. - Babylon is conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great
Post-exilic Period - The Jews Resettle Their Land
538 B.C. - Cyrus allows the exiles to return to Jerusalem
538 B.C. - Zerubbabel leads 50,000 exiles back to Jerusalem
529 B.C. - Cyrus The Great dies.
522 B.C. - Darius becomes Persian emperor.
Haggai
Other references
Dates
520 - Haggai prophesied
His prophecies occurred:
Hag 1:1 - 1st day of 6th month of 2nd year of King Darius (520)
Hag 2:1 - 21st day of 7th month of 2nd year of Darius (520)
Hag 2:10, 2:20 - 24th day of 9th month of 2nd year of Darius (520)
Context and Message
Haggai spoke to the people who had returned to Jerusalem and had started rebuilding the Temple but had then abandoned that project. He accused them of mis-placed priorities - providing fancy houses for themselves while God's house remained partially built. This neglect had resulted in judgement upon them.
Zechariah
Other references
Nehemiah 12 talks about Zechariah coming to Jerusalem
Ezra 5, 6 talk about Zechariah's ministry.
Dates
Zechariah was born in captivity but returned with the exiles to Jerusalem.
520-518 - Zechariah prophesied
His prophecies occurred:
Zech 1:1 - in the 8th month of the 2nd year of Darius (520)
Zech 1:7 - 24th day of 11th month (Shebat) of the 2nd year of Darius (520)
Zech 7:1 - 4th day of 9th month (Kislev) of 4th year of Darius (518)
Context and message
Zechariah's audience
515 B.C. - the Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed
Malachi
Other references
None. Although Malachi is a post-exilic prophet, he is not mentioned by Haggai or Zechariah or in the contexts of the accounts of Nehemiah or Ezra.
Dates
Malachi contains no specific references to the dates of these prophecies. There is therefore no absolute certainty about the date but there are clues in the text.
It seems he is addressing the same people and same issues as Nehemiah had.
Malachi 3:8 - tensions over temple funds (c.f. Nehemiah 10:32-39; 13:10)
Malachi 3:5 - the poor were being oppressed (c.f. Nehemiah 5:1-5)
Malachi 2:10-11 - many inter-religious marriages (c.f. Nehemiah Ezra 9:1-2; Nehemiah 13:1-3, 23-24)
On this basis, it is suggested that Malachi prophesied about 450-430 B.C.
Context and message
Malachi's audience
Malachi prophesied to the generations who followed those who had returned to Jerusalem and Judah.
The people who have returned from exile have proved to be no more faithful than their ancestors.
They claim that God has not shown them any love
They bring damaged sacrifices
The priest dishonour God and mislead the people
The people marry foreigners and divorce
They do evil
They rob God by not tithing
They claim it is futile serving God because those who do evil prosper
God says that he will judge them for their sinfulness. But Those who fear the Lord will be spared. There is a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. Finally, God promises to send the prophet Elijah to soften the hearts of the people.
The Inter-Testamental Period
400 years in which God was "silent".
That silence was broken by John the Baptist, as prophesied by Malachi and by the coming of God's greatest revelation, Jesus the Messiah.
Resources for further study
Timelines
Timeline Of The Hebrew Prophets - (Wikipedia)
Timeline Of The Prophets - (Theology of Work)
Situating The Prophets in Israel's History - (Theology of Work)
Chart Of Israel's And Judah's Kings And Prophets - (Bible Gateway)
Kings and Prophets Timeline - (Calvary, Phoenix)
The Chronology Of The Old Testament Prophets - (Bible Chronology Timeline)
Chronology of the Prophets - (Understanding Christianity)
Note: the prophets are listed by their order in the Bible but their dates and context are given.
Chronology Of the Prophets in The Old Testament - (Bible History)
Chronological List Of Old Testament Prophets - (Wednesday in the Word)
Kings of Israel and Judah (plus the prophets) - (Wednesday In The Word)
Chronology of events during the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires (754-50 B.C.) - (Understanding Christianity)
This provides the historical context for the later prophets and the inter-testamental period. This chronology simply lists the historical events without inserting the biblical characters and events.
Graphical Timelines
From Bible805.com
The Historical Contexts
Prophets In Context - Pastor David Gaddini (Fellowship of Faith)
31 episodes on the prophets (plus others putting other books into their historical contexts).
Episode 1 - Intro, Isaiah