At the same time, He permitted the heathen nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16), to furnish an example of what man can accomplish apart from Him. Again and again God warned Israel that blessing goes hand in hand with obedience and that a curse accompanies disobedience (see Deuteronomy 4:9; 8:19; 28:1, 2, 13, 14; Jeremiah 18:6-10; 26:2-6; Zechariah 6:15; etc.). Nation after nation would come over (Isaiah 45:14), that is, be joined with and cleave to the house of Jacob (chapter 14:1). It is possible that he worked much longer, as part of chapters 9-14 may have been given at a much later time. Many years later, in writing to the strangers, or Gentiles (1 Peter 1:1: see on Exodus 12:19, 43), as the elect of God (1 Peter 1:2), Peter refers to them as the chosen ones of God, a holy nation, a peculiar people (chapter 2:9), formerly not a people, but now the people of God (verse 10). Hence, Jonah was probably the earliest of the prophets under discussion. Numbers 14:26-34. Our collection of maps are simple and they are free. Hence, 640 B.C., about midway between the two limits, marked by the destruction of Thebes and the fall of Nineveh, would seem to be a reasonable conjectural date for Nahums prophetic ministry. Had Jerusalem known what it was her privilege to know, and heeded the light that Heaven sent her, she would have stood forth in magnificent prosperity, the queen of kingdoms, the mighty metropolis of the earth, and would, like a noble vine, have filled the face of the world with fruit (Isaiah 27:6). Spiritual prosperity was to prepare the way for material prosperity. BC dates, I've also included the number of years since the end of This Upper Egyptian capital city, better known by its Greek name Thebes, was destroyed by King Ashurbanipal in 663 B.C., a date that provides the upper time limit of Nahums prophecy. In their meticulous attention to the letter of the law they lost sight of its spirit. A comparison between some of his prophecies and those of Amos indicates that Hosea was a younger contemporary of Amos (cf. The remaining messages and prophecies, found in chapters 9-14, are not dated, a fact that prevents us from fixing the duration of the prophets activity. This concept of the role of Israel is reiterated again and again throughout the Old Testament. Rashi (Megillah 3a) suggests that Daniel wasn't a prophet and should be replaced by . One royal visitor to Jerusalem exclaimed, The half was not told me! (1 Kings 10:1-9). For a graphic picture of how one nation would have responded to the irresistible appeal radiating from an Israel faithful to God, see Isaiah 19:18-22; cf. Zechariah probably belonged to a priestly family (chapter 1:1; cf. Beholding Israels righteousness (Isaiah 62:1, 2), the Gentiles would acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed (Isaiah 61:9, 10; cf. You can also change some of your preferences. It should be remembered that God does not force the human will, and that Israels cooperation was essential to the success of His plan for the nation. Daniel himself so understood these promises (Daniel 9:1-8). The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel - Brief Overview of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Wilderness and the Ark of the Covenant. According to His beneficent purpose, the covenant promises were to have met fulfillment in large measure during the centuries following the return of the Israelites from the lands of their captivity. Some scholars place this date after Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judah in 586 BC, but since post-exilic prophets always named Nebuchadnezzar or Babylon, I think it's more likely to have occurred during the reign of Jehoram around 840 BC (see also 2 Chronicles 21:8-10 ). Literal Jews may still find salvation by being grafted into spiritual Israel, in precisely the same way that Gentiles are to be grafted in (verses 23, 24). It is certain, however, that he lived and labored in the southern kingdom, and that his main prophecy dealt with Assyria in general and Nineveh in particular. 5. Micah's prophecy was likely directed toward both Judah and Israel. Kings and Prophets (charts, maps, timeline) - The Time of the Kings Though the prophet looked at events about him, he also could see far beyond his own day. ). Finally, it was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted, and that a new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world. Prophets arose in Israel during the period when Israel's kings challenged the people in powerthe political rulers and the economic elite. When they brought forth wild grapes instead of the mature fruit of character, He inquired, What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? (Isaiah 5:1-7). The accompanying chart enables the reader to study these prophets in their historical setting. b. The blessings thus assured to Israel are, on the same conditions and in the same degree, assured to every nation and to every individual under the broad heavens. Where the Bible text summarizes a king's reign -- - - Partial years were sometimes counted as full years. Prophecies that Inspiration clearly applies to our day were designed of God to inspire us with patience, comfort, and the hope that all things foretold by these holy men of old will soon meet their final and complete fulfillment. Furthermore, the fact that the people of Tyre and Sidon do not appear as hostile nations of Judah until the last decades of its history, while they are mentioned by Joel as Judahs enemies, seems also to point to a late date for the prophets ministry. Their own characters were to be progressively ennobled and elevated, and to reflect more and more perfectly the attributes of the perfect character of God (Deuteronomy 4:9; 28:1, 13, 14; 30:9, 10). Nothing is known concerning the prophet Habakkuk beyond his name. Obedience to the law of God would make them marvels of prosperity before the nations of the world, living witnesses to the greatness and majesty of God (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18; 28:11-13). together with the dates and lengths of the reigns, and the prophets Timeline of the Prophets Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project The table below shows where in time the prophets fit within the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. But, said the angel, Messiah would be rejected and cut off, because of the abominations of Israel, and Jerusalem and the Temple would once more life waste (verses 26, 27). The following brief summaries contain the evidence on which the various prophets have been entered in the chronological positions in which they are found in the chart. Then came a pause in his activity of almost two years, at the end of which Zechariah received another divine message, on December 6, 518 (chapter 7:1), recorded in chapters 7 and 8. He purposed to make them an honor to His name and a blessing to the nations about them. This prophecy must have been pronounced either before Jeroboam came to the throne (approximately 793 B.C.) Nothing is known of the prophet Joel beyond the fact that he was the son of Pethuel (chapter 1:1). If the nation had been faithful to its trust and had appreciated the high destiny reserved for it by God, the whole earth would have awaited the coming of the Messiah with eager expectancy. In that day every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 14:16; cf. However, he is again found playing a role on the night of Babylons fall, as interpreter of the mysterious handwriting on the wall (chapter 5). Superior craftsmanship. who were active at that time. Even the heathen would recognize the superiority of those who served and worshiped the living God. The short book of Obadiah, consisting of only 21 verses, is not dated and its chronological setting is uncertain. Isaiah | Biography, Prophet, Theology, & Facts | Britannica Desiring the same blessings for themselves, they would make inquiry as to how they too might acquire these obvious material advantages. See Exodus 31:2-6; 35:33, 35. But because of apostasy it was the predictions of national honor and glory that could not be fulfilled. Continuing faithfully under the following three kings, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (chapter 1:1), he seems to have been fiercely hated by Manasseh, Hezekiahs wicked son. But the Scriptures record the fact that they disobeyed God and proved disloyal to Him instead. ), those pointing forward to the eternal rest in Canaan (Isaiah 11:6-9; 35; 65:17-25; 66:20-23; Jeremiah 17:25; Ezekiel 37; 40-48; Zechariah 2:6-12; 14:4-11), and those promising deliverance from her enemies (Isaiah 2:10-21; 24-26; Ezekiel 38; 39; Joel 3; Zephaniah 1; 2; Zechariah 9:9-17; 10-14; etc. Furthermore, the rise of the Chaldeans and their invasion of the West is predicted, but this seemed at that time completely incredible (chapter 1:5-7). With Him there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17). In this case, he was an octogenarian. I will call them my people, which were not my people (Romans 9:25, 26). 4:14; Colossians 2:2-4, 8; 2 Peter 1:16; Revelation 22:18). . New Testament Overview - General survey of the New Testament. Not only is Malachi last in the sequential order of the prophets; it is also the last prophetic book produced in pre-Christian times. For two of them (Joel and Obadiah), however, no conclusive evidence as to the time of their work exists, and scholars differ widely in their views concerning this matter. The transition from literal Israel to spiritual Israel, or the Christian church, is the subject of Romans 9-11. The covenant with literal Israel proved faulty, not because God failed to carry out His part of the covenant, but rather because Israels fair promises proved evanescent as the morning dew (Hosea 6:4; 13:3; Hebrews 8:6, 7). It is an undeniable historical fact that, to this day, the majority of these predictions have not been fulfilled. According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses of Judaism. One challenging point in history is the divided kingdoms of Israel (the 10 northern tribes) and Judah (the 2 southern tribes). Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. In the midst of these kingdoms, several prophets are sent by God. Uzziah was sole king over Judah from 767 to 750, and Jeroboam over Israel from 782 to 753. Activity of the Writing Prophets during the Reigns of the Kings of Accordingly, Abraham became in a special sense the Friend of God (James 2:23) and the father of all them that believe (Romans 4:11). According to Jewish tradition Isaiah was sawn asunder. 1 Kings 22:28). Span includes the period of co-regency (if any). For these reasons the 7th-century date for Joel has been adopted in this commentary, although there is no conclusive proof that this choice is correct. It was Gods design that the whole earth be prepared for the first advent of Christ, even as to-day the way is preparing for His second coming. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. With the crucifixion of Christ they forever forfeited their special position as Gods chosen people. Deported to Babylon, they were to learn in adversity the lessons they had failed to learn during times of prosperity (Jeremiah 25:5-7; 29:18, 19; 30:11-14; 46:28; Ezekiel 20:25-38; Micah 4:10-12), and to impart to the heathen Babylonians a knowledge of the true God. In trying to keep all of these people and messages clear in my mind, I have put together a list of all the kings and prophets during the period of the divided kingdom (roughly 931-586 BC). Enigmatic is his statement that this 5th year of captivity was also the thirtieth year. It is believed that the prophet refers either to his own age or to that year as the 30th year reckoned from the reform which took place during the 18th year of Josiah. The postexilic view.The absence of any reference to a king of Judah or to Assyria or Babylon, the reference to the hostility of Tyre and Sidon, and the mention of Greeks have been taken by some commentators as evidence for a postexilic date for Joel. For example, Nathan was King David's prophet, and he was financially supported by the king. Some prophets overlap, lived in different areas, or the chronology cannot be estimated with any accuracy. In the inspired utterances of the prophets of old the sincere seeker for truth will thus find messages of inspiration, comfort, and guidance for today. They forfeited Gods blessing because of failure to fulfill His purpose in making them His chosen people, and thus brought ruin upon themselves. The profound conviction that the messages of the prophets had been fulfilled led many to believe in Christ as the Son of God. His call came to him sometime in October/November, 520 B.C., in the same year as Haggais first appearance (chapter 1:1). Di Lella, "Daniel" in, Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_Hebrew_prophets&oldid=1082234151, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 April 2022, at 01:53. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Nehemiah 13:10-12; Malachi 2:11-16; cf. But he will listen also for the further import the prophets words may have for later times, particularly, our time. The student of the Bible who hopes to secure from it the greatest help will first proceed to reconstruct the historical context of each passage. PDF Chart of the Kings of Israel and Judah - Providence Academy It was their unwillingness to submit to the restrictions and requirements of God that prevented them, to a great extent, from reaching the high standard which He desired them to attain, and from receiving the blessings which He was ready to bestow upon them. Daniel was taken to Babylon in 605 B.C., during the accession year of Nebuchadnezzar (see on chapter 1:1). To their own question, What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them? the Gentiles would answer, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:7, 6). The promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional. He is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). Hence no reference to these two kingdoms was made by the prophet. endobj Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Joel*. Indeed, this secondary application is for us today the more significant. THE EXILE c.585-c.457 BC Several of the prophets messages are dated exactly, and the last of these dated prophetic messages was received in the 27th year of Ezekiels captivity (chapter 29:17), 571/70. Privacy Policy. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Elijah | Biography, Name, Meaning, Story, & Elisha | Britannica Several prophecies followed a few months later (Zechariah 1:7 to 6:15). Chronology of the Latter Prophets and the Intertestamental Period. The Christian church is a spiritual nation scattered all over the world, and such details obviously could not apply to it in a literal sense. A Harmony of the Life of Jesus - Four gospel accounts in harmony.