Page 104 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

Study Section 13: 12 Minor Prophets (pre-exilic and post-exilic)

13.1 Connect

Again, as earlier noted in the introduction to the Prophetic books, one of the primary tasks of
a Prophet was to warn the people of God. The 9 Minor books of Prophets were written
before the exile. Just like the Major Prophets, they are called pre-exilic because the Prophets
ministered before the Assyrian or Babylonian captivity.

13.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to discuss what these 9 books of the Minor Prophets are all about.

2. The student should be able to discuss the important questions such as: what, when, where,
how for each book.

3. The student should be able to discuss the main message and main divisions of each individual pre-
exilic minor prophetic book.

4. The student should be able to discuss the applications from these books.

13.3 The 12 BOOKS OF THE MINOR PROPHETS

Introduction

The twelve books of the Minor Prophets cover a period of almost 400 years beginning about
840 BC, some 120 years before the fall of Israel (North) to Assyria in 722 BC and ending
about 420 BC at the close of the Old Testament some 120 Years after the return of the
remnant of Judah (South) from the Babylonian Captivity 538 BC. The Major Prophets are
also included within the time frame of the 12 Minor Prophets.

The Minor Prophets at one time comprised one scroll or book known as “the twelve.” They are “Minor”
only in the sense that each book is very short in relationship to the “Major Prophets.” In fact, Isaiah
contains as much material as all of the twelve minor prophets combined. However, the message and
significance of the Minor is of no less value than the Major Prophets. The Human authors were not as
well-known and their writings were shorter than the Major Prophets. The order of the Minor our English
Bible is roughly but not exactly chronological. Obadiah is probably the earliest of the pre-exilic books
while Habakkuk was the last Minor prophet to Prophecy before the fall of Judah in 586 BC. The Last
threw Minor Prophets (Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi) are Post-exilic and cover the period from 538 BC
when Cyrus issues his decree allowing the Jews to return to the land and rebuild the temple to about
420 BC at the close of the Old Testament. So, between Zephaniah and Haggai is a time gap of almost
hundred years. These last three Minor Prophets correspond in time to the Last three Historical books—
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Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.

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