Page 119 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

Both the Major and Minor Prophets are usually among the least popular books of the Bible for Christians
to read. This is understandable with the often-unusual prophetic language and the seemingly constant
warnings and condemnations recorded in the prophecies. Still, there is much valuable content to be
studied in the Major and Minor Prophets. We read of Christ’s birth in Isaiah and Micah. We learn of
Christ’s atoning sacrifice in Isaiah. We read of Christ’s return in Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah. We learn
of God’s holiness, wrath, grace, and mercy in all of the Major and Minor Prophets. For that, they are
most worthy of our attention and study.
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When Did the Prophets Write?

In very general terms we may speak of three sets of historical circumstances that occupied the center
stage of the prophets' ministries:

(1) Assyrian Judgment: During the eighth century Assyria became the dominant empire in the ancient
Near East and thus a great concern to the prophets. In response to prolonged, flagrant sin, God
determined to use the armies of Assyria to bring judgment against his people. This aggression took place
in three major stages. First, in c. 734 B.C., the Northern Kingdom of Israel joined forces with Syria to
resist Assyrian dominance, but this coalition led to Syria's defeat and Israel's harsh subjugation to
Assyria (2 Kings 15:20-29). Second, in 722 B.C. the Assyrians reacted to further rebellion by destroying
Samaria, the capital of northern Israel, and exiling many citizens of the nation. Third, in 701 B.C. the
Assyrian king Sennacherib waged a successful war against Judah and even laid siege to Jerusalem, but
the Lord turned him back at the last moment (2 Kings 17-19). The prophets who ministered in this
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period spoke frequently about these and related events.

(2) Babylonian Judgment: In 612 B.C. the Babylonians conquered Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and
became the dominant empire in the region. With the northern kingdom of Israel already defeated and
exiled by the Assyrians, God used the Babylonians to bring judgment against the Southern Kingdom of
Judah through major incursions and deportations in 605 B.C., 597 B.C., and 586 B.C. The first incursion
resulted in subjugation and the deportation of some of Judah's elite such as Daniel and his friends (Dan.
1:3-6). The second incursion brought more hardship and the deportation of more Judahites, such as
Ezekiel (Ezek. 33:21; 2 Kings 24:14). The third incursion resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and full-
scale exile (2 Kings 25:1-21). Many prophets predicted these events, interpreted them as they happened
and reflected on them once they had occurred.
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(3) Restoration: In 539-538 B.C. the Persian emperor Cyrus defeated Babylon and released the Jews to
return to Jerusalem. A small number of Jews returned to the land under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a
descendant of David, and Joshua the high priest. After a delay of some time, the temple was rebuilt in
520-515 B.C. Despite this relatively positive beginning for the restored community, by the time of Ezra
and Nehemiah and the decades that followed them (c. 450-400 B.C.), false religion had so taken root
among the returnees that all hope for the Kingdom of God to reach its glorious end was cast into the
distant future which we now know as the New Testament period. Many prophets concerned themselves
with these events as well. xciii

The sixteen prophets who wrote the Major and Minor Prophets lived from 750 BC to 400 BC. The
prophets lived in Israel or Judah, and some were deported to Babylon or Assyria.

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