Chapter I Lecture 2
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Chapter I: Introduction to Prophetic Lecture 2 Literature
C. Synchronic View of the Prophetic Books Question: Is there a basic unity underlying the prophetic literature? 2. Prophetic Books in the Hebrew Canon a. Prophet as a historian b. Prophet as a guardian of the Torah
“Prophet as a guardian of the Torah” Compare Joshua 1:7-8 and Mal 3:22 (or 4:4) NRSV Joshua 1:7-8
v. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law [hattorah] that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. v. 8 This book of the law [hattorah] shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you
Malachi 3:22 (4:4) Remember the teaching of my servant Moses [Torat Moshe], the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
The whole prophetic body is “embraced by the Law of Moses” Placed immediately after Torah (Pentateuch) indicates that the prophets must be read as commentaries to the Torah. Prophets apply and exhort the observance of the Torah.
Note: In the Christian Old Testament: Torah Historical Books Wisdom Books Prophetic Books
Immediately before the NT to signify that they are projected towards the new announcement of the coming of Christ.
1. The Latter Prophets The Negative-Positive Schema Or The Eschatological Schema (Condemnation and Promise; Failure and Hope)
--Compare Isa 1:2-4 and Mal 3:23-24
Isaiah 1:2-4
2 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. 4 Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who deal corruptly, who have forsaken the LORD, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!
Mal 3:23-24 = Mal 4:5-6
V. 5 Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. V. 6 He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.
--compare Isa 1-39 and 40-66 --Amos 1:1-9:7 and 9:8-15 --Ezekiel 1-24 (vs. Jerusalem and Judah); 25-32 (vs. foreign nations) and 33-48 (promise/ hope for Judah and Jerusalem). --Zephaniah 1:1-2:3; 2:4-3:8 and 3:920
References
GOOGLE it Browse or skim the following: David L. Petersen, “Introduction to Prophetic Literature” in The New International Bible Commentary VI, pp. 12-16.** Claus Westermann, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech (trans. H. C. White; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1967).* Online outline of Westermann’s Basic Forms* Marvin A. Sweeney, Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to the Prophetic Literature
D. Literary Styles of Prophetic Literature
GOOGLE it Browse or skim the following: Claus Westermann, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech (trans. H. C. White; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1967). Marvin A. Sweeney, Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to the Prophetic Literature (FOTL 16; Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1996), pp. 15-30.
Preliminary Remarks
Some books represent a meaningful ordering or structure
E.g. Ezekiel
3348 Hope for
Israel Chapters 25-32 Judgment on Foreign Nations
Chapters 1-24 Judgment on Israel
The Categories of Prose and Poetry Prose is writing patterned from everyday speech. Poetry is heightened speech. Difficult to discern
e.g. Ezekiel 17:9-10
NRSV
NAB
1. Prose Accounts
Most reports on the activity of prophets are in prose But they are not all stories. Seven (7) accounts of prose accounts
7 Types of Prose Accounts
1) Symbolic Action Report – it describes prophetic behavior that is designed to convey a message.
Isaiah 20:1-6
For nakedness as a symbolic expression see 1 Sam 19:19-24; Micah 1:8-9
Ezek 4:1-3 Ezek 5:1-4
2) Commissioning Report = “Call Narratives”
Six elements (Norman Habel)
Structure of a Call Narrative
(From: Habel, Norm. “The Form and Significance of the Call Narratives.” ZAW 77 (1965): 297-323; For online, click here
3. Vision Report Note: “prophet” as “seer” “to look up and see” (Amos 7:1) Examples
Amos’ five visions (7:1-9; 8:1-3; 9:1-4) Ezekiel’s four visions (1:1; 8:1; 37:1; and 40:1
Zechariah’s eight visions
Daniel’s vision (Dan 7:15-16)
4) Legenda story of the life of a saint (Webster) A report about something holy, whether on object or a person
E.g. “ark of God” in 2 Sam 6:6-7 Elisha as “man of God” in 2 Kgs 2:23-24; 2 Kgs 4:1-7
5) Prophetic Historiography
History is written from the point of view of the role of the prophet.
See Isaiah 36-39 = 2 Kgs 18:13-19:37
For ancient Israelites, “the prophetic word [has] a major place in history” (Petersen, p. 14).
6) Biography
E.g. Jeremiah 37-44
7) Divinatory Chronicle
Text narrating the prophet as a diviner (one who could give information from the world beyond that of normal human knowledge) “to inquire from Yahweh” E.g. 1 Samuel 9 Zechariah 7-9 Ezekiel 20
2. Poetic Speech
Claus Westermann, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech (trans. H. C. White; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1967).* Online outline of Westermann’s Basic Forms*
Adele Berlin, “Introduction to Hebrew Poetry,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible vol. 4, pp. 301-315.
2. Poetic Speech
It is the predominant form of prophetic literature Special attention to Hebrew poetic techniques and rhetorical styles Regular forms of speech might been created and preserved in ancient society “Köh ´ämar yhwh” (“thus says the Lord”) “says the Lord”
1) Judgment Oracle
e.g. Jer 6:16-21
2) Woe oracle Isa 10:1-4 Hebrew hôy Probably used originally to someone who had just died. = person is good as dead Opposite: Beatitudes ´aºšürê
3) Lawsuit (rîb) ( Legal process that ends with the passing of a sentence. Must have been derived from Israel’s law courts. Most common prophetic speech. e.g. Micah 1:2-7
Micah 1:2-7
1 Hear, you peoples, all of you; [Summon] listen, O earth, and all that is in it; and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For lo, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4 Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. 5 All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? [interrogation] Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country, [sentence] a place for planting vineyards. I will pour down her stones into the valley, and uncover her foundations. 7 All her images shall be beaten to pieces, all her wages shall be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay waste; for as the wages of a prostitute she
4) lament Would have been used in funerary rites. E.g. Amos 5:1-2
5) hymn Begins with plural imperative verb, like “Sing” or “Praise” Attests to the character of the deity. E.g. Habakkuk 3:2-15 Isa 5:1-2
6) allegory symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface. Used by scribes and intellectuals E.g. Ezekiel 17:2-10
7) acrostics is a poem or other text written in an alphabetic script, in which the first letter, syllable or word of each verse, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out another message. See Anthony R. Ceresko, “Endings and Beginnings: ‘Alphabetic Thinking’ and the Shape of Psalms 106, and of the Psalter,” in (CBAP 2005 Proceedings; Tagaytay Scripture and the Quest for New Society City: CBAP, 2006), pp. 7590). Nahum 1:1-8
Two important books on prose and poetry
See chapter VI “Prophecy and Poetry”, pp. 137-162.
END Chapter I
C. Synchronic View of the Prophetic Books Question: Is there a basic unity underlying the prophetic literature? 2. Prophetic Books in the Hebrew Canon a. Prophet as a historian b. Prophet as a guardian of the Torah
“Prophet as a guardian of the Torah” Compare Joshua 1:7-8 and Mal 3:22 (or 4:4) NRSV Joshua 1:7-8
v. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law [hattorah] that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. v. 8 This book of the law [hattorah] shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you
Malachi 3:22 (4:4) Remember the teaching of my servant Moses [Torat Moshe], the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
The whole prophetic body is “embraced by the Law of Moses” Placed immediately after Torah (Pentateuch) indicates that the prophets must be read as commentaries to the Torah. Prophets apply and exhort the observance of the Torah.
Note: In the Christian Old Testament: Torah Historical Books Wisdom Books Prophetic Books
Immediately before the NT to signify that they are projected towards the new announcement of the coming of Christ.
1. The Latter Prophets The Negative-Positive Schema Or The Eschatological Schema (Condemnation and Promise; Failure and Hope)
--Compare Isa 1:2-4 and Mal 3:23-24
Isaiah 1:2-4
2 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. 4 Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who deal corruptly, who have forsaken the LORD, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!
Mal 3:23-24 = Mal 4:5-6
V. 5 Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. V. 6 He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.
--compare Isa 1-39 and 40-66 --Amos 1:1-9:7 and 9:8-15 --Ezekiel 1-24 (vs. Jerusalem and Judah); 25-32 (vs. foreign nations) and 33-48 (promise/ hope for Judah and Jerusalem). --Zephaniah 1:1-2:3; 2:4-3:8 and 3:920
References
GOOGLE it Browse or skim the following: David L. Petersen, “Introduction to Prophetic Literature” in The New International Bible Commentary VI, pp. 12-16.** Claus Westermann, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech (trans. H. C. White; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1967).* Online outline of Westermann’s Basic Forms* Marvin A. Sweeney, Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to the Prophetic Literature
D. Literary Styles of Prophetic Literature
GOOGLE it Browse or skim the following: Claus Westermann, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech (trans. H. C. White; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1967). Marvin A. Sweeney, Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to the Prophetic Literature (FOTL 16; Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1996), pp. 15-30.
Preliminary Remarks
Some books represent a meaningful ordering or structure
E.g. Ezekiel
3348 Hope for
Israel Chapters 25-32 Judgment on Foreign Nations
Chapters 1-24 Judgment on Israel
The Categories of Prose and Poetry Prose is writing patterned from everyday speech. Poetry is heightened speech. Difficult to discern
e.g. Ezekiel 17:9-10
NRSV
NAB
1. Prose Accounts
Most reports on the activity of prophets are in prose But they are not all stories. Seven (7) accounts of prose accounts
7 Types of Prose Accounts
1) Symbolic Action Report – it describes prophetic behavior that is designed to convey a message.
Isaiah 20:1-6
For nakedness as a symbolic expression see 1 Sam 19:19-24; Micah 1:8-9
Ezek 4:1-3 Ezek 5:1-4
2) Commissioning Report = “Call Narratives”
Six elements (Norman Habel)
Structure of a Call Narrative
(From: Habel, Norm. “The Form and Significance of the Call Narratives.” ZAW 77 (1965): 297-323; For online, click here
3. Vision Report Note: “prophet” as “seer” “to look up and see” (Amos 7:1) Examples
Amos’ five visions (7:1-9; 8:1-3; 9:1-4) Ezekiel’s four visions (1:1; 8:1; 37:1; and 40:1
Zechariah’s eight visions
Daniel’s vision (Dan 7:15-16)
4) Legenda story of the life of a saint (Webster) A report about something holy, whether on object or a person
E.g. “ark of God” in 2 Sam 6:6-7 Elisha as “man of God” in 2 Kgs 2:23-24; 2 Kgs 4:1-7
5) Prophetic Historiography
History is written from the point of view of the role of the prophet.
See Isaiah 36-39 = 2 Kgs 18:13-19:37
For ancient Israelites, “the prophetic word [has] a major place in history” (Petersen, p. 14).
6) Biography
E.g. Jeremiah 37-44
7) Divinatory Chronicle
Text narrating the prophet as a diviner (one who could give information from the world beyond that of normal human knowledge) “to inquire from Yahweh” E.g. 1 Samuel 9 Zechariah 7-9 Ezekiel 20
2. Poetic Speech
Claus Westermann, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech (trans. H. C. White; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1967).* Online outline of Westermann’s Basic Forms*
Adele Berlin, “Introduction to Hebrew Poetry,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible vol. 4, pp. 301-315.
2. Poetic Speech
It is the predominant form of prophetic literature Special attention to Hebrew poetic techniques and rhetorical styles Regular forms of speech might been created and preserved in ancient society “Köh ´ämar yhwh” (“thus says the Lord”) “says the Lord”
1) Judgment Oracle
e.g. Jer 6:16-21
2) Woe oracle Isa 10:1-4 Hebrew hôy Probably used originally to someone who had just died. = person is good as dead Opposite: Beatitudes ´aºšürê
3) Lawsuit (rîb) ( Legal process that ends with the passing of a sentence. Must have been derived from Israel’s law courts. Most common prophetic speech. e.g. Micah 1:2-7
Micah 1:2-7
1 Hear, you peoples, all of you; [Summon] listen, O earth, and all that is in it; and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For lo, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4 Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. 5 All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? [interrogation] Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country, [sentence] a place for planting vineyards. I will pour down her stones into the valley, and uncover her foundations. 7 All her images shall be beaten to pieces, all her wages shall be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay waste; for as the wages of a prostitute she
4) lament Would have been used in funerary rites. E.g. Amos 5:1-2
5) hymn Begins with plural imperative verb, like “Sing” or “Praise” Attests to the character of the deity. E.g. Habakkuk 3:2-15 Isa 5:1-2
6) allegory symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface. Used by scribes and intellectuals E.g. Ezekiel 17:2-10
7) acrostics is a poem or other text written in an alphabetic script, in which the first letter, syllable or word of each verse, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out another message. See Anthony R. Ceresko, “Endings and Beginnings: ‘Alphabetic Thinking’ and the Shape of Psalms 106, and of the Psalter,” in (CBAP 2005 Proceedings; Tagaytay Scripture and the Quest for New Society City: CBAP, 2006), pp. 7590). Nahum 1:1-8
Two important books on prose and poetry
See chapter VI “Prophecy and Poetry”, pp. 137-162.
END Chapter I
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