The prophets of the old testament of the Bible were those characters who had a higher level of intercession or a deep intimacy with God. The Lord used these biblical characters as a way to authoritatively inform Israel about his Word. Let's find out who they are.
The prophets
In order to define what a prophet to prophets is, it is necessary to know the origin of the word from its etymology. The term prophet comes from the Greek root profētēs, whose synonymy in Spanish is related to messenger, spokesman, etc.
In the Bible, the Greek term profētēs, later translated to prophet, is introduced for the first time in the Septuagint or Septuagint version, as a word translated from the Hebrew word nāḇîʾ or nabí. However, this synonymy is strictly in the monotheistic sense. Since the Hebrew term nabi refers to a messenger or spokesman for God.
While those who carry a message that does not come from the God of Israel are called pseudo-profētēs or pseudo-prophet, that is, false prophets. Understanding that the prefix Pseudo- is derived from the Greek ψεῦδο, which is placed before a subject, profession, concept or person; in order to refer to something that looks like, or is false, misleading, or imitative. The use then of the word prophet in the strict monotheistic sense falls within the Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures, coming from the Hebrew through the word nabí or נְבִיא.
Once the meaning of the word prophet has been defined, it can be said that prophets are those people who possess the authority given by Yahweh, or the Lord of Hosts, to act as intercessors between the deity and his people. That is, prophets are messengers of God's word. The ability to interpret the message from God's perspective is understood as the gift of prophecy.
The prophets of Israel
The Old Testament Prophets They occupy much of Israel's history. These prophets of Israel had the call of God and were filled with his Spirit, 1 Samuel 10:10 (KJV 1960):
10 And when they arrived there at the hill, behold, the company of the prophets came to meet him; and the Spirit of God came upon him with power, and he prophesied among them.
In this way the prophets transmitted the word of God to the people of Israel, it can be said that a prophet was a preacher or a minister of God. When they prophesied, they usually did so by saying, "Thus says the Lord." Implying that it was not they who spoke but Jehovah God, that it was the Lord in person who spoke. But before knowing who were the prophets of Israel it is important to know their origin.
Origin of the prophets in Israel
The nation of Israel emerged from the division of the kingdom or people of God, which occurred 931 years before Christ. Before this, there were the Hebrews, that is, Abraham and the descendants of his son Isaac. Israel was the people who inhabited the land of Canaan, or the promised land of Israel. This was the place where the descendants of Jacob, son of Isaac, settled. God later renamed him from Jacob to Israel. The Israelites also include the kings of the kingdom of Israel, both before and after the division of the kingdom into: the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah.
These peoples originally lived in nomadic tribes and Abraham was one of their patriarchs. In these towns there was a kind of shamans called seers, who apparently experienced a trance after practicing dances or carrying out prolonged fasts. When these seers came out of that trance state, they expressed having been in contact with the divinity.
From Moses in the Hebrew people is that a different type of seers begins and in reality the states of trance with dances continued to exist. But the capacity for vision and intercession in the person of Moses began to have a new meaning, the meaning of prophecy.
Since then, the prophets acquire the function of controlling the people so that they do not deviate from faith in God. Therefore the true prophet must make the people follow the law of God. Do you know what this Law is? Enter this article to know the true commandments of the law of God.
A prophet could never induce the people to serve other gods because if he did so he would then be a false prophet. Later God calls the prophets to speak through them, to use them as accusers when the entire nation of Israel found itself on the verge of self-destruction.
The prophetic message in the Bible
The meaning of prophecy from then on in the Bible was that the prophet conveyed the Lord's message, without needing to enter into trance states to carry out God's call. The word of God, through the voice of the prophets in the Bible, is penetrating, clear, and serene, delivering an understandable message that often gave hope to the people.
Others are used to denounce the injustices or iniquities committed by the leaders or the people of Israel. Furthermore, the prophetic message, according to the Bible, does not distract the people from reality or lead them to live in illusions or fears, as false or pagan prophets often do. You can learn more about them in the article on false prophets.
Therefore, the prophet's function or mission is to remind Israel to live the covenant with God and be faithful to him. That the people follow his commandments not only in letter but also to love God and their neighbor. "What shall I do to you, Ephraim?" God asks, and says, "How shall I treat you, Judah?" Hosea 6:4-5
4 But God answered, “Inhabitants of Israel and Judah, what am I going to do with you? How should I treat you? You say you love me, but your love is like the mist and like the morning dew: very soon it disappears!” 5 That is why the message that I gave them through my prophets was like a destructive ray that brought them death. » 6 You bring me offerings, but that is not what I want. What I want is that they love me and that they recognize me as their God
Prophets are messengers sent by God, who ensure that God's law and word are respected and fulfilled by the people.
The rise of the prophets in Israel
During Israel's exile, the prophetic message emphasized hope. During this time, the people of Israel fell into captivity in neighboring regions like Assyria and Babylon because they had turned away from God. It was a time when the prophetic message reached its peak.
Israel in exile did not have priests and kings to guide them. So the prophets were called by God to sow hope and that faith in God be strengthened in the people. The prophetic message announced the end of slavery and the return from exile, the prophet Isaiah in the passage chap. 41:1-20 is the mouthpiece of God's security for Israel, Isaiah 41:10:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not dismay, because I am your God who strives for you; I will always help you, I will always support you with the right hand of my justice.
But the prophets also brought God's wrath to bear on the iniquities of the people through their message, an example in the prophet Jeremiah 29:15-20.
Without the influence of the prophets during the exile, it would not have been possible to maintain faith in the people of Israel.
The prophets of Israel carry out their leadership by ministering in Israel during the period from the 11th to the 4th century BC. At present and in light of what Jesus said when he quoted the prophet Isaiah being in the synagogue of Nazareth, Luke 4:17-19
17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was given to him; and having opened the book, he found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; To proclaim liberty to the captives, and sight to the blind; To set the oppressed free; 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Lord's Ministers Today
It can be said that every Christian is called to fulfill the mission of the prophets. The Christian people are the messengers and Who are the prophets of today? day, in a certain way. Of course, the word of God has already been written. That everything that will happen until the coming of the Lord has already been written. However, when we receive Christ into our lives, His Holy Spirit dwells within us. By believing in our hearts that the prophet God announced through Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-18, whom the people should listen to, is Jesus Himself.
We also believe that being a minister or servant of Christ is faithfully announcing the gospel of Jesus and being a light for those who yearn for and need his salvation. I invite you if you are reading these lines to enter the article parts of the bible, where you can find out that there are 16 prophetic books in it. These books in the Hebrew language are called nǝḇîʾîm and were written by the prophets themselves or by their scribes or interpreters.
Classification of the prophets
The most general classification that can be made of the prophets of the Bible in the Old Testament is that of the prophets before and after the division of the kingdom:
Earlier and earlier prophets:
- Moses
- Aaron
- Eldad and Medad
- Josué
- Samuel
- Nathan
- David
- Solomon
- chilies
- Elijah
- Elisha
- Eliezer
- Zacarias
later prophets: These prophets are sub-classified into major prophets and minor prophets
Major Prophets
These prophets are called majors not because they are more relevant than the others. But because their texts or writings are the most extensive with more chapters than the so-called minor ones. The major prophets were:
- Isaiah: A prophet who provides a broad exposition of the gospel of God in Jesus Christ. We invite you to learn more about this important prophetic book by entering the article, Isaiah: A book written in a time of wickedness and apostasy
- Jeremiah: Preaches on the sin of Israel, announces the destruction and future glory of Jerusalem
- Ezekiel: Announces the fall of Jerusalem, its restoration and its glorious future
- Daniel: He preaches about the four kingdoms, as well as announces the universal and eternal reign of God
Minor prophets
These books with prophetic messages are called minor because they are shorter than the previous ones; some of them are even very brief. The so-called minor prophets are:
- Hosea: Prophetic message of the condemnation of Israel continued by the mercy and forgiveness of God to his people
- Joel: Announces God's judgment through a foreign invasion
- Amos: Announces proclamations of judgment against the nations, mainly Israel
- Obadiah: Announces the complete destruction of the region of Edom
- Jonah: Disobedient prophet before the prophetic message about the destruction of Nineveh, and after his story he leads this people to repentance
- Micah: Announces God's judgment and his promise of restoration through the messiah
- Nahum: Announces the destruction of the region of Nineveh
- Habakkuk: This prophet praises God's impending judgment against Judah
- Zephaniah: Announces prophecy of judgment of destruction and subsequent blessing of God
- Haggai: Calls for the rebuilding of the Temple back from Babylonian captivity
- Zechariah: Announces the messianic prophecy and the call to finish the construction of the temple of God
- Malachi: Prophetic message of destruction followed by the promise of blessing from the Messiah
Chronological location of the major and minor prophets
Of the 16 prophets, both major and minor, thirteen are related to the destruction of the Hebrew people and three to its restoration. However, after Solomon's reign (961 BC), the division of the kingdom occurred (931 BC). It was divided into the northern kingdom, or Kingdom of Israel, and the southern kingdom, or Kingdom of Judah. The fall or destruction of the northern and southern kingdoms took place in two stages.
fall of the northern kingdom
The fall of the northern kingdom occurred between 734 and 721 BC. The prophets were placed in this period or stage:
- Joel
- Jonah
- Doms
- Hosea
- Isaiah
- Micah
fall of the southern kingdom
The fall of the southern kingdom occurred between 606 and 586 BC. The prophets were placed in this period or stage:
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Obadiah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
Restoration of the Nation
The restoration of the nation takes place during the period between 536 and 444 BC. The prophets are located in this period:
- Haggai
- Zacarias
- Malachi
the prophet Elijah
In the so-called historical books of the Bible, such as Samuel, Kings, Judges, and Chronicles, stories are recreated about the prophet considered the most important of all the Old Testament prophets, the prophet Elijah. A prophet whose influence was so powerful and of such great authority in Israel that during Jesus' ministry on earth, he was the one they expected to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Finally, it can be said that the prophets had their mission and their special message, each one of them. But in general their mission was to try to save the nations from their iniquity and idolatry, they failed in this. The prophets announced that a remnant would be saved from among the nations. From that remnant would come a branch that would arise in the family of David to extend the kingdom of God to all nations, that branch was Jesus Christ.
