(2) Dr. Champagne - Intro to Old Testament - Test 3 - Mississippi College

Who are the major prophets?

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Who are the minor prophets?

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Why are they called major and minor?

They are called major and minor because of length. The Major Prophets were each written on their own scroll while the Minor Prophets were copied together on one scroll.

What are some other names for the Minor Prophets collection?

"The Twelve" or "Book of the Twelve"

Who are the two famous non-writing prophets in the book of Kings?

1. Elijah

2. Elisha

Fall of Israel/Samaria - When and by Whom (Empire and Leader)?

In 722 BC by the Assyrians under King Sargon II

Fall of Judah/Jerusalem - When and by Whom (Empire and Leader)?

In 586 BC by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar

Return of Judah - When and by Whom (Empire and Leader)?

In 538 BC the Persians under King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Judah.

Three parts of the "common pattern" seen in the Latter Prophets

1. Judgment against God's People

2. Judgement against Foreign Nations

3. Restoration of God's People

What is the time period for Isaiah?

Assyrian Period, 740-701 BC

What is the book of Isaiah considered to be?

The centerpiece of prophetic literature.

What is the purpose of Isaiah?

To highlight the importance of trusting Yahweh

Who are the two kings Isaiah uses to highlight his purpose?

King Ahaz (didn't trust) and King Hezekiah (did trust)

What is the issue regarding the authorship of Isaiah?

It might have possible three authors.

How does Isaiah set up his prophecy?

As a covenant lawsuit

What is the purpose of the "Song of the Vineyard" in chapter 5?

It explains "why" Yahweh sentenced Jerusalem and Judah to destruction.

Be familiar with the Syro-Ephramite Crisis, Ashdod Rebellion, and Sennacherib Crisis (basic events, kings involved, Isaiah's role)

Know that the names of Isaiah's children are prophetically significant; Know that the child "Immanuel" (God with Us) is a sign from God to king Ahaz either for deliverance or judgment

What is the essence of Isaiah's message of hope in chapters 9-11?

He is picturing a Messiah that is going to come deliver Israel in the north and Judah in the south. It is a picture of peace.

What are the significant differences between the first half of Isaiah (1-39) and the second half (40-66)? (major focus and setting)

The second half of Isaiah continues the theme of God's sovereignty over the nations, but focuses more on restoration than judgement. The setting of the second half is 6th century rather than 8th century BC.

Who does the "servant" refer to in the four servant songs of Isaiah? Who is the "servant" clearly associated with in the first half of Isaiah (chs 9-11)?

The "servant" refers to three different things at different points in the Four Servant Songs:

1. Nation of Israel

2. A deliverer of a remnast Israel

3. Persecuted individual

The "servant" is clearly associated with the Davidic Messiah in the first half of Isaiah.

What is Isaiah's "new creation theology" about and how is it fulfilled?

God will establish an everlasting covenant of "peace". It is ultimately fulfulled through the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah and Christians believing in it.

What is the time period of Jeremiah?

Babylonian Period (7-6th Century BC)

What is Jeremiah the prophet known as?

He is known as the "weeping prophet"

What is the longest book in the OT?

Jeremiah

What was Jeremiah the prophet not allowed to do and wht was it a sign of?

he was not allowed married as a sign of judgment

What was Jeremiah the prophet a witness to?

the fall of Jerusalem and exiled to Egypt

Who was Jeremiah known as?

The weeping prophet

What is the purpose of Jeremiah?

To call the people to return back to faithful dependence on Yahweh

What are the two major parts that highlight his purpose? (warnings, promises)

Warnings about impending judgement and exile and promises about future restoration post-exile

Who is Jeremiah's friend/scribe?

Baruch

Who destroyed the original scroll?

King Jehoiakim

What is the basic difference between the Greek and Hebrew texts of Jeremiah?

The Greek text is much shorter than the Hebrew text, the Greek is also in a different order.

Know that the "harlotry cycle, "foe cycle", "temple sermon", and "confessions" are associated with Jeremiah.

What was Jeremiah's ministry of judgment?

to pluck, breakdown, destroy, overthrow

What was Jeremiah's ministry of restoration?

to build, plant

What were Jeremiah's visions and what did they represent?

1. Almond Tree - God is watching over His work to bring it to pass.

2. Boiling Pot - God is bringing calamity to Jerusalem from the North.

3. Two Fig Baskets - Separate fates for those going in exile (good figs) and those remaining in Judah/Jerusalem (bad figs)

What were Jeremiah's symbolic actions and what did they represent?

1. Hid linen beld in rock crevice - to show how Judah and Jerusalem would become ruined nad useless

2. Shaeered Jar of Clay - to show how God would utterly destroy Jerusalem and its people

3. Wore yoke around his neck - to warn Judah not to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon because God was using him to judge them

4. Bought a field with a deed - to show that God would one day return the people to the land

5. Buried stones at the entrance of the royal palace in Tahpanhes Egypt - to show that the king of Babylon would set up his throne also in Egypt

6. Scroll sent to Babylonian exiles to be thrown in the Euphrates River - to show that God would one say judge Babylon making it sink, to rise no more

Who opposed Jeremiah? Know that his "confessions" are his response to his opposition

Jeremiah was opposd by :

1. His hometown & family

2. False Prophets

3. Priests

4. Kings

5. People

What was God telling Jeremiah through his visit to the potter's house in chapter 18?

That a radical remaking of the nation was needed and the people's attitude toward God affects the outcome. If God plans to "uproot, pull down, destroy" and people repent, God will turn from His plans of destruction. If God plans to "build up, plant" and people do not repent, God will turn from His plans of blessing.

Why did Jeremiah write a letter to those in exile?

To encourage the exiles to be faithful and to be a blessing

What is the major difference between the old and new covenants and how was the new covenant fulfilled?

The Old Covenant was Outward Focused and the New Convenant was Inward Focused. The fulfillment was found in Christ's once and for all sacrifice for sins.

Know that he was not allowed to mourn the death of his wife (sign of inexpressible grief) that he was a priest turned prophet (no more temple) and that he was carried off to exile in 597 BC.

What is Ezekiel the prophet known as?

He is known as the psychotic prophet.

Which prophet seems to have influenced him?

Jeremiah.

What is the two-part purpose of Ezekiel?

1. To warn of the impending judgement on Jerusalem

2. To urge those in exile to repent in order to experience God's full restoration and renewal of the covenant

What were the Distinctive themes of Ezekiel?

1. God's Glory and Transcendence

2. Individual Responsibility

3.New Covenant

Apocalyptic Literature - What is the basic meaning of "apocalyptic"? What is the occasion and purpose?

Basic meaning - revelation of hidden truth.

Occasion - persecution and oppression that is perceived as hopeless unless God intervenes.

Purpose - encourage God's people to remain faithful by highlighting God's sovereignty and control of history.

What is the key "image" found in Ezekiel? What are the two key "phrases" found in Ezekiel?

Key "image" - Ezekiel's Chariot Vision

Key "phrases" - "Son of Man" and "You/They shall know that I am the Lord"

What were Ezekiel's symbolic actions and what did they represent?

How is the climax of God's judgment against Judah/Jerusalem and the climax of God's restoration of Judah/Jerusalem pictured by Ezekiel?

What is the basic meaning behind Ezekiel's messages of restoration (Shepherds of Israel, Valley of Dry Bones, God and Magog)?

1. The Shephards of Israel - Yahweh will judge his sheep individually and will place his "servant David" over them and make a covenant of peace.

2. The Valley of Dry Bones - God is going to restore and reunite his people under a new covenant.

3. God and Magog - God will make himself known throught His wrath and mercy; he will judge his enemies and resore his people.

What does Ezekiel envision as the hope for Jerusalem's restoration in chapters 40-48? How is it ultimately fulfilled?

1. A restored city and temple

2. Glory of the Lord returns to the temple

3. A restored people and priesthood

4. Redistribution of land for prince and priests

5. Davidic prince enters temple with his offerings

6. Life nourishing river flows from the temple

7. Redistribution of the tribal land

NT Fulfillment - Jesus Christ, the Davidic prince, offered up his sacrifice resulting in the return of the Lord to his new temple not made with hands.

What four minor prophets were written during the Assyrian Period?

1. Hosea

2. Amos

3. Jonah

4. Micah

Hosea

Theme - God's love for Israel; Hosea's prostitute wife (Gomer) and the names of his three children provide background for Hosea's message; God desires reciprocal love and knowledge of Him

Jonah

Theme - God's Compassion; Unique in that it is completely written in third person (about prophet rather than by prophet); Jonah experienced God's compassion but could not accept God's compassion on Nineveh

Amos

Theme - Israel's injustice; A farmer from Judah ministering as a prophet to Israel; Focused on social injustices; Heavy focus on judgment; Expected judgment not salvation on Day of the Lord

Micah

Theme - Judah's injustice - Micah is referred to in the book of Jeremiah; Arranged in three cycles of judgment and restoration; Bethlehem prophecy (5:2) - Davidic ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem - [New Testament Fulfillment - Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem (Matt 2:1-6)]

What three minor prophets were written during the Babylonian Period?

1. Nahum

2. Habakkuk

3. Zephaniah

Nahum

Theme - Judgment on Nineveh; Single oracle against Assyrian capital of Nineveh; Uses many rhetorical questions as structure for messages of judgment and restoration

Habakkuk

Theme - Judgment on Babylonians; Unique in that the prophecy is a dialogue with prophet mainly speaking to God rather than God to the prophet; Main issue is theodicy (God's justice in the presence of evil); God will judge the sin of His people and the sin of those He uses to judge His people (Babylon).

Zephaniah

Theme - Day of the Lord; Known as the "fiercest prophet" for his strong emphasis on judgment (similar to Amos); Day of the Lord - Divine Warrior God will pour out his wrath on a sinful world

What five minor prophets were written during the Persian Period?

1. Joel

2. Obadiah

3. Haggai

4. Zechariah

5. Malachi

Haggai

Theme - Rebuilding the Temple; Can date specifically (520 BC); Emphasis on post-exile covenant renewal; Called remnant to rebuild the temple and to be holy

Zechariah

Theme - Comfort for Judah and Call to Repentance; Contemporary of Haggai (post-exile 520- 518 BC); Two part message - a call to national repentance told partly through "night visions" and oracles of national deliverance with heavy "messianic" focus - [New Testament Fulfillment - Jesus' Triumphal Entry 9:9 (Matt 21:1-11); Jesus' Crucifixion 12:10 (John 19:34-7)]; 2nd part of Zechariah may be attributed to later author

Joel

Theme - Day of the Lord; Use of locust plague imagery for background of Day of the Lord; Literarily dependent upon other prophets (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Amos); Possibly a liturgical text; Prophecy of God's Spirit poured out and Calling on God's name for salvation - [New Testament Fulfillment - Pouring out of Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2); Calling on Name of Jesus for Salvation (Acts 4)]

Obadiah

Theme - Judgment of Edom; Shortest book (one chapter) in OT; Single oracle against the nation of Edom; Edom is Israel's sister country named after Jacob's brother Esau

Malachi

Theme - Israel's Relationship with God; Post-exilic and may have originally circulated with Zechariah 9-11 and 12-14 ("Oracle, the word of Yahweh" - Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1); Structure - six disputations most of which contrast Israel's faithlessness with Yahweh's faithfulness; Elijah prophecy - Elijah will come to prepare the people for the Lord's return [New Testament Fulfillment - Ministry of John the Baptist 4:5-6 (Mark 1:1-4; Matt 11:13-14)]