Old Testament Survey Series: The Minor Prophets

by James E. Smith

Publisher:

College Press

, 1994

Overview

This latest volume in the Old Testament Survey Series is the fruit of some thirty years of teaching prophetic material. The goal has been to synthesize the best research and express it in a way which would be understandable and usable by those who might be exploring the Minor Prophets for the first time. The twelve authors of this collection preached and wrote at different periods ranging from the ninth to the fifth centuries BC. In this collection of books, then, are the earliest and latest prophetic testimonies concerning the future of the kingdom of God. Here also one can trace the development of that testimony. Taken together with the writings of the larger prophetic books they constitute the essentials of the prophetic word to ancient Israel. Here are the warnings that both the northern and southern kingdoms would fall to foreign powers. Here are the pleas for repentance as the only mechanism which might postpone those destructions. On the other hand, here the final touches are applied to the messianic portrait which began to emerge in rough sketch as early as the Garden of Eden. The spoken words of these mighty prophets were committed to writing in order that, when fulfilled, these predictions might prove to future generations the righteousness and faithfulness of Yahweh.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Finally, the leaders of Israel showed calloused unconcern” (Page 178)

“The most important contribution of the literary prophets was to recognize two important truths. First, Israel and Judah must politically cease to exist. Both kingdoms would be carried away into captivity. Second, God would establish a new kingdom of a different kind, one which would attract all peoples. At the head of that kingdom would be that glorious king, priest and prophet who from the dawn of history had been promised to the human family.” (Pages 21–23)

“When prayer is not a way of life it becomes a last resort.” (Page 104)

“To stand in Yahweh’s presence means to serve him. The language is derived from the custom that servants always stood in the presence of seated royalty. Thus the text intends to relate that Jonah was resigning his prophetic office. He no longer wished to serve as God’s messenger.” (Page 103)

“Jonah was in the midst of his prophetic career. He was the most popular prophet of his day due to his consistently optimistic forecasts regarding the military successes of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14:25).” (Page 101)

Product Details

• Title: The Minor Prophets
• Author: James E. Smith
• Series: Old Testament Survey Series
• Publisher: College Press
• Print Publication Date: 1994
• Logos Release Date: 2001
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. Minor Prophets › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. O.T. Amos › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Habakkuk › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Haggai › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Hosea › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Joel › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Jonah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Malachi › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Micah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Nahum › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Obadiah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Zechariah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Zephaniah › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:29.2.7
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-08T01:43:13Z

About James E. Smith

Biblical scholar James E. Smith is chairman of the Division of Biblical Studies at Florida Christian College. He received his undergraduate and seminary training at Cincinnati Bible Seminary and earned a PhD at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Dr. Smith Has served congregations in Ohio and Kentucky. For 13 years he was professor of Old Testament at Cincinnati Bible Seminary.