The prophecy of Ovadiah (meaning “Servant of G-d”) is the shortest book in the TaNaKh.  It contains no biographical information or explicit identification of time period.  However, its content (the condemnation of Edom) tells us what we need to know in no uncertain terms. Ovadiah is primarily a condemnation of Edom, the territory to the … More Ovadiah

The next book I wish to tackle is that of Yonah (Jonah), even though it is not next in the cannon.  As I mentioned in my second post about Yoel, the themes of Yoel and Yonah make the two books good companions, and I am treating them as such here. According to 2 Melechim (2 … More Yonah

Although most modern readers focus on Yoel 3, with its incredible imagery, the climactic moment for Yoel is in chapter 2.  Chapter 2 is also where we learn more about the man behind the prophecy.  Yoel’s descriptions of the plagues afflicting the land are so visceral that it’s clear he is relating what he has … More Yoel, Part 2

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Amos continues his condemnation of Israel and Samaria’s pride and hubris in chapter 6, especially that of their rulers and great men, who ignore regional threats, pervert justice, and instead amuse themselves with luxury.  It is this bad attitude to which Amos attributes the coming destruction.  Indeed, governments and people are best able to defend … More Amos: 6-9

The prophecy of Amos begins with an introductory chapter, condemning all the nations and cities that the Assyrians and Chaldeans will conquer, and ascribing causes for said conquest. The list is a familiar one:  Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moav, Yehudah, and Israel.  Indeed, we have seen this list reiterated at least in part by … More Amos: 1-5

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The second half of Hoshea opens with the anticipation of Assyrian invasion (“As a vulture he cometh against the house of the LORD” [8:1] and “For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired lovers.” [1:9]) as the natural consequence of Israel’s actions.  One of my favorite … More Hoshea 8-14

In chapter 1, Hoshea grabs our attention with the same theatrical style that typifies Yermiyahu and Yehezkiel.  He claims he was instructed to take a harlot to wife and that he had three children (2 sons and a daughter) by her.  The wife he took was Gomer bat Divlaim (the Conclusion, daughter of Figs).  Their … More Hoshea 1-7

Hoshea was a prophet who was active during the reigns of Uzziah, Yotham, Ahaz, and Hizkiyahu (Hezekiah) in Yehudah and Yerovam II (Jeroboam ben Joash) in Israel.  That makes his work approximately contemporary with that of Yesheyahu (Isaiah), although Hoshea probably began a bit earlier and was probably a little older than Yesheyahu, since Yesheyahu’s … More Introduction to Hoshea