J. Daniel Hays - The message of the Prophets : a survey of the prophetic and apocalyptic books of the Old Testament

In this volume, Hays provides his readers with a superb overview of the message and significance of the Old Testament prophets. After introducing prophetic literature in general, Hays guides his readers through each prophetic book. Numerous clear images and helpful sidebars add to the richness of this book. He includes features like suggestions for further reading, discussion questions, and writing assignments that make the book ready-made for classroom use. Hays takes a number of the complicated issues of prophetic literature and provides a clear explanation of this important part of the Old Testament.

Michael A. Grisanti, PhD

Professor of Old Testament

The Masters Seminary

Every once in a while a book comes along that is exceptional in every aspect one may choose to look at it. I have found J. Daniel Hayss The Message of the Prophets to be such a book. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing in its graphics and content layout, but it moves easily from introductory matters about the prophets to the message of each of the sixteen writing prophets. I believe it will become a standard textbook for pastors, Bible study leaders, and college and seminary classes on the prophets. I heartily endorse its widest usage for all who love to grasp the message of the Old Testament prophets.

Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

President Emeritus

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

To the burgeoning interest in the Old Testament prophets and the recent literature reflecting that interest must be added this magnificent overview of the men and their writings that make up a major part of the Old Testament canon. Although presupposing up-to-date scholarship on the prophets in a technically accurate fashion, Hays spares the beginning student the morass of argument pro and con on various issues, preserving instead the crucial facts and facets of the prophets messages in their historical and cultural contexts. The photographs and other visual assets greatly enhance the beauty and reader-friendliness of the work, making it, with its other virtues, the finest volume of its kind. Highly recommended!

Eugene H. Merrill, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies

Dallas Theological Seminary

The Message of the Prophets is an excellent introduction to the prophets of the Old Testament. From the attractive and inviting format, with photographs, maps, and sidebars, to the very fair and even-handed treatment of controversial issues, this book will be of great benefit to any who are seeking to get an understanding of this complex but vital field. The introductory overview is careful and complete, the writing style is clear and engaging, and the contents of the books are effectively summarized without becoming pedantic. In view of all these factors, I predict that this book will become a standard text in the coming years.

John Oswalt, PhD

Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary

J. Daniel Hays gives the students a front-row seat into the world of the prophets. Students will learn to appreciate the struggles of the prophets, their literature, and their theology, plus gain insight into their poetry and eschatological messages. Hays traces their messages and highlights the key theological themes in each major literary unit in both the major and minor prophets. The text is attractively designed with either a large illustrative picture or a sidebar on almost every page. Students will love the beautiful pictures that show what a high place, an olive tree, or a Bedouin tent looks like, plus the maps will raise their consciousness of the land where these events took place. The sidebars explain theological terms, an ancient custom, or an important archaeological discovery that is mentioned in the verses under discussion. The text flows smoothly and is spiced up with modern illustrations and numerous connections to the New Testament.

Gary Smith

Professor of Christian Studies

Union University

ZONDERVAN

The Message of the Prophets

Copyright 2010 by J. Daniel Hays

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition February 2017 ISBN: 978-0-310-58696-8

Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hays, J. Daniel, 1953

Message of the prophets : a survey of the prophetic and apocalyptic books of the Old Testament / J. Daniel Hays ; Tremper Longman III, general editor.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-310-27152-9 (hardcover)

1. Bible. O.T. ProphetsTextbooks. I. Longman, Tremper. II. Title.

BS1506.H432009

224.066dc22

2009022477

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Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Study Bible. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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Without doubt, the prophetic books of the Old Testament are among the most fascinating, powerful, and important works of literature ever written. What a privilege it is to read them, study them, and engage with them! God speaks through these books both to the ancient audience and to us today. Time spent immersed in the prophets will be time well spent. Welcome!

This book is an introductory survey of the Old Testament prophetic literature. Part One (The Big Picture) will present methodological and background material that will assist the student in understanding the prophets and their message. It also provides an introductory overview of the prophets as a whole. In Part Two we will analyze each of the four major prophets, and in Part Three we will explore the Book of the Twelve, commonly called the minor prophets.

The ministry and the message of the prophets is integrally interconnected to the tumultuous historical events of their day. Thus we will frequently pause to place them into their proper historical setting and to ask the question of what their message meant for those who first heard it. Yet the primary focus of this book is not on historical background but on the message of the prophets; thus, we will spend much of our time dealing with literary meaning as expressed in the written form of their proclamation, that is, the books of the prophets as we have them. Likewise, while historical setting will be important to us, we will also explore the meaning implied by canonical location, especially in the minor prophets (Book of the Twelve). In addition, while this book seeks to engage with the very best of Old Testament scholarship, especially that of the evangelical tradition, it also seeks to move beyond mere academic study to help the reader ask the bottom-line theological question, What impact should this have on me? Thus, throughout the book we will pause from time to time to grapple with theology for today and contemporary application. This will be especially true in the Discussion Questions and Writing Assignments at the end of each chapter.