Keith Essex
An Introduction to the Latter Prophets

Old Testament Studies II
Dr. Keith Essex

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 1: Introduction to the Latter Prophets, Part I.
• Lecture 2: Introduction to the Latter Prophets, Part II.

1. An Introduction to the Latter Prophets [MSB, 9-12; HSB, 1122; ESVSB, 1229-32]
   1. The Books of the Latter Prophets:
      • Isaiah (Isa 8:11-20; 37:2);
      • Jeremiah (Jer 36:1-32; 37:3);
      • Ezekiel (Ezek 2:5; 33:33);
      • The Twelve (2 Kgs 14:25; Jer 26:18; Ezra 5:1)
      ISAIAH

      Preexilic

      16,930 words

      JEREMIAH

      Exilic

      21,819 words

      EZEKIEL

      Exilic

      18,731 words

      THE TWELVE

      Postexilic

      14,357 words
   2. Their Place in the OT Canon
      1. The Torah
      2. The Prophets
         1. The Former Prophets
         2. The Latter Prophets
      3. The Writings
   3. The Prophets [MKP, 392-6; CBCOT, 52, 54-55; NIDOTTE, 4:1067-78]
      1. The Designations (cf. 1 Sam 9:5-10; 1 Chr 29:29 [Samuel, ro'eh, "seer;" Nathan, nabhi', "prophet;" Gad, hozeh, "seer"])
         1. Prophet (nabhi') — called to speak for God (cf. Exod 7:1; Deut 13:1-11; 18:14-22)
         2. Man of God ('ish elohim) — belonging to God [i.e. Moses (Deut 33:1); Samuel (1 Sam 9:6); Elisha (2 Kgs 4:9)]
         3. Seer — receiver of God's revelation (cf. Isa 30:9, 10)
            1. ro'eh (12x) [see NIDOTTE, 3:1007-15]
            2. hozeh (16x) [see NIDOTTE, 2:56-61]
      2. Their Position in the Nation (Deut 18:14-22; Jer 18:18)
         The

         Torah - Priest (Lev 10:11; Deut 31:9-13; 33:10)

         Revelation

         Counsel - Wise Man (1 Kgs 4:29-34; cf. 2 Sam 15:12; 16:23)

         of Yahweh

         Word - Prophet (1 Sam 3:20-4:1a)
      3. Their Character
         1. Men of the Word of Yahweh (Isa 6:9; Amos 7:14-15; Jer 1:7-9)
         2. Men of Authority (Isa 55:11; Hos 6:5)
   4. The Theological Foundation of the Latter Prophets: The first writing prophet of the Old Testament was Moses (Deut 18:18; 34:10; 33:1) [CBCOT, 52]
      1. The Message of the Moses' Prophetic Ministry
         1. The Explanation of and Exhortation from the "What" and "Why" of the Lord's Dealings with His People (Deut 1:5-4:43)
         2. The Explanation of and Exhortation to the Stipulations the Lord Gave to His People (Deut 4:44-28:68)
            1. Obedience will bring "Blessings": Prosperity and Security in the Land (Deut 28:1-14)
            2. Disobedience will bring "Curses": Disaster in and Exile from the Land (Deut 28:15-68)
         3. The Explanation of the Future Course of Events for the Lord's People (Deut 29:1-30:20)
            1. The Practice of Idolatry (Deut 29:25-26)
            2. The Experience of Exile (Deut 29:27-28)
            3. The Restoration to the Land (Deut 30:1-10)
               1. A New Covenant (Deut 29:1; 30:6)
               2. A Coming King (Deut 4:30-31; Num 24:14-19; Gen 49:1, 8-12; cf. 2 Sam 7:12-16)
         4. The Witness to Future Generations (Deut 31:1-34:12)
            1. The Judgment of the Lord (Deut 31:1-32:47)
            2. The Restored Blessing of God (Deut 32:48-34:12)
      2. The Characteristics of Moses' Prophetic Ministry
         1. Chosen and Prepared by God (Exod 2:1-22)
         2. Called by God (Exod 3:1-4:17)
         3. Spoke God's Message
            1. To Israel (Exod 4:29-30)
            2. To Pharaoh (Exod 5:1)
         4. Wrote God's Message (Deut 31:9)
   5. The Major Themes of the Latter Prophets
      1. The Words and Symbolic Acts of the Prophets Were Directed by the Lord
      2. The Prophets Reflected on Israel's Election
         1. The Abrahamic Covenant
         2. The Mosaic Covenant
         3. The Davidic Covenant
         4. The New Covenant
      3. The Prophets Confronted Israel / Judah because of their Rebellion against the Lord Evidenced in their Breaking of the Mosaic Covenant
      4. The Prophets Affirmed that the Lord Will Judge Israel / Judah because of this Breaking of the MC just as Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 Predicted
      5. The Prophets Declared that Despite this Punishment, the Lord still Had Compassion for His Chosen People
      6. The Prophets Predicted that the Lord's Compassion Will Lead to His Redemption / Deliverance to Emerge out of the Pain of Punishment
      7. The Prophets Predicted this Renewal Will Extend to All Nations / The Noahic Covenant
      8. The Prophets Saw the Coming King / Messiah as the Lord's Instrument of His Ultimate Punishment and Blessing for both Israel and the Nations
   6. The Interpretation of the Latter Prophets [see COTC, 139-196]
   7. The Historical Background of the Latter Prophets: The key event was the destruction of Jerusalem resulting in Exile [see NIDOTTE, 4:595-601]
      
      
      The important kings of Judah before the Exile were:
      1. Uzziah (Azariah) (2 Kgs 15:1-7) [790-739 BC]

      (Isa 1:1; Hos 1:1; Amos 1:1)

      2. Jotham (2 Kgs 15:32-38) [750-731 BC]

      (Isa 1:1; Hos 1:1; Mic 1:1)

      3. Ahaz (2 Kgs 16:1-20) [735-715 BC]

      (Isa 1:1; Mic 1:1)

      4. Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:1-20:21) [729-686 BC]

      (Isa 1:1; Hos 1:1; Mic 1:1)

      5. Manasseh (2 Kgs 21:1-18) [695-642 BC]

      6. Amon (2 Kgs 21:19-26) [642-640 BC]

      7. Josiah (2 Kgs 22:1-23:30) [640-609 BC]

      (Jer 1:2; Zeph 1:1)

      8. Jehoahaz (2 Kgs 23:31-33) [609 BC]

      9. Jehoiakim (2 Kgs 23:34-24:7) [609-597 BC]

      (Jer 1:3)

      10. Jehoiachin (2 Kgs 24:8-16) [597 BC]

      (Ezek 1:2)

      11. Zedekiah (2 Kgs 24:18-25:21) [597-586 BC]

      (Jer 1:3)
      The important Kings of Israel before the Exile were:
      1. Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14:23-29) [793-753 BC]

      (Hos 1:1; Amos 1:1)

      2. Pekah (2 Kgs 15:27-31) [752-732 BC]

      (Isa 7:1)

      3. Hoshea (2 Kgs 17:1-6) [732-722 BC]
   8. Bibliography
      • Wood, The Prophets of Israel.
      • Beecher, The Prophets and the Promise.
      • Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books.
      • Chisholm, Jr., Handbook on the Prophets.
      • Hays, The Message of the Prophets.
      • Payne, Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy. pp. 1-144.
      • Robertson, The Christ of the Prophets.
      • Sandy, Plowshares & Pruning Hooks.
      • Smith, An Introduction to the Hebrew Prophets: The Prophets as Preachers.
      • Tan, The Interpretation of Prophecy.
      • VanGemeren, Interpreting the Prophetic Word.
      • Young, My Servants the Prophets.

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.