The Minor Prophets

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Micah, Isaiah, Amos and Hosea, usually referred to as the minor prophets, were biblical realists, trapped in a faithless and dangerous world in which they lived and worked. The author points out that these four prophets, whose words of wisdom can be found in their various books in the Old Testament, lived their entire lives in a tightly-knit social culture in which the behaviors of their fellow men and women often bordered upon debauchery and much sinning. The paper stresses that, in the world of these four prophets, constantly disrupted by economic, political and social conflicts, a new vitality was created, which gave rise to a great sense of unity within their social settings. The author discuses the life and contribution of each prophet.

From the Paper:

"To Amos, Israel, which he often referred to as Ephraim, was a nation made up of God's chosen people whom He loved and admired for their courage and internal strength. Hosea's devotion to Israel was, of course, a very natural thing since he was a native of that country. Exactly where he lived or what his occupation was is unknown, but he most probably lived in one of the many northern towns, for his book in the Old Testament does not suggest village life nor that of a farmer. But like Amos, Hosea saw the luxury of the rich and the oppression of the poor and in his speech he denounces both but not in the way of Amos with defiant bitterness."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Coogan, Michael D., Ed. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. 3rd. ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

More papers on The Minor Prophets:

• Comparison Essay # 93729 : "Minor Prophets"
• Analytical Essay # 111434 : "Bible: "The Book of Amos"
• Book Review # 145341 : "Messiah and the Old Testament"

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