A Historical-Critical Study of the Book of Obadiah by
The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.
Prophets Before the Exile: Amos, Hosea, Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk by
The Israelites were in trouble. And they had no one to blame but themselves. Rejecting God's instructions for abundant life lived close to him, they went their own way—a way of broken relationships, selfishness and idolatry. Into the midst of Israel's self-caused chaos the prophets came, speaking words of truth and love from God. They weren't powerful or well-known or wealthy; in fact, they came from the fringes of society, from the ranks of those overlooked by most people but seen and deeply loved by God. And they were willing to be used by God, ready to listen for his voice, faithful to deliver it. They were also creative, using poetry and songs to deliver some of the hardest as well as most tender words of God recorded in Scripture. Their message is one we desperately need today in the chaos of our world: Love God. Do justice. Live as God's beloved people, reflecting him to a world in need. This study will help you understand their messages to Israel in their own time and equip you to live prophetically and creatively as God's people today. The Understanding the Books of the Bible series moves groups away from a typical Bible study format into a new approach to experiencing the Bible together. Instead of following artificial chapter and verse divisions, these study guides lead groups through whole books following their natural outlines and flow. They pose engaging questions for discussion with personal implications all along the way, leading to a community Bible experience.
Six Minor Prophets Through the Centuries by
"Six Minor Prophets Through the Centuries is the work of highly respected biblical scholars, Jin H. Han and Richard Coggins. The volume explores the rich and complex reception history of the last six Minor Prophets in the exegesis, theology, worship, and arts of Judaism and Christianity, with Han focusing on Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, and Coggins on Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. This latest title in the outstanding Blackwell Bible Commentary series is the only available text that covers these six prophets within a single volume, providing an essential reference for students, scholars, clergy, and general readers. The Minor Prophets have left a mark disproportionate to their length on the history of biblical reception. Suggestive allusions and references appear throughout ancient, medieval and modern literature, as well as in sculpture and paintings. Each has a special role to play in the Jewish and Christian traditions. Although the six books examined here are known to Christians as Minor Prophets, this epithet refers only to the length of their accounts, and not to their significance to believers, readers, and artists across the centuries"-- Provided by publisher.
Tradition and Innovation in Haggai and Zechariah 1-8 by
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, near contemporaries, were active at a critical period in Israel's history. The recently restored Jerusalem community had come through national downfall and exile. Its religious and sociopolitical identity in the Persian Empire had to be established. This volume offers a thematic study of the prophetic response to that situation. The prophets, their status and their styles of prophecy are compared with those of their predecessors, as are their attitudes towards Israel's religious traditions. Their theological understanding of proper leadership, divine judgment, and Israel's relationship to other nations is compared with the developing theology of the classical prophets. The purpose is to discover whether Haggai, Zechariah and their tradents demonstrate continuity with, or divergence from, the prophetic traditions in which they stood. This study concludes that Haggai is a traditionalist, while Zechariah emerges as an innovative and radical theologian ahead of his time.
Tradition in Transition: Haggai and Zechariah 1-8 in the Trajectory of Hebrew Theology by
Hebrew tradition presents Haggai and Zechariah as prophetic figures arising in the wake of the Babylonian exile with an agenda of restoration for the early Persian period community in Yehud. This agenda, however, was not original to these prophets, but rather drawn from the earlier traditions of Israel. In recent years there has been a flurry of scholarly attention on the relationship between these Persian period prophets and the earlier traditions with a view to the ways in which these prophets draw on earlier tradition in innovative ways. It is time to take stock of these many contributions and provide a venue for dialogue and evaluation.
From Judgment to Hope by
While conservative interpreters might believe that prophets were predictors and progressives believe the prophets to be simply social advocates, Walter Brueggemann argues that the prophets were "emancipated imaginers of alternative." Emancipated from the dominant thinking of their societies, the prophets imagined an alternative reality and invited listeners to join them in their commitment to that new reality. In this collection of studies, popular biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann explores the Major Prophets, the Minor Prophets, and the prophets of the Persian Age. By highlighting the common themes of judgment and hope found in the prophets' messages, Brueggemann invites readers to consider what those messages mean for us today. Questions for reflection conclude each chapter. From Judgment to Hope is suitable for individual or group study.
The Hebrew Prophets and Their Social World by
Drawing on archaeology and ancient Near Eastern texts, Matthews examines the prophets chronologically, placing them and their message into historical context. He explores pertinent aspects of historical geography, economic conditions, and social forces that influenced a prophet's life and message and explains why prophets served an integral purpose in the development of ancient Israelite religion. --from publisher description.
Introduction to the Prophets by 
Minor Prophets in the New Testament by 
Hosea: An Israelite Prophet in Judean Perspective by
The book of Hosea lends itself well to a study of the interplay of traditions and an analysis of the modes of thought that belong to the northern and southern kingdoms. While its origin lies in the northern kingdom, its transmission has been largely in Judah. The history of the transfer of material is not one of uninterrupted continuity and, in tracing this, Emmerson seeks to provide an overview of the specifically Judean influences which can be traced in the book of Hosea, and thus better identify and examine the relationship of northern and southern traditions.
Prophesying the Past by
Hosea and the Hosean tradition play an important role in the internal Israelite dispute about the nature of God and his relation to the world and Israel. Hosea refers to traditions of the past in which the interdependence between Yahweh and Israel, and in particular Yahweh's care for his people, are recurrent themes. The prophet can presuppose that certain portions of these traditions, both'historical'and'theological', are known to his audience, but it is his claim that what is not known to Israel is the demand that is inherent in Yahweh's past dealings with his people, the demand for exclusive worship of Yahweh. In his'historical'retrospections, Hosea enphasizes time after time that Israel has been chosen, not for a life of passive retreat, but to serve Israel's God alone. This he proclaims as the true knowledge of God.
The Prophetic Word of Hosea by
The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.
Love Divine and Unfailing by 
Metaphors and Similes for Yahweh in Hosea 14:2-9(1-8) by The Prostitute and the Prophet by 
The Speeches of Micah by
In this important book, Shaw deploys a rigorous and systematic rhetorical analysis in the service of a reconstruction of the historical setting of each of the discourses in Micah. Unlike Muilenburg's'rhetorical criticism', this approach focuses on the persuasiveness of the discourses, the means by which the author achieves his goal. Among Shaw's tools is the concept of the'rhetorical situation'. It involves not only the question of the identity of the narratees, but also'objective'factors like events, conditions and attitudes to which the discourse responds and'subjective'factors like the speaker's own view of the situation. For each discourse the author analyses its goals and strategy, determining the structure of the speeches, the function of each part in the persuasiveness of the speech, the kinds of proof and the style utilized in order to achieve the author's goals.
Coherence of the Book of Micah by 
A Historical-Critical Study of the Book of Zephaniah by
The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.
Amos and the Cosmic Imagination by
Said to contain the words of the earliest of the biblical prophets (8th century BCE), the book of Amos is reinterpreted by the author in light of new and sometimes controversial historical approaches to the Bible. Amos is read as the literary product of the Persian-era community in Judah. Its representations of divine-human communication are investigated in the context of the ancient writers'own role as transmitters and shapers of religious traditions. Amos's extraordinary poetry expresses mythical conceptions of divine manifestation and a process of destruction and recreation of the cosmos which reveals that behind the appearances of the natural world is a heavenly, cosmic temple.
Amos in Song and Book Culture by
This study argues that the gist and movement of the prophecy in the book of Amos can be attributed to Amos himself, who composed a coherent cycle of poetry. His dire predictions came after the Fall of Samaria but before the Fall of Jerusalem. Writing a century later, the author of the book preserved but updated Amos'text by fitting it into a developing literary, historical and prophetic tradition. Amos is used as a test case to show that prophecy originated in the performing arts but was later transformed into history and biography. The original prophecy is a song Amos recited at symposia or festivals. The book's interest focusses on the performer and his times.
The Composition and Redaction of the Book of Amos by
This Oxford dissertation offers a fresh redactional analysis of the Book of Amos. It starts with a critical survey of existing approaches and an examination of the methodological issues involved and proceeds with a detailed exegetical analysis of the prophetic text which forms the basis for the redactional conclusions. It steers a middle course between extreme conservative treatments which trace all the material back to the prophet Amos and more radical sceptical approaches which attribute most of the prophetic oracles to the work of later redactors. The composition of the book began with two collections: the Polemical scroll written not long after the end of Amos' ministry and the Repentance scroll composed shortly before 722 BC. The Repentance scroll was reworked in Judah towards the end of the 8th century BC and the two scrolls were combined to form a single work sometime during the 7th century BC. The Book underwent only one redaction during the exilic period which sought to actualise its message in a new historical context. The study pays special attention to the literary structure, aim and probable historical circumstances of the various collections which gradually evolved into the present Book of Amos and seeks to show how the prophetic message lived on and spoke to the various communities which preserved and transmitted it.
Finding Meaning in the Text by
This work is a comparison of the Septuagint of Amos with its Hebrew Vorlage for the purpose of analyzing the translation technique and theology of the translator.
A Prophet in Debate: The Rhetoric of Persuasion in the Book of Amos by
An investigation of the literary structure and rhetorical challenge that prompted the book's production. Moller argues that the book of Amos captures and presents the debate between Amos and his eighth-century audience. When read in the light of Israel's fall, the presentation of Amos struggling (and failing) to convince his contemporaries of the imminent divine punishment functions as a powerful warning to subsequent Judaean readers.
The Theology of the Book of Amos by
"In modern times Amos has come to be considered one of the most important prophets, mainly for his uncompromising message about social justice. This book provides a detailed exploration of this theme and other important elements of the theology underlying the book of Amos. It also includes chapters on the text itself, providing a critical assessment of how the book came to be, the original message of Amos and his circle, which parts of the book may have been added by later scribes, and the finished form of the book. The author also considers the book,Ŵs reception in ancient and modern times by interpreters as varied as rabbis, the Church Fathers, the Reformers, and liberation theologians. Throughout, the focus is on how to read the book of Amos holistically to understand the organic development of the prophet,Ŵs message through the many stages of the book,Ŵs development and interpretation"--Provided by publisher.
The Book of Amos As Composed and Read in Antiquity by The Theology of the Book of Amos by Understanding the Book of Amos by 
Jonah's World: Social Science and the Reading of Prophetic Story by
The story of Jonah, often read as a simple children's story, is a multifaceted and elaborate narrative with serious intent. Treating the biblical book as a fictitious story based on real locations and recognizable persons, 'Jonah's World' examines the background to the story and draws on social science approaches to describe its imaginative world. The book explores the geography, theology, myth, human characters, natural landscape, and the ideology behind the story to uncover a vision of reality shaped by literary technique. Jonah's World will be invaluable to students and scholars seeking a new approach to the reading of this colourful text.
Jonah and Lamentations by
While the book of Jonah is, in some ways, unique, it stands firmly in the Old Testament tradition. There have been various suggestions as to genre, the most likely being the (short) didactic story; but the aim of the author is not easy to discern. The authenticity of Jonah's message to the Ninevites is stressed, as is their repentance, and Yahweh's mercy. The purpose of the book must lie in a combination of these themes. Lamentations is a neglected book, perhaps because it was associated with the book of Jeremiah and considered almost as an appendix. On the question of genre it has the closest affinities with the psalms of lament; but, whereas it is very difficult to link a psalm with a specific historical event or period, the five chapters of Lamentations appear to have the Fall of Jerusalem as background. While gloom abounds, the careful reader discovers the faith of the author shining through. He is a'practical monotheist'who interprets the catastrophe of the fall of Jerusalem in the light of his faith.
Jonah and Me by
There is an inherent desire in all of us to know that our lives really matter. We were created to flourish. Unfortunately, many of the models or aspirations of flourishing from our culture are limiting. This is because they are disconnected from God's original design for us. We flourish most when we find our lives in the overflow of what God is doing in this world.God is a missionary God. Throughout the Scriptures, God again and again, invites his people to be on mission with him. The story of Jonah in the Hebrew scriptures is one of God's most graphic callings. It is a midcourse correction for the children of God. It is also an invitation to all of us to ask if we are on mission with God. After exploring the story of Jonah, Jonah and Me, will unfold a biblical theology of mission. Beginning in Genesis and moving through Revelation, using the larger themes of being chosen, called, and commissioned, we will see how God has been inviting his children to be on mission with him throughout the ages. Finally, the book will offer suggestions on how to discover, rediscover, or simply reenergize in your life mission.
Jonah in the Shadows of Eden by
Yitzhak Berger advances a distinctive and markedly original interpretation of the biblical book of Jonah that resolves many of the ambiguities in the text. Berger contends that the Jonah text pulls from many inner-biblical connections, especially ones relating to the Garden of Eden. These connections provide a foundation for Berger's reading of the story, which attributes multiple layers of meaning to this carefully crafted biblical book. Focusing on Jonah's futile quest and his profoundly troubled response to God's view of the sins of humanity, Berger shows how the book paints Jonah as a pacifist no less than as a moralist.
How Jonah Is Interpreted in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by 
The Prodigal Prophet by 
A Historical-Critical Study of the Book of Zephaniah by
It is not surprising that non-academic bible readers largely ignore Nahum. Comprising only a few pages, it is easily overlooked in the midst of the twelve Minor Prophets. When a reader does stop in passing, the book appears to be brief, brutish, and uncomfortably violent. Looking more closely, however, readers may observe echoes of other much greater prophets, such as Isaiah and Ezekiel, perhaps even of the Psalms, and conclude that the book is a rather second-rate pastiche of other writings, although some rather brilliant poetry is woven into it. Who Will Lament Her? takes a fresh look at Nahum. It explores further the presence of the feminine in the book of Nahum, the extent to which it is present in the text, how the structure of the text makes the feminine both present and absent, and the possible reasons why this is so. Lanner takes two methodological approaches. The first sets out to show that it is possible that a feminine deity is present in the text of Nahum. The second approach engages three theories of the literary fantastic with the text, taking into consideration the findings of the historical and exegetical work. Using these two approaches hand in hand results in a fresh reading of Nahum.
Zephaniah: A Prophetic Drama by
A much neglected prophecy, Zephaniah proves to be an excellent subject for literary-critical enquiry. Such an approach yields new meaning for Zephaniah as it is doing for other biblical texts. After an introductory chapter devoted to the history of Zephaniah interpretation, House moves to a discussion of genre and the content of Zephaniah. Chapter 2 surveys genre analysis from Aristotle to the present and then charts the main characteristics of epic, lyric and drama. A close reading of Zephaniah follows, covering the book's structure, dialogue, plot, characterization, themes, points of view and time sequences (Chapter 3). This reading provides both an interpretation of the book and data for locating its genre. Material from the close reading is compared to epic, lyric and drama in Chapter 4, and drama is seen to be the most natural classical genre description for Zephaniah. Several parallels are also drawn between prophetic and comic modes in literature. Finally, Chapter 5 presents a translation of Zephaniah, with textual notes, and divides the book as a drama according to speakers, scenes and acts. Throughout this study Zephaniah emerges as a unified literary work of great style and power.
Faith amid the Ruins by
If God asked you to live faithfully in the midst of upheaval, even if the cost was high, how would you respond? What if he made extraordinary and difficult demands? The prophet Habakkuk struggled with these very questions as he tried to follow God step-by-step during a time of unrest."Living by faith" sounds great on the surface, but when we face hardship and opposition, it's easy to seek security and stability instead of God's will. In Faith Amid the Ruins, Heath Thomas walks us through the book of Habakkuk, revealing the heart of this story about living by faith in light of God's own faithfulness toward us.
Theodicy in Habakkuk by
This extraordinary work explains how the writer of the book of Habakkuk resolves the issue of theodicy. Reading the book as a literary whole, Grace Ko uses a holistic, synchronic approach to investigate how its writer presents his case, and how he reaches the final resolution of his problem. Since theodicy is a common human issue raised during atrocity, Habakkuk's experience becomes a source of hope and resolute faith for the believing community in the midst of severe adversity. COMMENDATION'Theodicy in Habakkuk is a welcome addition to the interpretation of the prophetic message of Habakkuk. This sensible, clearly written book deserves the attention of all serious Old Testament scholars and students.'- J. Glen Taylor, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Canada
The Triumph of Faith in Habakkuk by 
Prophecy and Teaching: Prophetic Authority, Form Problems, and the Use of Traditions in the Book of Malachi by
Application and re-Interpretation of biblical traditions in the Book of Malachi. A traditio-historical study. Six passages in Malachi, together with the superscription (Mal 1:1) and the additions (Mal 3:22‑24), are analyzed. The creative use of the traditions is demonstrated, including the prophet's exegetical techniques. Lines of connections are detected between Malachi and legal texts (Leviticus and Deuteronomy), earlier prophetic words, Chronicles, and Wisdom literature.
Behold Your King: The Hope For the House of David in the Book of Zechariah by
This book investigates the nature of the hope for the house of David in the final form of the book of Zechariah. It focuses particularly on the following themes: the roles of Joshua and Zerubbabel; the nature and identity of the Shoot; the coming King; the Shepherd; and the Pierced One. It challenges the scholarly consensus, going back to the thesis of Julius Wellhausen, that the high priest took over the role and prerogatives of the pre-exilic monarch in the early post-exilic period. Instead, Zechariah merely envisages Joshua the high priest being reinstated to the temple duties that were undertaken before the exile. Furthermore, Zechariah does not identify Zerubbabel as the promised future Davidic king ('Shoot'). Rather, Zechariah demonstrates a hope for the restoration of a Davidic king who will have a key role in temple building after the time of Zerubbabel. The belief that Zechariah 9-11 and 12-14 are oracles that seek to reinterpret prophecies that have become problematic is also challenged. There is no strong evidence that the hope for the house of David in Zechariah 9-14 contradicts the presentation of Zechariah 1-8. This thesis shows how these later chapters continue and develop many of the themes related to the Davidic hope in Zechariah 1-8.The picture of the Davidic hope that emerges from the book of Zechariah is consistent with the expectations of earlier prophets and confirms that the book, when read as a whole, provides a strong impetus for later messianism in the post-exilic period.
Bringing Out the Treasure by
It is generally agreed within Hebrew Bible scholarship that Zechariah 9-14 is filled with allusions to other books within the Hebrew canon. Rex Mason's doctoral dissertation in the early 1970s contributed significantly to the foundation of this consensus. However, although Mason's thesis remains a seminal work for those studying Deutero-Zechariah, it has never been published. This volume contains the first publication of that work together with reflections from leading biblical scholars who have published onZechariah 9-14. The volume is rounded off with a response by Mason to these scholars and a reflection on his own contribution thirty years ago.Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement series, Volume 370.
The Evasive Text by
This work employs an eclectic mix of structuralist and post-structuralist theories in a doomed attempt to discover the symbolic logic at work in Zechariah 1-8's surreal narrative world. Lengthy analyses of Zechariah's intra- and intertextual logic, or lack thereof, are presented. It is finally concluded that Zechariah lacks a concrete symbolic logic, defies grammatical conventions and is'unreadable'as it stands-and always was this way. One suggestion is that it was the intent of the author, conceived of in a postmodern way, to produce such a work. It is finally concluded that the'post-prophetic'age of Hebrew literature has much in common with the postmodern.
Intertextuality of Zechariah 1-8 by
Zechariah 1-8 is a deeply intertextual work which takes up formerly disparate streams of tradition - especially various elements of what it calls'the former prophets'- and creatively combines these traditions, in applying them to a post-exilic context. This fact means that Zechariah 1-8 is situated in a dual context - the literary context of'the former prophets', and the historical context of the early post-exilic period. This work seeks to understand Zechariah 1-8 in the light of its dual context. When Zechariah 1-8 is read in this way, a number of otherwise perplexing passages are made clearer, and the message of the work as a whole is better understood.This book offers a critique of and refinement to the approaches of intertextuality/inner-biblical allusion/tradition history in understanding the effect of'texts re-using texts'. Against a recent trend which seeks to limit this phenomenon to'verbal repetition', it demonstrates that Zechariah 1-8 involves the use of a wide variety of literary devices (including thematic allusions,'ungramaticalities', and sustained allusions)to make connections with other texts. The kind of'intertextual'approach followed in this study demonstrates that intertextuality does not necessarily lead to radical indeterminacy (as claimed by some), and instead actually aids in the limiting the possible ranges of meaning. The manner in which Zechariah 1-8 invokes/re-activates/ re-applies the words of the'former prophets'raises important issues related to prophecy and fulfilment, history and eschatology, and the development of'apocalyptic', which are addressed in the course of this enquiry.
Up the Steep and Stony Road: The Book of Zechariah in Social Location Trajectory Analysis by 
The Zechariah Tradition and the Gospel of Matthew by
The Zechariah Tradition and the Gospel of Matthew is a comprehensive study of the ways Matthew utilizes Zechariah texts and traditions. Against the background of materials from Qumran, and apocryphal and deuterocanonical writings Matthew's explicit citations of Zechariah are examined; the influence of Zechariah elsewhere in the First Gospel is identified; and the extent to which Matthew alludes to characteristic Zechariah themes, alone or in combination with other prophetic traditions, is explored. Zechariah traditions appear in Matthew's distinctive materials, as well as in texts Matthew has transmitted, or altered, from Mark and Q.The impact of Zech 9-14 is not limited to the Passion Narrative but extends through Matthew's Infancy and Galilean healing narratives, as well; important concepts from Zech 1-8 are also discerned in the Infancy and Passion Narratives. Moss works through the canonical order of Matthew; this enables readers to appreciate the cumulative effect of Zechariah's influence at each stage of the Gospel story.Two appendices, one arranged according to Zechariah and the other to Matthew, list possible references to Zechariah in Matthew. This monograph is useful for Matthean studies and it is an insightful investigation of how one set of Old Testamental traditions are appropriated in one canonical Gospel and in the New Testament.
Intertextuality of Zechariah 1-8 by 
Reading Zechariah with Zechariah 1 by Structure and the Book of Zechariah by 
Visions and Eschatology by 
From the Depths of Despair to the Promise of Presence by
For decades, the prophetic book of Joel has been the focus of scrutiny that belies its brevity. It captures readers with its vivid descriptions of locusts and military invasion and the distress that they cause. It then reveals the concern of YHWH for the covenant community as it systematically reverses the crises that it announces. The book of Joel also offers a window into the rhetorical function of'he day of YHWH'as it uses the phrase to announce both judgment and restoration. Reflecting the creativity of the Old Testament prophetic spirit, the book then guides its readers from utter anguish to the hope of restoration, rooted in the presence of YHWH. From the Depths of Despair to the Promise of Presence delves into Joel's rhetoric and explores the ways in which it seeks to persuade its audience to adopt its perspective in order to respond to a time of crisis. Barker evaluates the state of the discussion surrounding Joel's composition and relationship to the Book of the Twelve. He develops a model of rhetorical criticism that builds on the foundations of previous approaches and proposes modifications that address the specific challenges posed by the book of Joel. He then puts this model into practice and demonstrates that the book of Joel moves from scenes of devastation to promises of restoration in articulating the necessity of calling and relying on YHWH in all circumstances. He explores the persuasive potential of Joel by focusing on its rhetorical structures and strategy. He examines the way the book of Joel engages its audience and guides the people to realize that they must turn to YHWH so that YHWH will turn and bring restoration. From the Depths of Despair to the Promise of Presence invites the reader to enter into the world of Joel. It calls the reader to experience the ways in which the book of Joel intertwines threats of destruction and the hope of renewal in order to reveal the character of YHWH.
Joel's Use of Scripture and the Scripture's Use of Joel by 
The Theology of the Book of Joel by
The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.
