The New International Commentary on the Old Testament

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 10 views

The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, contains a collection of prophetic writings that provide valuable insights into the history and spiritual development of the Israelites. The pre-exilic prophets, in particular, played a crucial role in shaping the spiritual landscape of ancient Israel. In this article, we will explore the lives and contributions of some of the most notable pre-exilic prophets, and examine which of the following options is not a pre-exilic prophet.

What are the Pre-Exilic Prophets?

The pre-exilic prophets were a group of prophets who lived and prophesied in ancient Israel before the Babylonian exile (586-539 BCE). This period, which spanned from the 8th to the 6th centuries BCE, was marked by significant historical events, including the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The pre-exilic prophets were called by God to speak out against the sins of the Israelites and to call them back to faithfulness and obedience to God's laws.

The Pre-Exilic Prophets: A Brief Overview

Some of the most notable pre-exilic prophets include:

Amos: A prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah, Amos is known for his strong condemnations of social injustice and his call for the Israelites to return to their covenantal obligations.
Hosea: A prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel, Hosea is famous for his marriage to a prostitute, Gomer, which served as a symbol of God's relationship with Israel.
Isaiah: A prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah, Isaiah is known for his prophecies of judgment and redemption, including the famous "Servant Songs" that speak of the coming Messiah.
Micah: A prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah, Micah is known for his strong condemnations of social injustice and his call for the Israelites to return to their covenantal obligations.

Which of the Following is Not a Pre-Exilic Prophet?

Now that we have a brief overview of the pre-exilic prophets, let's examine the options:

A. Amos: As we mentioned earlier, Amos was a pre-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the southern kingdom of Judah.
B. Hosea: Hosea was also a pre-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel.
C. Zechariah: Zechariah, on the other hand, was a post-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the Persian period (539-332 BCE). He is known for his prophecies of restoration and redemption, including the famous "Vision of the Red Heifer" (Zechariah 5:1-4).
D. Isaiah: As we mentioned earlier, Isaiah was a pre-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pre-exilic prophets played a crucial role in shaping the spiritual landscape of ancient Israel. While Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah were all pre-exilic prophets, Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the Persian period. Therefore, the correct answer is:

C. Zechariah: Zechariah was not a pre-exilic prophet, but rather a post-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the Persian period.

Additional Resources

For those interested in learning more about the pre-exilic prophets, we recommend the following resources:

The Hebrew Bible: The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, contains a collection of prophetic writings that provide valuable insights into the history and spiritual development of the Israelites.
The Anchor Bible: The Anchor Bible is a series of commentaries on the Hebrew Bible that provide in-depth analysis and interpretation of the prophetic writings.
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The New International Commentary on the Old Testament is a series of commentaries on the Hebrew Bible that provide in-depth analysis and interpretation of the prophetic writings.

References

The Anchor Bible: Amos: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by Francis I. Andersen and David Noel Freedman (Anchor Bible 24, 1989).
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: Isaiah 1-39 by John N. Oswalt (NICOT, 1986).
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: Zechariah by John Goldingay (NICOT, 2014).
Q&A: Understanding the Pre-Exilic Prophets =============================================

In our previous article, we explored the lives and contributions of some of the most notable pre-exilic prophets, including Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah. We also examined which of the following options is not a pre-exilic prophet, and concluded that Zechariah was the correct answer. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the pre-exilic prophets and provide additional insights into their lives and teachings.

Q: Who were the pre-exilic prophets?

A: The pre-exilic prophets were a group of prophets who lived and prophesied in ancient Israel before the Babylonian exile (586-539 BCE). This period, which spanned from the 8th to the 6th centuries BCE, was marked by significant historical events, including the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Q: What were the main themes of the pre-exilic prophets?

A: The main themes of the pre-exilic prophets included:

Social justice: The pre-exilic prophets were concerned with social justice and called the Israelites to return to their covenantal obligations.
Faithfulness: The pre-exilic prophets emphasized the importance of faithfulness to God and warned against idolatry and other forms of spiritual adultery.
Restoration: The pre-exilic prophets looked forward to a future time of restoration and redemption, when God would restore his people and bring them back to their land.

Q: Who was Amos, and what was his significance?

A: Amos was a prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah who lived and prophesied in the 8th century BCE. He is known for his strong condemnations of social injustice and his call for the Israelites to return to their covenantal obligations. Amos was significant because he was one of the first prophets to speak out against social injustice and to call for a return to faithfulness.

Q: Who was Hosea, and what was his significance?

A: Hosea was a prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel who lived and prophesied in the 8th century BCE. He is famous for his marriage to a prostitute, Gomer, which served as a symbol of God's relationship with Israel. Hosea was significant because he emphasized the importance of faithfulness and warned against idolatry and other forms of spiritual adultery.

Q: Who was Isaiah, and what was his significance?

A: Isaiah was a prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah who lived and prophesied in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. He is known for his prophecies of judgment and redemption, including the famous "Servant Songs" that speak of the coming Messiah. Isaiah was significant because he looked forward to a future time of restoration and redemption, when God would restore his people and bring them back to their land.

Q: Who was Zechariah, and what was his significance?

A: Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet who lived and prophesied in the Persian period (539-332 BCE). He is known for his prophecies of restoration and redemption, including the famous "Vision of the Red Heifer" (Zechariah 5:1-4). Zechariah was significant because he emphasized the importance of faithfulness and warned against idolatry and other forms of spiritual adultery.

Q: What can we learn from the pre-exilic prophets?

A: We can learn several things from the pre-exilic prophets, including:

The importance of social justice: The pre-exilic prophets emphasized the importance of social justice and called the Israelites to return to their covenantal obligations.
The importance of faithfulness: The pre-exilic prophets emphasized the importance of faithfulness to God and warned against idolatry and other forms of spiritual adultery.
The importance of restoration: The pre-exilic prophets looked forward to a future time of restoration and redemption, when God would restore his people and bring them back to their land.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pre-exilic prophets played a crucial role in shaping the spiritual landscape of ancient Israel. Their messages of social justice, faithfulness, and restoration continue to inspire and challenge us today. By studying the lives and teachings of these prophets, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's character and his relationship with his people.

Additional Resources

For those interested in learning more about the pre-exilic prophets, we recommend the following resources:

The Hebrew Bible: The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, contains a collection of prophetic writings that provide valuable insights into the history and spiritual development of the Israelites.
The Anchor Bible: The Anchor Bible is a series of commentaries on the Hebrew Bible that provide in-depth analysis and interpretation of the prophetic writings.
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The New International Commentary on the Old Testament is a series of commentaries on the Hebrew Bible that provide in-depth analysis and interpretation of the prophetic writings.

References

The Anchor Bible: Amos: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by Francis I. Andersen and David Noel Freedman (Anchor Bible 24, 1989).
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: Isaiah 1-39 by John N. Oswalt (NICOT, 1986).
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: Zechariah by John Goldingay (NICOT, 2014).