THE MINOR PROPHETS

List in the Bible• Hosea• Joel • Amos• Obadiah• Jonah • Micah• Nahum• Habakkuk• Zephaniah

• Haggai• Zechariah• Malachi

Chronological List of the Minor Prophets

Early (850-750)Obadiah

Joel Jonah

Middle (750-700)HoseaAmosMicah

Judah (700-600)Nahum

ZephaniahHabakkuk

Post Exile (520-400)Haggai

ZechariahMalachi

Early Prophets• Obadiah (1 chapter) prophesied against Edom• Joel prophesied against Judah after a locust

plague, warns of greater national judgment, and foresees a restoration before the final end of the Jewish system 2:28-32

• Jonah prophesied against Nineveh (capital of Assyria) story more about Jonah than Nineveh Because of their repentance, God spared Nineveh

Middle Prophets• Hosea prophesied against Israel and the Assyrian

captivity; God told Hosea to marry a woman predisposed to harlotry as a parallel of Israel’s unfaithfulness to Him. Restoration is also foretold in Hosea’s redemption of his wife from prostitution.

• Amos was from Judah but sent to prophesy against Israel; he also prophesied against Israel’s neighbors; a short passage of hope fulfilled in Christ and the church 9:8-15 parallel with Obadiah 19-21

• Micah prophesied against Israel (Assyrian captivity) and Judah (6:8); had much to say about spiritual restoration 4:1-4; 5:2-4

7th Century B.C. Prophets • Nahum prophesied against Nineveh (Assyria); they

fell to Babylon in 612 B.C.• Zephaniah prophesied against Judah, then switched

to judgments against neighboring nations and even Babylon. Chapter 3 is prophecy of restoration in context of Josiah’s reforms

• Habakkuk complained to God about Judah’s wickedness; God promised to send Babylon to punish Judah; then he wondered how God could use a more wicked nation to punish His people; God assures him of His justice and mercy 2:4

Post (after) Exile Prophets • Haggai prophesied in 520 B.C.; he rebukes their

priorities of building their houses and neglecting God’s house; they rebuilt the temple 70 years after Babylon destroyed it in 586 B.C. 1:5

• Zechariah was with Haggai. He has many Messianic prophecies pointing to fulfillment in Jesus Christ 6:12-13

• Malachi confronted the spiritual indifference of the Jews in the 5th Century B.C.; many good spiritual lessons and two prophecies about John the Baptist 3:1; 4:5-6, Luke 1:16-17

All Prophets • All of the prophets have foretold “these days” the

days of the first century Acts 3:24• Jesus is the center of God’s plan of salvation v. 25-

26• He is the servant of the Lord (Isaiah 40-66)• He is the seed of Abraham Gen. 22:18, Gal.

3:16,26-29• He blesses us by forgiving us v.26• When we believe, repent, and are baptized v.19,

2:38