Unveiling the Purpose of Prophets

🗣️Prophets served as spokespersons for Yahweh, delivering his messages to kings and the public.

🌍The role of prophets in the ancient world was not unique to Israel and existed in other cultures as well.

💡The prophets differed in their roles, with some serving as formal advisers to kings and others being ordinary people who received divine messages.

⚖️Biblical prophecy often involved opposing messages from different prophets, causing confusion among the people.

📜The written prophecies were compiled by later authors, not by the prophets themselves.

What was the time frame of the prophets in the Bible?

—The prophets lived and delivered their messages from the 8th century BC through the Exile and post-exilic period.

Did prophets only predict the future?

—No, prophecy involved delivering messages from God, which could include warnings, calls to repentance, or instructions for the future.

Were prophets paid by the king?

—Some prophets served as formal advisers to the king and were likely paid, but others were ordinary people who received divine messages and may not have been paid.

Did prophets of other deities exist in ancient Israel?

—Yes, prophets of other deities existed in the ancient world, and the Bible mentions prophets of Baal alongside prophets of Yahweh.

How were the written prophecies compiled?

—The prophets themselves did not compile the written prophecies. Later authors and editors gathered the oracles and organized them into books.

00:00Introduction to the prophets in the Bible and their unique role as spokespersons for Yahweh.

07:36Understanding the difference between the prophets themselves and the authors who compiled their oracles.

09:40Exploring the role of prophets in ancient Hebrew culture and their function as advisers to kings.

11:23Comparing the prophets of Yahweh to prophets of other deities in the ancient world, noting the confusion it sometimes caused.

13:25Highlighting that prophets could be ordinary people who received divine messages rather than formal advisers to the king.