Prophets

Question 1

Name the Pre-Exilic Prophets of the Northern Kingdom (Israel, fell in 722 BC)

Answer 1

Elijah – ministry during Ahab and Ahaziah (1 Kings 17–19)

Elisha – ministry after Elijah (2 Kings 2–13)

Amos – 760–750 BC, prophesied in Israel (Amos 1–9)

Hosea – 750–722 BC, Israel’s unfaithfulness (Hosea 1–14)

Question 2

Name the Pre-Exilic Prophets of the Southern Kingdom (Judah Fell in 586 BC

Answer 2

Isaiah – 740–681 BC, prophesied during Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (Isaiah 1–66)

Micah – 737–696 BC, contemporary of Isaiah (Micah 1–7)

Joel – Possibly pre-exilic; some argue early, context unclear (Joel 1–3)

Nahum – 663–612 BC, against Nineveh (Nahum 1–3)

Zephaniah – 640–609 BC, during Josiah (Zephaniah 1–3)

Habakkuk – late 7th century BC, before Babylonian conquest (Habakkuk 1–3)

Question 3

Name the Exilic Prophets (during Babylonian exile, 586-538)

Answer 3

Jeremiah – 627–580 BC, Judah to Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 1–52)

Ezekiel – 593–571 BC, among exiles in Babylon (Ezekiel 1–48)

Obadiah – likely exilic, judgment against Edom (Obadiah 1)

Daniel – 605–530 BC, Babylonian court (Daniel 1–12)

Question 4

Name the Post-Exilic Prophets (after 538 BC, return from exile)

Answer 4

Haggai – 520 BC, encourages rebuilding temple (Haggai 1–2)

Zechariah – 520–518 BC, contemporary of Haggai (Zechariah 1–14)

Malachi – 5th century BC, addresses post-exilic community (Malachi 1–4)

Joel – some scholars place Joel post-exilic; debated (Joel 1–3)

Question 5

Moses – Prophet of the Law

Answer 5

Prophet, lawgiver, mediator of covenant — Ex 3–34, Deut 34

Confronts Pharaoh, leads Israel from Egypt

Receives Law at Sinai, builds tabernacle

Contemporary of Aaron (High Priest), Joshua (successor)

Question 6

Samuel – Last Judge & Prophet

Answer 6

Dedicated to God as a child — 1 Sam 1–3

Anoints Saul & David as kings

Calls Israel to repentance

Contemporary of Eli (priest), Saul (king), David (youth)

Question 7

Nathan – Prophet to David

Answer 7

Confronts David about Bathsheba — 2 Sam 12

Delivers Davidic Covenant — 2 Sam 7

Supports Solomon’s succession — 1 Kgs 1

Question 8

Elijah – Prophet to Israel

Answer 8

Confronts Ahab & Jezebel — 1 Kgs 17–22

Mount Carmel showdown with Baal prophets — 1 Kgs 18

Taken to heaven in whirlwind — 2 Kgs 2

Contemporary of Elisha, Ahab, Jehoshaphat

Question 9

Elisha – Successor to Elijah

Answer 9

Double portion of Elijah’s spirit — 2 Kgs 2

Performs many miracles (healing Naaman, multiplying oil, raising dead)

Advises kings of Israel (Jehu, Joash)

Contemporary of Gehazi (servant), Hazael of Aram

Question 10

Isaiah – Prophet to Judah

Answer 10

Ministered under Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah — Isa 1:1

Proclaims judgment & hope, messianic prophecies (Isa 7, 9, 53)

Confronts Ahaz (Immanuel prophecy), encourages Hezekiah during Assyrian crisis

Question 11

Jeremiah – Prophet of the Fall of Judah

Answer 11

Called before birth — Jer 1:5

Warns Judah of coming Babylonian exile

Wears yoke, buys field as sign of future hope

Lives through Jerusalem’s destruction (586 BC)

Contemporary of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah

Question 12

Ezekiel – Prophet of the Exile

Answer 12

Prophet among exiles in Babylon — Ezek 1

Sees throne chariot vision, valley of dry bones

Symbolic actions: lying on side, cooking over dung

Contemporary of Daniel, Jehoiachin (in exile)

Question 13

Daniel – Prophet & Statesman

Answer 13

Exiled to Babylon as youth — Dan 1

Serves under Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Cyrus

Interprets dreams (statue, beasts), visions of future kingdoms

Contemporary of Ezekiel, later Cyrus’ decree

Question 14

Hosea – Prophet to Israel

Answer 14

Commanded to marry Gomer as picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness — Hos 1–3

Calls Northern Kingdom to repent before Assyrian conquest

Contemporary of Isaiah, Amos

Question 15

Joel – Prophet of the Day of the LORD

Answer 15

Describes locust plague & calls to repentance — Joel 1–2

Prophesies Spirit outpouring — Joel 2:28–32

Timing debated, but likely early in Judah’s history

Question 16

Amos – Prophet to Israel

Answer 16

Shepherd from Tekoa — Amos 1:1

Preaches against Israel’s social injustice & idolatry

Warns of coming exile under Assyria

Contemporary of Hosea, Isaiah, Uzziah, Jeroboam II

Question 17

Obadiah – Prophet Against Edom

Answer 17

Shortest OT book — judgment on Edom

Possibly during fall of Jerusalem (586 BC)

Question 18

Jonah – Prophet to Nineveh

Answer 18

Runs from God, swallowed by fish — Jon 1–2

Preaches repentance, Nineveh spared

Contemporary of Jeroboam II — 2 Kgs 14:25

Question 19

Micah – Prophet to Judah & Israel

Answer 19

Contemporary of Isaiah

Predicts Bethlehem as Messiah’s birthplace — Mic 5:2

Preaches judgment, hope, and true religion (Mic 6:8)

Question 20

Nahum – Prophet Against Nineveh

Answer 20

Prophesies destruction of Nineveh — Nah 1–3

Fulfilled in 612 BC

Question 21

Habakkuk – Prophet Questioning God

Answer 21

Dialogues with God: why evil prospers?

“The righteous shall live by faith” — Hab 2:4

Predicts Babylonian invasion

Question 22

Zephaniah – Prophet of the Day of the LORD

Answer 22

Preaches in Josiah’s reign — Zeph 1:1

Calls for national repentance, predicts judgment

Question 23

Haggai – Prophet of the Return

Answer 23

Encourages rebuilding of the temple — Hag 1–2

Contemporary of Zerubbabel (governor) & Joshua (high priest)

Question 24

Zechariah – Prophet of the Return

Answer 24

Visions of restoration, Joshua the priest, Zerubbabel

Messianic prophecies (Zech 9:9, 12:10)

Contemporary of Haggai

Question 25

Malachi – Last Prophet of OT

Answer 25

Calls out corrupt priests, faithless people — Mal 1–3 Predicts coming of Elijah (John the Baptist) — Mal 4:5 Last word before 400 years of silence