Introductions of the 12 Minor Prophetical Books of the Old Testament-
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Hosea
Author- Hosea
Recipients- Northern kingdom of Israel
Dated- Around 722 B.C. after fall of Samaria, the capital of Israel
Theme- God’s covenant love for Israel. Israel’s condemnation followed by God’s forgiveness.
Content- Accounts of Hosea, Gomer and their children, Faithless Israel, Faithful God, Israel’s punishment and restoration.
Joel
Author- Joel
Recipients- The people of Judah
Dated- 9th century B.C.
Theme- Judgment and repentance will be followed by restoration and blessings for the people of Judah.
Content- Locust invasion, Call to Judah to fast and repent, Judah assured salvation in the day of the Lord.
Amos
Author- Amos
Recipients- The northern kingdom of Israel
Dated- 8th century B.C.
Theme- Judgment of Judah, Israel and several nations.
Content- Judgment of Israel for oppression of poor and religious perversions, Exile pronounced, The visions of Amos.
Obadiah
Author- Obadiah
Recipients- People of Judah
Dated- 9th century B.C.
Theme- Judgment of Edom
Content- Edom’s destruction because of pride, The day of the Lord, Judgment of nations, Deliverance for God’s people.
Jonah
Author- Unknown historian
Recipients- Northern kingdom of Israel
Dated- 8th century B.C.
Theme- A prophet’s reluctant response to God’s ministry call.
Content- Jonah’s disobedience to God’s call and obedience after punishment, Ninevites repentance to God’s message through Jonah.
Micah
Author- Micah
Recipients- Israel and Judah
Dated- 8th century B.C.
Theme- Divine judgment and deliverance.
Content- Oppressive land grabbers, wealthy wicked and false prophets condemned, 3 cycles of judgment and restoration of God’s people.
Nahum
Author- Nahum
Recipients- People of Judah
Dated- 7th century B.C.
Theme- Judgment of Nineveh
Content- God’s kindness and strictness, Judgment of Nineveh for cruelty, idolatry and wickedness.
Habakkuk
Author- Habakkuk
Recipients- People of Judah
Dated- 7th century B.C.
Theme- Dilemma of God’s dealing with his people.
Content- Habakkuk fails to understand why God allows Judah to be oppressed by a more wicked nation, Babylon.
Zephaniah
Author- Zephaniah
Recipients- People of Judah
Dated- 7th century B.C.
Theme- Day of the Lord and judgment of nations including Judah.
Content- Judgment of Judah and several nations on the day of the Lord, A remnant of Judah redeemed and restored.
Haggai
Author- Haggai
Recipients- Postexilic Jews living in Judah
Dated- 6th century B.C.
Theme- Call to rebuild God’s temple.
Content- Poverty of people because of ignoring God’s temple, God’s call to rebuild temple through Haggai, Zerubbabel and people commit themselves to rebuilding God’s temple.
Zechariah
Author- Zechariah
Recipients- Postexilic Jews living in Judah
Dated- 6th century B.C.
Theme- Zechariah encourages people to complete the rebuilding of God’s temple.
Content- 8 visions of Zechariah in one night, Joshua the high priest honored, Messianic future and restoration of God’s kingdom.
Malachi
Author- Malachi
Recipients- Postexilic Jews living in Judah
Dated- 5th century B.C.
Theme- Messiah returns not only to judge but also to restore his people.
Content- God’s rebuke for unfaithfulness of priests and people, The coming of the Lord, Exhortation to faithful giving.
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The Minor Prophetical Books are found in the Bible as the last 12 books of the Old Testament.
The books from Hosea to Malachi are the Minor Prophetical Books.
They are called Minor Prophets, not because they are of less importance than the Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, but because their books are smaller compared to the Major Prophetical Books.
The Minor Prophets prophesied from the 9th to the 5th centuries B.C.
The Minor Prophets who prophesied in the 9th century B.C. were Obadiah & Joel.
The Minor Prophets who prophesied in the 8th century B.C. were Jonah, Amos, Hosea & Micah. Isaiah, one of the Major Prophets also prophesied during this period.
The Minor Prophets who prophesied in the 7th century B.C. were Zephaniah, Nahum & Habakkuk. Jeremiah, one of the Major Prophets also prophesied during this period.
The Minor Prophets who prophesied in the 6th B.C. were Haggai & Zechariah. Ezekiel and Daniel, two major prophets also prophesied during this period.
The Minor Prophet who prophesied in the 5th B.C. was Malachi.