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The Minor The Minor ProphetsProphets

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IntroductionIntroduction• Probably the least studied section of the Bible.• “Minor” designation is not given based on the

importance of the material contained, but rather the shortness of each respective writing.

• This study will basically be an “overview” of each of the 12 books.

• The need to study such material is evident in fact that many have misapplied the prophecies and warnings found therein and our lack of study has not given us the ability to “give an answer” to the challenges that we face.

• We can argue against misapplication, but we need to know what lessons these passages were meant to convey.

• Our goal in this study: To equip the student with the proper understanding of the messages of the Minor Prophets, thereby enabling him/her to “give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:9).

HHistorical Historical BackgroundBackground

• These prophecies will only make sense when we place them in their proper place in history. Let us trace the geographic and historic settings of the Old Testament:1. Ante-diluvian world (time before the Flood) –

Genesis 1-62. Post-diluvian world (time after the Flood) – Genesis

7-11:263. Abraham in Ur/Moves to Haran – Genesis 11:27-30,

31-324. Abraham is called to Canaan – Genesis 12:1-95. Famine forces Abraham to Egypt – Genesis 12:10-

206. Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob dwell in Canaan – Genesis

13-45:28A. Lot begat Moab (Genesis

19:37) = Moabites begat Benammi

(Genesis 19:38) = AmmonitesB. Abraham/Hagar begat Ishmael (Genesis

21:12-14) = IshmaelitesC. Ishmael begat Twelve Princes

(Genesis 25:12-18) = ???D. Abraham/Keturah begatMidian (Genesis 25:1-

4) = MidianitesE. Isaac begat Esau (Genesis

36:6-9) = Edomites begat Jacob

(Genesis 35:22-26) = Israel

HHistorical Historical BackgroundBackground7. Egyptian Bondage (400 years) – Exodus 1-12

1890-1490 BC8. The Wilderness Wanderings (40 years)

1490-1451 BC9. The Conquest (26 years) 1451-

1425 BC10.The Judges (300 years) 1406-

1095 BC11.The United Kingdom (120 years)

1095-975 BC12.The Divided Kingdom (Fall of Northern

Israel/Samaria) 975-722 BC13.Southern Kingdom of Judah (Fall of Jerusalem)

722-586 BC14.The Captivity (Fall of Babylon)

586-538 BC15.The Restoration 538-432

BC

Three major movements when the Jews returned to Jerusalem: 536 BC – Zerubbabel returned with 42,360 Jews 457 BC – Ezra returned with 1754 Jewish men 444 BC – Jeremiah returned and worked at

government expense Two distinct periods of restoration:

536 - 516 BC – Zerubbabel rebuilds temple (Ezra 3-6)

457 - 432 BC – Nehemiah & Ezra rebuilt walls of Jerusalem

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The Minor ProphetsThe Minor Prophets1. Obadiah – “Servant of Jehovah” (845 BC)2. Joel – “Jehovah is God” (830 BC)3. Jonah – “Dove” (780 BC)4. Amos – “Burden-bearer” (755 BC)5. Hosea – “Salvation” (750-725 BC)6. Micah – “Who is like the Lord?” (740-700 BC)7. Zephaniah – “Jehovah Hides” (625 BC)8. Nahum – “Consolation” (630-612 BC)9. Habakkuk – “Embrace” (612-606 BC)10. Haggai – “Festive or Festival” (520 BC)11. Zachariah – “Whom Jehovah Remembers”

(520-518 BC)12. Malachi – “My Messenger” (445-432 BC)

HImportant Dates to Important Dates to RememberRemember

975 BC – The Kingdom of Israel was divided into two parts: The Northern Kingdom of Israel with Samaria as

its capital. The Southern Kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem

as its capital. 722 BC – The Northern Kingdom of Israel

(Samaria) was destroyed by the Assyrians under King Tiglathpileser III (2 Kings 15:29). As was the Assyrian custom, the Israelites were deported to Assyria.

586 BC – The Southern Kingdom of Judah is taken captive and Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar.

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ObadiahObadiah• Obadiah means “servant of Jehovah”• Date: Most likely 845 BC (2 Chronicles 21:8-

10,16-17)• Message: Edom was to be destroyed for its

cruelty and pride (vs. 3-4)• History: Edomites were descendants of Esau

(Genesis 36:6-9). Struggle began in the womb (Genesis 25:21-28). Always had a “rocky” relationship with Israel.

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Phoen

icia

Phoen

icia

Philis

tia

Philis

tia

IsraelIsraelAmmonAmmon

MoabMoabJ udahJ udah

JerusalemJerusalem

Dea

d S

eaG

alile

eJo

rdan

Jord

anR

iver

Riv

er

NASA PHOTO© EBibleTeacher.com

EdomEdom

SyriaSyria

SamariaSamariaMediterranean

Mediterranean Divided Divided

KingdomKingdom

INDEX

Phoen

icia

Phoen

icia

Philis

tia

Philis

tia

IsraelIsraelAmmonAmmon

MoabMoabJ udahJ udah

JerusalemJerusalem

Dea

d S

eaG

alile

eJo

rdan

Jord

anR

iver

Riv

er

NASA PHOTO© EBibleTeacher.com

EdomEdom

SyriaSyria

SamariaSamariaMediterranean

Mediterranean Divided Divided

KingdomKingdom

INDEX

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“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” says the Lord. – (Obadiah 3-4)

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Entrance

to the

Valley

Of

Petra

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Edom was located in the mountainous region of the Dead Sea. Sela (now Petra) was it’s capital. From mount strongholds like this the Edomites

launched their raids on Israel.

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ObadiahObadiah• Obadiah means “servant of Jehovah.”• Date: Most likely 845 BC (2 Chronicles 21:8-

10,16-17).• Message: Edom was to be destroyed for its

cruelty and pride (vs. 3-4).• History: Edomites were descendants of Esau

(Genesis 36:6-9). Struggle began in the womb (Genesis 25:21-28). Always had a “rocky” relationship with Israel.

• Outline:– National Security will be taken away (vs. 1-9)– Watched and participated in Judah’s destruction (vs.

10-14)– Edom’s destruction foretold (vs. 15-16)– Israel would recover but Edom would never (vs. 17-21)

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JoelJoel• Joel means “Jehovah is God.”• Probably around 830 BC.• Message: Warning to Judah that “the day

of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come” (1:15). A plague of locusts covers the land and strips every living green thing bare (vs 7). This message is brought during the reign of Joash (835 – 796 BC).

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A Swarm of Locusts

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A

Cornfield

Destroyed

by

Locusts

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JoelJoel• Joel means “Jehovah is God.”• Probably around 830 BC.• Message: Warning to Judah that “the

day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come” (1:15). A plague of locusts covers the land and strips every living green thing bare (vs 7). This message is brought during the reign of Joash (835 – 796 BC).• The book is divided into two parts:

– The prophet’s call to repentance (1:1 – 2:17).

– God’s direct message (2:18 – 3:21).

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JonahJonah• Jonah means “Dove”.• Probably around 780 BC.• Message: God cared for all

nations of the earth, and He was willing to save even the heathen nation of Assyria if they would repent. God wanted all men to recognize Him as the One True God.

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Dunkleosteus This skull was about three and a half feet tall. Its body length would be incredible. This huge fish would be a fright to anyone who saw it. It's mouth would have the ability easily swallow an average size human being

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JonahJonah• Jonah means “Dove”.• Probably around 780 BC.• Message: God cared for all nations

of the earth, and He was willing to save even the heathen nation of Assyria if they would repent. God wanted all men to recognize Him as the One True God.

• Chapter 1 – God calls Jonah to go to Ninevah• Chapter 2 – Jonah’s prayer and deliverance• Chapter 3 – God repeats His call to Jonah• Chapter 4 – Jonah reacts to Ninevah’s

repentance

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AmosAmos• Amos means “burden-bearer”.• Probably around 755 BC.• Messenger: Amos was a herdsman and a

dresser of sycamore trees, a strong rural character (7:14-15).

• Message: A message of doom for both Israel and Judah. Each were given some rest from the threats of Assyrian invasion. In this state of comfort, moral and political corruption began to flourish. They began to adopt the worship of the gods of the Assyrians, and thus of apostasy from the One True Jehovah. In short, luxury and wealth had bred moral decay and spiritual disinterest.

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AmosAmos• Outline:

– Introduction of the Prophet (1:1-2)– Coming of divine judgment upon sinful

nations •Damascus – for cruelty in war and greed (1:3-5)•Gaza (Philistia) – for their slave trade (1:6-8)•Tyre (Phoenicia) – remembered not the

covenant (1:9-10)•Edom – for their hatred and mistreatment of

Israel (1:11-12)•Ammon – intense and uncalled-for cruelty

(1:13-15)•Moab – vengeance even on a king’s carcass

(2:1-3)• Judah – for her apostasy (2:4-5)• Israel – for all their sins (2:6-16)

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AmosAmos• Outline (continued)

– Israel’s crimes (3-4)•Upon wealthy ruling classes for social sins

and injustices (3:1- 4:5)•Chastisement upon the nation had gone

unheeded (4:4-13)

– Israel's inevitable condemnation (5-6)– Five Visions explained (7:1–9:10)

•The vision of the locust (grasshoppers) in which the mercy of God averts catastrophe (7:1-3)

•The vision of devouring fire – an even more severe judgment again averted by God’s mercy (7:4-6)

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AmosAmos• Outline (continued)

– Five Visions Explained (continued)• The vision of the plumb-line – the

destruction of the nation of Israel for its idolatry (7:7-9)

– Interlude – Amaziah’s complaint against Amos (7:10-17)

– Five Visions Explained (continued)• The vision of the basket of summer fruit –

the ripeness of Israel for judgment (8)• The vision of the smitten sanctuary –

destruction for the sinful kingdom (9:1-10)

– The promise of a bright future in the hope of the Messiah (9:11-15) – Acts 15:14-18

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HoseaHosea• Hosea means “salvation”.• Probably around 730 BC.• Messenger: Hosea was probably a

citizen of the northern kingdom of Israel. He appears to be a sympathetic man who mourns the digression of Israel and laments their pending fall. At the same time he is filled with a righteous indignation over their departure from the one true God. His work reflects these moments of sympathy and indignation.

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HoseaHosea• Message: The excesses of Israel had now

become even more pronounced than in the time of Amos. Hosea sums up his indictment against Israel by emphasizing the theme of “whoredom”. A theme that he would know first hand. Israel was committing spiritual adultery. They had embarked upon a path of idolatry, and they were giving praise to these pagan gods for the prosperity they were enjoying (Hosea 2:12-13). Hosea’s work emphasizes the judgment of God against the wicked while yet reminding his hearers of God’s love and forgiveness.

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Baal Worship Baal is mentioned widely in the Old

Testament as the primary pagan idol of the Phoenicians, often associated with the heathen goddess Ashtaroth. This

photo shows Baal's fictitious image from an ancient stone carving. He was the supposed son of the non-existent god

Dagon. Unfortunately, to their eventual bitter regret, the Israelites became deeply

involved in the cult of the Baals. The evil "worship" included perverted sexual

behavior, and even sacrificing their infants in fire.

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HoseaHosea• Outline:

– Israel’s adultery against God (1-3)• Hosea’s personal marriage to adulterous

Gomer parallels that of God’s relationship with Israel (1:2–2:1)

• Chastisement, repentance & final restoration of idolatrous Israel (2:2-23)

– Jehovah’s controversy with Israel (4-6)– Israel’s corrupt political situation (7-8)– Israel’s religious & moral apostasy

resulting in punishment, exile & destruction (9-11)

– Israel’s apostasy versus God’s fidelity (12-13)

– Israel’s conversion and pardon (14)

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MicahMicah• Micah means “Who is like the Lord?”.• Dated from anywhere between 740 – 700

BC.• Messenger: Micah was from a very rustic,

productive, fertile and agricultural area called Moresheth-gath (1:1,14) which was a small village on the border between Judah and Philistia. The village was about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem. With the viewpoint of the humble peasant from an obscure village he harshly condemns the idolatry, the impiety, and the social corruption of both Judah and Samaria. Using vivid terms, Micah serves as the voice of God to all.

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MicahMicah• Message: In common with all the eighth

century prophets, Micah preached the supreme righteousness of God in contrast to the ungodly character of the luxury-loving age in which they lived. In contrast with the destruction which shall be visited upon the wicked nations of that age, God will bless and keep those who continue to be his servants. Micah declares the nature of true service which God has always sought (6:6-8). There is also a considerable amount of Messianic prediction, comparable to that of Isaiah.

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MicahMicah• Outline:

– Authorship & time of the prophet’s work (1:1).

– Judgment upon Israel & Judah with a remnant to be saved (1-3).

– Coming of Christ and His church (4-5).– Condemnation for sins (6:1 – 7:6).– Ultimate blessing (7:7-20).

• Messianic prophesy:– Forecast of the establishment of the

church (4).– Birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem (5:2).

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Present Day Bethlehem

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ZephaniahZephaniah• Zephaniah means “Jehovah hides”.• Probably around 625 BC .• Messenger: Zephaniah wrote during

the reign of Josiah who was a young king trying to reform the sinful nation after his father, Amon, and his grandfather, Manasseh, brought the religion and morality of Judah to an all-time low. Zephaniah was the great-grandson of Hezekiah, the last good king prior to Josiah. This indicates that he was a descendant of royal blood.

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ZephaniahZephaniah• Message: Zephaniah spells out the

judgment of God against all who are guilty of idolatry (1:4-6), violence and fraud (1:9), and all who sit by in idle indifference (1:12). They will be set apart for destruction (1:7), and their cry will be heard in every quarter of Jerusalem (1:10-11). The only hope for God’s people is to seek Him, and begin living by His standards. If they do not, they will share the fate of the nations around them: Philisita to the west, Moab & Ammon to the east, Ethiopia to the south and Assyria to the north. Jerusalem will be punished for her sins (3:1-8), but a remnant shall be saved (3:9-20).

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NahumNahum• Nahum means “consolation”.• Dated anywhere from 630 to 612 BC .• Messenger: We know nothing definite

regarding Nahum other than this prophecy. There is no indication as to where and Elkoshite would come from.

• Message: This prophecy deals directly with the impending destruction of Nineveh. The book declares the reasons for this destruction and shows that the fall is God’s vindication against this wicked place.

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NahumNahum• Outline

– God’s majesty in mercy and judgment (1:1-14)– The siege & destruction of Nineveh (1:15-

2:13)– The reasons for Nineveh’s doom (3:1-19)

• Summary– Nahum & Jonah were the 2 prophets primarily

charged with foretelling the fortunes of Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian Empire. Jonah’s warnings were delivered around 780 BC. And repentance resulted (Jonah 3:5-10). Nahum speaks about 150 years later and reminds them of the consequences of forgetting their repentance – DOOM! (1:3)

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Present Day Nineveh

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HabakkukHabakkuk• Habakkuk means “embrace”.• Date: Assyria fell to the Babylonians in

612 BC and Nebuchadnezzar pushed westward toward Judah. The first group of captives were carried away in 605 BC., so the date of this writing would fall somewhere between 612 to 606 BC. Habakkuk was waiting for the invasion (3:16)

• Messenger: We know nothing about Habakkuk except that he was a prophet (1:1; 3:1). He is mentioned nowhere else in the scriptures. We do not know his home or occupation

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HabakkukHabakkuk• Message: This prophecy is a bit different in its

style of writing. Where most of the literary prophets address the people speaking the words of God unto them, Habakkuk presents his writing as a representative of the people, addressing God to reason with him about His ways. His first problem is how to account for the fact that social injustice and immorality prevail in the land and the evil-doers seem to go unpunished. God tells him that chastisement will come from the Chaldeans who are being raised up for that very purpose. Habakkuk does not see the justice in this act and questions God again on his ways. God replies that the Chaldeans, too, will be judged for all their sins. The book ends in Habakkuk’s song of praise to God for his complete justice and mercy.

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HabakkukHabakkuk• Outline

– Title and name of author (1:1)– Jehovah is to judge Judah by the Chaldeans

(1:2-2:3)•Prophet laments sins of the land (1:2-4)•God sees this and will judge them (1:5-11)•Prophet questions God’s justice (1:12-17)•God answers that they will be judged, too (2:1-3)

– God’s eventual judgment of the Chaldeans (2:4-20)•“The just shall live by faith” (2:5)•Woes upon the Chaldeans (2:6-19)

– “The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silent before Him”•Song /Prayer of Habakkuk (3:1-19)

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The The Fall Fall of of

JudahJudah

3 Major 3 Major MovementMovement

ss

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The Fall of JudahThe Fall of Judah(3 Major Movements)(3 Major Movements)

• 605 BC. - Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to punish Judah. Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim (2 Chronicles 36:6) and others (possibly Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego) as the first captives carried away to Babylon.

• 597 BC. – Jehoiachin (Jehoiakim’s son) was the next king of Judah and was 18 when he began to reign. He also proved disloyal to the Babylonians and he, his family and a large number (10,000) of other captives were carried back to Babylon. These captives included the best workmen of the city, and the prophet Ezekiel was also in this group.

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The Fall of JudahThe Fall of Judah(3 Major Movements)(3 Major Movements)

• 586 BC. – The final king of Judah was Mattaniah who took the name Zedekiah. There was little left of value in Judah by this time, and there was a dire lack of leadership. Jeremiah, the prophet, tried diligently to initiate reforms, but it was to no avail. Zedekiah made an alliance with the new Pharaoh in Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar returned a final time. Jerusalem was burned to the ground (2 Kings 25:9), and the final captives left for Babylon in 587-86 BC. The kingdom of Judah was no more.

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The The Fall Fall of of

JudahJudah

ArchaeoloArchaeologicalgical

DiscoverieDiscoverie

ss

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The Babylonian ChroniclesThe Babylonian Chronicles The Babylonian Chronicles make it possible to assign the fall of Jerusalem to the Second of Adar (March 16) in 597 B.C. with complete accuracy, confirming the Biblical accounts of Babylonian attacks on Jerusalem in 597 and 586 B.C.

The Babylonian Chronicle records:

"In the seventh month (of Nebuchadnezzar-599 BC.) in the month Chislev (Nov/Dec) the king of Babylon assembled his army, and after he had invaded the land of Hatti (Syria/Palestine) he laid seige to the city of Judah. On the second day of the month of Adara ( 16th of March) he conquered the city and took the king (Jehoiachin) prisoner. He installed in his place a king (Zedekiah) of his own choice, and after he had received rich tribute, he sent (them) forth to Babylon."

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The Lachish LettersThe Lachish Letters Important light has been revealed regarding the last days of Judah by the discovery in 1935 of eighteen ostraca (clay tablet with writing in ink) written in an ancient cursive script belonging to the seventh century B.C.

They were discovered at Lachish (Tell ed-Duweir) among the ruins of a small guard room just outside the city gate. Then a few years later three inscribed potsherds were also found at the site, and like the others, they contained names and lists from the period just before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Most of the letters were dispatches from a Jewish commander named Hoshaiah who was stationed at an outpost north of Lachish, who apparently was responsible for interpreting the signals from Azekah and Lachish during the time when the:

Jer. 34:7 "when the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and Azekah; for only these fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah."

These final communications which mentioned the political and religious turmoil of the last days of Judah reveal the intensity of this time period and confirm that which was written in the Bible by the prophet Jeremiah.

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Jehoiakin InscriptionJehoiakin Inscription This is one of the clay tablets that reveal the presence of the Judean royal house as prisoners in Babylon. They were excavated from an arched building near the Ishtar Gate of ancient Babylon. The cuneiform texts, which are dated between 595 and 570 B.C., contain lists of rations of barley and oil issued to the captive princes and artisans, including "Yaukin, king of the land of Yahud." This is a direct reference to Jehoiachin, and some of the other tablets also mentioned his 5 sons who accompanied him to Babylon. (Staatliche Museum, Berlin).

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HaggaiHaggai• Haggai means “festive” or “Festival”.• Date: Precisely dated at 520 BC.

During the reign of Darius, the Persian king (1:1)

• Messenger: We know nothing of Haggai except that he was a prophet during the reconstruction of Jerusalem (Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14-16). Since he contrasts Solomon’s Temple with the Temple built by Zerubbabel, some commentators view him as an old man who had witnessed the existence of both buildings. This may or may not be true.

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HaggaiHaggai• Theme: Rebuild the Temple!• Timetable (for the Temple reconstruction):

– 536 BC – 50,000 Jews return to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel; Altar is built and foundation is laid. Work stops by opposition and indifference.

– 520 BC – Haggai’s call to build (6th month). Building begins; Haggai’s second appeal (7th month); Zechariah’s opening address (8th month).

– 516 BC – Temple completed– 457 BC – Ezra begins reforms in Jerusalem– 444 BC – Nehemiah rebuilds the wall of

Jerusalem.

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HaggaiHaggai• Outline:

– Rebuke of indifference. (1:1-4)– Call to serious reflection. (1:5-6)– Israel’s chastenings from God. (1:7-11)– Obedience of the nation. (1:12-15)– Encouragement for the building. (2:1-5)– Promise of future glory. (2:6-9)– Clean and unclean Levitical matters.

(2:10-14)– The application of these truths. (2:15-

19)– God’s future blessing for Zerubbabel.

(2:20-23)

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Solomon’s TempleSolomon’s Temple

The original Temple of God in Jerusalemm was constructed during the reign of King Solomon. Although far greater in size and magnificence, the structure was similar in layout to the small, portable “Tabernacle In The Wilderness” that it effectively replaced. After 7 years of construction, Solomon's Temple had a life of a little over 360 years, from about 950 to 587 B.C. when God permitted it to be looted and burned by the Babylonians.

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Solomon’s TempleSolomon’s TempleA. The Most Holy Place – contained two

sculptured cherubim (2 Chron. 3:8-14)B. The Ark of the Covenant – contained

the 10 commandments (1 Kings 8:6-7)C. The Altar of Incense (1 Kings 7:48-50)D. The Holy Place (2 Chronicles 3:3-7)E. Table of Showbread (2 Chronicles 4:8)F. Lampstands (2 Chronicles 4:7)G. The Porch (1 Kings 6:3)H. The Pillars (2 Chronicles 3:15-17)I. The Copper Sea (2 Chronicles 4:4-5)J. The Sacrificial Altar (2 Chronicles 4:1)K. The Courtyard (2 Chronicles 4:9-10)L. Storage Rooms (1 Kings 6:10)

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Zerubbabel’s TempleZerubbabel’s Temple

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Zerubbabel’s TempleZerubbabel’s Temple

About 70 years after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple and the Jewish deportation an entirely new Temple was built on Mount Moriah, by a decree of the Persian king. The new Temple was dedicated on March 12, 515 BC, some very old people who could remember Solomon's Temple regarded it a poor thing in comparison with the splendor of the original Temple. Yet their prophet Haggai predicted far greater glory for it in days to come (Haggai 2:3-9).

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Herod’s TempleHerod’s Temple

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Herod’s TempleHerod’s Temple None of the restorations or extensions of the Second Temple of Zerubbabel could compare with the work begun by King Herod I (the Great) at the beginning of 19 BC. Herod complained that the Temple of Zerubbabel was built like a fortress and was shorter than that of Solomon’s Temple by about 90 feet because of a decree made by Darius, the Persian king. King Herod no doubt wanted to be remembered forever as the builder of the greatest temple of the Jews. Although the reconstruction was equal to an entire rebuilding, still the Herodian Temple cannot be spoken of as a third Temple, for Herod even said himself, that it was only intended to be regarded as an enlarging and further beautifying of that of Zerubbabel’s.

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Herod’s Herod’s TempleTemple

While the main part of Herod’s rebuilding was

completed before his death in 4 BC, the work went on

for more than 60 years after that. When Jesus visited the Temple at the first Passover

of his ministry it was said that the place had by then

been under construction for 46 years. The work was not

entirely finished until 63 AD, only 7 years before the

destruction of the entire Temple in 70 AD.

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ZechariahZechariah• Zachariah means “whom Jehovah

remembers”.• Date: Zechariah began prophesying two

months after Haggai in 520 to 518 BC., and his last recorded words date some two years after the completion of Haggai.

• Messenger: Zechariah was of the priestly tribe (Nehemiah 12:12-16), and he returned to Jerusalem in the migration led by Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:1,4,16) around 536 BC. After his work, we are told nothing about him.

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ZechariahZechariah• Message: Zechariah is the longest of

the minor prophetic books and is also regarded as the most difficult to interpret. In addition to motivating the people to complete the temple, Zechariah opens a window of enlightenment regarding the spiritual temple of God which would one day be established upon the earth with the coming of the Messiah. There are many messianic prophecies found in Zechariah and much of the teaching done by the prophet is done by the relating of visions sent to him by God.

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ZechariahZechariah•Outline:

– Introduction (1:1-6)– The 8 visions of Zechariah (1:7 – 6:8)

•Vision of the man on the red horse standing among the myrtle trees (1:7-17)

•Vision of the Horns and Carpenters (1:18-21)

•Vision of the man with the plumb line (2:1-13)

•Vision of Joshua the High Priest accused by Satan but vindicated (3:1-10)

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•Outline (continued)•Vision of the Candlestick and the Olive Trees (4:1-14)

•Vision of the Flying Roll (5:1-4)•Vision of Four Chariots (6:1-8)

– Joshua, the symbol of the priest-king (6:9-15)

– Fasts become feasts (7:1 – 8:23)– The shepherd-king (9:1 – 11:17)– Deliverance and the Messiah (12:1

– 14:21)

ZechariahZechariah

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ZechariahZechariah• Messianic allusions

– “the branch of David” (3:8; 6:12)– humble king riding on a donkey (9:9)– His dominion is universal (6:13; 9:10)– Sold for the 30 shekels of silver

(11:12-13)– One pierced for His sheep (12:10)– The scattering of the sheep (13:7)– A remnant to be His (13:9)– Victory of demonic possession (13:1-

2)

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MalachiMalachi• Malachi means “My messenger”.• Date: 445 – 432 BC.• Messenger: Uses a different writing

style called “didactic-dialectic”. This style became common in later teaching in Jewish schools and synagogues. Malachi follows this form:– A charge or assertion is made– The hearer raises an objection or asks a

question regarding the charge or assertion– A rebuttal is made with further amplification

of the original charge or assertion

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MalachiMalachi• Message: The Jews had started the

return to Jerusalem almost 100 years before the date of Malachi’s writing. They returned with great zeal and enthusiasm and renewed faith. God had conditionally promised to bless them but instead of prospering materially they had suffered distress and famine resulting in a weakened faith. They murmured against God’s justice and manifested skepticism. Malachi assures them that God loves them and that sincere service would bring increased blessing. God had not been unfaithful.

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MalachiMalachi• Message (continued): Their problem

was to be found in the lack of sincerity, devotion and obedience on the part of the Jews. The divorce rate showed that their morals were not good. Offering defective animals for sacrifice betrayed a lack of devotion. The withholding of tithes and offerings revealed their selfishness. The Jews were ritualistically serving God but not in righteousness, holiness, and true devotion. In effect, God informs them that Malachi is to be the last prophet until “Elijah” comes to herald the coming Messiah. It is now up to Judah.

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MalachiMalachi• Outline:

– The Jews disrespect for God (1:1-14)– The priests and people are rebuked

(2:1-16)– God’s requirements (2:17-3:15)– The final lot of the righteous and the

wicked (3:16-4:6)

400 YEARS OF SILENCE400 YEARS OF SILENCE

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Messianic PropheciesMessianic Prophecies• Isaiah 9:6-7 – Someone GREAT is to come!• Zechariah 9:9-10 – The Messiah would be

a King over a huge kingdom. He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding upon a donkey and leading a colt, the foal of a donkey.

• Amos 9:11 – He would once again exalt the Throne of David.

• Micah 5:2 – He would be born in Bethlehem.

• Isaiah 7:14 – He would be born of a virgin.

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Messianic PropheciesMessianic Prophecies• Zechariah 11:12; 13:7 – He would see

violence & His price would be 30 pieces of silver.

• Jeremiah 31:15 – The murder of the innocent children of Bethlehem would occur in an attempt to kill the Christ.

• Jeremiah 31:31 – The Law of Moses would be replaced with a New Covenant.

• Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3-5 – The Messiah would be announced by a forerunner who would possess the spirit of Elijah.

• Isaiah 53 – Details of His death.

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Messianic PropheciesMessianic Prophecies• Isaiah 11:1-2 – To be of the House of

David.

• Daniel 9:25 – The time of His birth.

According to Henry Liddon, there are 332 prophecies

fulfilled in Christ. The mathematical probability of all these prophecies being fulfilled

in one man is 1 out of 84 followed by 97 zeros. (Joseph P.

Free, Archeology and Bible History, pg. 234)