Joan E. Cook, SC, teaches Scripture at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is author of Hannah's Desire, God's Design (Sheffield Academic Press, 1999) and Hear, O Heavens and Listen, O Earth: An Introduction to the Prophets (Liturgical Press, 2006), which won a first-place Catholic Press Association award in 2007. Cook has also written numerous articles on biblical women and biblical prayer.

• ContentsAbbreviations   viiiForeword   ixCHAPTER ONEIntroductory Topics   1The Approach of this Book   1Why Study the Prophets?   3Which Books to Study, and Where to Find Them   3Former and Latter Prophets   6Major and Minor Prophets   8Ancient Israel’s Beliefs and Understandings   8How to Study a Prophetic Book   13Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech   17Rhetorical Features   23Prophecy Throughout the Ancient Near East   24True and False Prophets   30For Further Reading   31CHAPTER TWOThe Early Prophets   33Micaiah ben Imlah   33Samuel 35 Nathan   38Elijah   40Moses the First Prophet and Model   41For Further Reading   44 CHAPTER THREEThe Eighth-Century Prophets in the Northern Kingdom   45Background Information   45Amos   51Hosea    68CHAPTER FOURThe Eighth-Century Prophets in the Southern Kingdom   87Micah 87First Isaiah   100CHAPTER FIVEThe Seventh-Century Prophets Zephaniah, Nahum, and Habakkuk   123Background Information   123Zephaniah   128Nahum   135Habakkuk   143CHAPTER SIXJeremiah, Lamentations, and Baruch   155Jeremiah   155Lamentations   185Baruch   186CHAPTER SEVENEzekiel and Obadiah   189Ezekial 189Obadiah   212CHAPTER EIGHTThe Final Years of the Exile: Second Isaiah   219Background Information   219Second Isaiah  222 CHAPTER NINEThe Persian Period and the Second Temple: Third Isaiah, Haggai, Zechariah 1–8   239Background Information   239Third Isaiah   245Haggai   253Zechariah 1–8 or First Zechariah   259CHAPTER TENFifth- and Fourth-Century Prophets: Malachi, Joel, Zechariah 9–14  267Background Information   267Malachi   267Joel   275Zechariah 9–14 or Second Zechariah   284CHAPTER ELEVENJonah, the Unique Prophet   295Jonah   295Conclusion   305Index of Authors and Subjects   307Index of Biblical References   311LIST OF MAPSCities Identified with Israel’s Prophets   7The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the Eighth Century   47Boundaries of the City of David and the City of Jerusalem in Solomon’s Time and in Nehemiah’s Time   103The Extent of the Persian Empire   241

This text has much to offer individuals and groups who simply wish to learn more about the prophets.WritingWorks