The Prophets of Israel, walking the ancient paths

Seeing the biblical prophets in context makes all the difference in understanding their messages. In The Prophets of Israel, Old Testament scholar and longtime field archaeologist James K. Hoffmeier explores the biblical prophets through their ancient settings. Readers gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding through many practical components:
Full-color photos and images of historical and cultural importance
Focus on the geopolitical contexts of the prophets
Clear explanations of the prophets' provoking messages
Discussion questions for Bible students or instructor use

These features and photos vividly illustrate the biblical narratives and the prophets' concerns, helping readers better comprehend each text's message and make informed theological applications. The biblical prophetic tradition extends far before and far after the Major and Minor Prophets. Yet all biblical prophets--including recognizable figures like Moses and Elijah, lesser-known prophets like Huldah and Micaiah, and the New Testament prophets--ministered in distinctive cultural and historical circumstances. Hoffmeier draws on his extensive knowledge of ancient Near Eastern culture, geography, political realities, and the Old Testament message to locate the prophets in their worlds. This approach illuminates prophetic messages and ministries with a theological clarity that basic history and literary interpretation cannot achieve.

Publisher: Kregel
Type: Hardback
ISBN: 9780825445729

______________

James K. Hoffmeier (PhD, University of Toronto) is emeritus professor of Old Testament and Near Eastern archaeology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He taught Old Testament and Hebrew for over forty years. For the last twenty years he focused on Hebrew exegesis in the prophetic books. He engaged in archaeological work in Sinai and at the Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt, and presently is part of a team investigating the Cushite cemetery at Nuri, Sudan. His other works include The Archaeology of the Bible.

______________

“The prophets of Israel spoke to their contemporaries in their time and place. So it is essential for us to hear them in their original historical context. James Hoffmeier, a biblical scholar and archaeologist of international reputation, is an excellent guide to help us read the theological message of the prophets in their proper setting. He brings his skill and immense knowledge to bear to orient us to a proper understanding of the prophets. I highly recommend this volume to all who want to read the prophets to truly hear their voice and ultimately the voice of God who speaks through them.” Tremper Longman III, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College