OT Characters--Bible Study

 

Amos was one of the twelve minor prophets, and the sources provide several details about his life and his prophetic activities.

• Background: Amos was a native of Tekoah, a small town in Judah, located about twelve miles south of Jerusalem. He was not trained in the prophetic schools and described himself as a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. It is noted that sycamore fruit was considered poor people's food. Despite his humble background, the sources suggest that Amos was not uneducated, but rather a person of considerable attainment. The same word used to describe Amos's occupation as a herdsman is also used to describe Mesha, the tributary king of Moab.
• Time of Prophecy: Amos prophesied early in the long reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. This would place his ministry sometime between 810 and 785 B.C..
• Prophetic Message: The Book of Amos includes prophetic visions and symbolic announcements about impending judgments. These judgments are directed towards Israel and surrounding nations because of their social injustices and religious hypocrisy. He also provides consolatory promises. The style of the book is described as forceful, with many beautiful images drawn from rural life.
• Specifics of his ministry: He was taken from the flock. He was sent to prophesy to Israel. He was commanded not to prophesy at Bethel. He was challenged by Amaziah, the idolatrous priest, who misrepresented his words.
• Citations in the New Testament: The Book of Amos is cited twice in the New Testament, in Acts 7:42-43 and Acts 15:15-17.

In summary, Amos was a prophet from a humble background who was called to deliver a message of judgment and hope to the people of Israel. His book is noted for its powerful language and vivid imagery, reflecting his life as a herdsman and gatherer of sycamore fruit.

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Hosea

Hosea was a significant prophet, and the sources provide considerable detail about his life, ministry, and the content of his book.

• Background and Identity: Hosea is identified as the son of Beeri. The sources suggest that he was likely an Israelite, since his prophecies are primarily concerned with the kingdom of the ten tribes. There is no further information given about his family or life. There is also no indication that Beeri, his father, should be confused with Beerah, prince of the Reubenites.

• Time of Ministry: Hosea’s prophetic ministry spanned a long period, encompassing the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. This timeline places his ministry sometime between 784-723 B.C.. The chronology of Uzziah and Jeroboam is somewhat confused, making it difficult to determine exactly how long the two monarchs were contemporary on their respective thrones.

• The Book of Hosea: The Book of Hosea is the first book in the collection of the minor prophets in the Bible. The book is primarily directed against the corrupt Israelitish kingdom, denouncing their sins committed against mercy and privilege, and threatening judgment. It also includes promises of forgiveness to those who return, as well as predictions of future blessings to be fulfilled in Messianic times. The book is structured into two main parts:

  • The first part (chapters 1-3) involves symbolic actions that illustrate Hosea’s message.
  • The second part (chapters 4-14) is a series of prophetic addresses.
  • Some scholars consider the title of the book (1:1) to be a later addition.

• Style and Characteristics: Hosea's writing is noted for its conciseness, abrupt transitions, and occasional obscurity. Despite these challenges, his writing is characterized by great poetic power, vivid descriptions, rich imagery, and often tender and pathetic language.

• Symbolic Actions: Hosea was instructed by God to take a wife of whoredoms and have children of whoredoms, to symbolize Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. Hosea’s marriage and children served as living parables that depicted the relationship between God and Israel, where God was the faithful husband and Israel was the unfaithful wife.

  • He was told to name his children with symbolic names:
    • Jezreel ("God will sow"), a symbol of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel.
    • Lo-ruhamah ("not pitied"), signifying that God would no longer show pity to Israel.
    • Lo-ammi ("not my people"), signifying that the relationship between God and Israel was broken.

• Key Themes: The major themes in the book include Israel's idolatry, social injustice, and spiritual infidelity. The book emphasizes God’s unwavering love and compassion towards Israel, even in the face of their transgressions. The book also points to the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate restoration of Israel.

  • God's love for Israel is portrayed as a husband's love for his unfaithful wife. *God expresses his hatred for idols, even to the point of rejecting the name “Baali,” meaning “my lord” because of its association with the idol-god Baal. *God declares that he would put into the mouth of his people the tenderer name of love, "Ishi," meaning "my man".

• New Testament References: The Book of Hosea is quoted several times in the New Testament:

  • Hos. 1:10 is cited in Rom. 9:26
  • Hos. 2:23 is cited in Rom. 9:25 and 1 Pet. 2:10
  • Hos. 6:6 is cited in Matt. 9:13 and 12:7
  • Hos. 11:1 is cited in Matt. 2:15
  • Hos. 13:14 is cited in 1 Cor. 15:55
  • Hos. 14:2 is cited in Heb. 13:15
  • There are possible allusions to Hos. 6:2 in 1 Cor. 15:4 and to Hos. 10:8 in Luke 23:30 and Rev. 6:16.

In summary, Hosea was a prophet whose life and message were deeply intertwined. His marriage and children were living symbols of God’s relationship with Israel. His book is characterized by its powerful language, vivid imagery, and focus on God's unwavering love, even in the face of Israel’s infidelity, offering both judgment and hope for the future.

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 Zechariah

Zechariah was a prophet and a prominent figure in the Old Testament, and the sources provide details about multiple individuals named Zechariah.

• Zechariah, son of Jeroboam II: He was a king of Israel who reigned for six months in 772 B.C.. He was an ungodly prince and was killed by Shallum, who succeeded him. He was the last sovereign of the family of Jehu, fulfilling the prediction that Jehu's children would sit on the throne for four generations. There is some difficulty in pinpointing the exact dates of his reign.

• Zechariah, father of Abi or Abijah: He was the father of Abi (also called Abijah), who was the mother of King Hezekiah. He is also referred to as the father of Abijah in 2 Chronicles 29:1.

• Zechariah, the prophet: He is the author of the Book of Zechariah. He is sometimes called the son of Iddo and sometimes the son of Barachiah. He was a contemporary of Haggai, and they both encouraged the rebuilding of the temple. The book of Zechariah describes the result of Jerusalem's last victory and represents all nations resorting there to keep the feast of tabernacles. The book includes prophecies about the Messiah.

• Zechariah, son of Barachiah: He is mentioned by Jesus as having been unjustly slain between the temple and the altar. This Zechariah is considered by some to be the same person as Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, who was killed in the court of the house of the Lord.

• Other Individuals named Zechariah:

  • A person mentioned in 2 Chronicles 35:8.
  • A person whose name is a perversion of Heman in 2 Chronicles 35:15.
  • A person listed in Ezra 2:2, also called Seraiah.
  • A prophet mentioned in 1 Esdras 6:1 and 7:3.
  • A person mentioned in Ezra 8:3, also listed in 1 Esdras 8:30.
  • A person mentioned in Ezra 8:11, also listed in 1 Esdras 8:37.

• A person mentioned in Ezra 8:16, also listed in 1 Esdras 8:44.

• A person mentioned in Ezra 10:26, also listed in 1 Esdras 9:27.

• The father of Joseph, a captain in the Maccabean wars, 1 Macc. 5:18, 56.

• A Benjamite, also called Zacher.

• A Levite who assisted Ezra in understanding the law.

• A Levite from the sons of Asaph.

• A Levite in the time of Hezekiah.

• A Levite who helped repair the temple in Josiah's reign.

• A priest called 'ruler of the house of God'.

• A person whose son returned with Ezra.

• One of David's posterity. *One of David's warriors.

• A chief of the family of Elam.

• A person whose son was involved in repairing the wall of Jerusalem. *A priest who married a foreign wife.

In summary, the name Zechariah appears multiple times in the sources, referring to a king, prophets, priests, and other individuals. The most significant Zechariahs are the prophet who wrote the Book of Zechariah, and the father of Hezekiah's mother.