1. Former Prophets

The narrative record of the books Joshua through Kings tells the story of Israel beginning with the conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. Then it recounts the process of settling the land and defending it over against various enemies, told in Judges. The books of Samuel and Kings relate the rise of kingship in Israel and the development of Israel into two kingdoms. The story concludes with Judah's destruction at the hands of the Babylonians and the captivity of the survivors. Together the Torah and Former Prophets have been called the Primary History, a complete creation-to-exile account of Israel's story.
    There are two main issues that we will track through the Former Prophets. One is the theological perspective of the writers and compilers of this account. Recognizing the outlook governing its composition we can better understand the intent of the story. The theological perspective of the Former Prophets is defined by Deuteronomy.
    The other issue, not unrelated to the first, is the relationship between this theological literature and the history of events. The account recorded in the Former Prophets may be termed history but we must be aware of how we use that term. The writers should not be judged by our standards of scientific, objective historiography. They were believers in Yahweh, and it was their conviction that Yahweh was active in Israel's history.
    It is significant that the Jewish community included the books Joshua through Kings in the section titled "The Prophets." The intent of these narrative records was not to chronicle history for its own sake, but to bear witness to the work of Yahweh in the realm of human events. In this sense they are prophetic. Among other things, prophets were spiritually attuned individuals who were able to discern God's presence and work in human affairs.

ToC | Reading the Old Testament

. . . Part 2. Prophets | ToC