| ToC | Reading the Old Testament | . . . Part 2. Prophets | ToC |
2. Latter ProphetsThe subdivision called the Latter Prophets deals with certain individuals in Israel who had a recognized social and spiritual role within Israel, and who articulated a divine perspective on the events of their day. The Latter Prophets consists of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve. The Book of the Twelve consists of twelve shorter works, Hosea through Malachi, which some call the Minor Prophets. In the Hebrew Bible the Latter Prophets come between the Torah and the Writings, while in the Christian canon the Latter Prophets are, with some additions, the last division of books in the Old Testament. Note that Daniel is not included in the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible but in the Writings; the Christian Old Testament places Daniel after Ezekiel.
The period that the Latter Prophets covers begins with the divided Israelite monarchy and continues into the postexilic era. Even though these books follow in canonical order the Former Prophet's account of Israelite history, most of the material must be placed chronologically within that history. It will take special effort on our part, but a necessary effort, to integrate these Latter Prophets into the time frame of the Former Prophets, especially the books of Kings.
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| ToC | Reading the Old Testament | . . . Part 2. Prophets | ToC |
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