Bible Question: I know that the books called Minor Prophets were originally one scroll (or book). Does anyone know the reason for the order inside of it (Hosea,Joel, Amos,Obadiah etc)? Why did Jews put it in that order? Is there any reason for it or are they in that order just by chance? |
Bible Answer: What we call the Minor Prophets is known as The Twelve by the (Hebrews) Jews The title of "minor" has nothing to do with their importance ... but because of their length. There are the: Assyrian Period prophets (Obadiah-Nahum) Babylonian Period prophets (Habakkuk-Zephaniah) Persian Period prophets (Haggai-Malachi) ... and it looks like the reason for the order. Within Assyrian Period, the prophets are paired together ... one was in Judah (J) and the other Isreal (I) nearly at the same time: -Joel (J) with Hosea (I) -Obadiah (J) with Amos (I) --Amos follows Joel because Amos begins (Amos 1:2)with a quotation from Joel (Joel 3:16). --Amos and Obadiah might also have been placed together since Obadiah's prophecy might be regarded as an expansion of Amos 9:12. -Micah (J) with Jonah (I) --There are possibly two reasons Obadiah was placed before Jonah and not Micah: First, Jonah lived in the reign of Jeroboam II, the contemporary of Amaziah and Uzziah, whereas Micah did not appear until the reign of Jotham. Second, Obadiah begins with the words, "We have heard tidings from Judah, and a messenger is sent among the nations," and Jonah was such a messenger. -Habakkuk (J) with Nahum (I) Ezra is traditionally credited with compiling the Old Testament manuscripts into the Hebrew canon Source: Mike and Luna Beard, Introduction to the Minor Prophets http://members.tripod.com/mikelunabeard/Bible/OldTestament/introduction_to_the_minor_prophe.htm Searcher |