The prophets are such a big part of the Old Testament that I wanted to give one more overview of them before tackling individual prophets.

A hundred years later Assyria’s power waned, and Babylon rose to threaten the southern two tribes. Prophets spoke out to these people for the next fifty years as the threat increased. Zephaniah in 640 B.C. cried out against religious pluralism in Judah, Nahum exulted in the destruction of Assyria by Babylon, Jeremiah preached repentance, Habakkuk pondered why God used a heathen nation (Babylon) to invade Judah, and Obadiah in 590 B.C. condemned Edom for helping Babylon. After many people were removed and exiled to Babylon, Ezekiel became a prophet who spoke to them.

After the Persians replaced the Babylonians as the dominant power, they allowed many groups of people to return to their lands. Some Jews took advantage of this to go back to their promised land where Haggai and Zechariah encouraged them. Later Malachi and Joel judged the religious life of the Jews. As you read these prophets, keep the historical background in mind and notice the powerful use of poetry to deliver their messages to an erring, forgetful, and backsliding people.