Deck 12: The Exilic and Post-Exilic Prophets

Question 1

1. Discuss the complicated literary and editorial history of the book of Isaiah. How did it evolve over time? Who was responsible for these revisions, and why were they made?

Answer 1

Isaiah is a composite work. Nearly all of Isaiah 1-39 is the work of Isaiah of Jerusalem in the eighth century, but Isaiah 40-55 ("Second Isaiah") are by a second figure likely during the Babylonian exile and Isaiah 56-66 ("Third Isaiah") are either by a third figure or the same person who wrote Second Isaiah but after the return to the land. These sections address the concerns of the exilic and post-return periods rather than the eighth century.

Question 2

2. Describe the connections between the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. What similarities do you see? How can such similarities be explained?

Answer 2

Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel proclaim destruction and judgment against Judah and Jerusalem before the fall of Jerusalem and then turn to promises of restoration not only for Judah but for all of Israel in the wake of that event. Each emphasizes that this grand restoration will include a spiritual transformation of YHWH's people so that they will no longer violate his covenant. These similarities can be explained by the close temporal context of the two prophets, each of whom was also a priest. Since Ezekiel was taken in the first deportation to Babylon, it is also likely he had heard Jeremiah before his own deportation.

Question 3

3. What are some of the fundamental differences between Ezekiel's prophecies and those of earlier prophets? What themes are unique to his visions? How are his stylistic differences important to his overall message?

Answer 3

Unlike the earlier prophetic books which are mostly written in verse, Ezekiel is written almost entirely in prose. Ezekiel also contains especially graphic and bizarre visionary material and features especially noteworthy prophetic object lessons, such as Ezekiel besieging a brick, lying on his side for over a year, and so on. Unique themes include individual responsibility and punishment for sin (rather than corporate).

Question 4

4. Why is there tension between the exiles in Babylon and the Israelites who remained in the Promised Land? How is this tension manifested in the book of Ezekiel in particular?

Question 5

5. Although Ezekiel's visions are often bleak, he does have a hopeful view of the future. Describe Ezekiel's vision of a restored Israel. What elements of this vision are based on the idealized past, and what components envision a utopian future?

Question 6

6. What are the major themes found in Second Isaiah? How do these themes reflect the realities or expectations of exilic Israel?

Question 7

7. The "servant of YHWH" from the so-called servant songs is one of the most complicated issues in Second Isaiah. What approaches have been taken to interpret this issue?

Question 8

8. Describe Third Isaiah's relationship with the rest of the book of Isaiah. In what ways does it follow the same themes? How is it different? How do you account for these differences?

Question 9

9. What are the major themes in the books of Zechariah and Haggai? In what ways does Third Isaiah present a counterpoint to these views?

Question 10

5. Ezekiel's inaugural vision is the longest in all of the prophetic books.

Question 11

7. Third Isaiah shares no similarities in vocabulary and phrasing with the rest of Isaiah.

Question 12

8. Both Zechariah and Haggai support the reconstruction of the Temple.

Question 13

9. Malachi is not mentioned elsewhere in other sources.

Question 14

3) According to the book that bears his name, Ezekiel was exiled in ____________ B.C.E.

A) 602
B) 597
C) 587
D) 586

Question 15

5) During his inaugural vision, Ezekiel sees ____________ creature(s).

A) four
B) three
C) two
D) one

Question 16

8) Habakkuk probably dates to the ____________ century B.C.E.

A) middle seventh
B) late seventh
C) late sixth
D) mid-sixth

Question 17

15) Chapters 56-66 of Isaiah are referred to as

A) Third Isaiah.
B) School of Isaiah.
C) Second Isaiah.
D) Immanuel.

Question 18

18) All of the oracles in Haggai can be dated to the reign of

A) Cyrus.
B) Xerxes.
C) Cambyses.
D) Darius.

Question 19

20) Zerubbabel's official title was

A) king.
B) prince.
C) priest.
D) governor.

Question 20

21) The first six chapters of Zechariah contain ____________ interlocking visions that feature recurring themes and imagery.

A) five
B) six
C) seven
D) eight

Question 21

23) The book of Joel naturally falls into ____________ parts.

A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five

Question 22

24) The name Malachi simply means

A) "my messenger."
B) "festival."
C) "Italian prophet."
D) "beloved of God."

Question 23

25) Which prophetic book ends with a prediction of Elijah's return?

A) Amos
B) Malachi
C) Jeremiah
D) Isaiah