Eighth Century Prophets at a Glance[1]

	Amos	Hosea	Isaiah	Micah
Historical Context – Who was the audience? What is the setting (time, date, place)?	About 750 BC. King Jeroboam II in Northern Kingdom. Golden age of peace and prosperity.	About 740-700 BC. Political anarchy, destruction of the Northern Kingdom. Also concerns what life like after the fall.	About 740-867 BC. Days of Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in the Southern Kingdom. Judah turns to foreign nations instead of God for help against Assyria.	About 720-700 BC. Occurs during and after the fall of the Northern Kingdom. Judah is now a vassal to Assyria.
Biographical Sketch – Are there experiences in the past that affect the prophet’s message? What was the prophet doing when called to prophesy?	Herdsman from Tekoa in Southern Kingdom. He’s also a migrant worker. His call takes place in Amos 7.14-15. Preached in Bethel in the Northern Kingdom.	City-dweller in the Northern Kingdom. He preached to the Northern Kingdom. He married Gomer (prostitute) and had three children.	Influential statesman and priest in Jerusalem; He preached to the Southern Kingdom. His call occurs in Isaiah 6.	Prophet of the common people. He was a peasant from Moresheth. He preached to the Southern Kingdom.
Forthtelling – This means laying bare the present situation. What corruptions does the prophet see? Are they religious, ethical, or political in nature?	Primarily ethical concerns. Amos sees sacrificial ritual but not social justice (Amos 5.21-24; 2.6-8). Stresses Israel’s responsibility as a chosen people (Amos 3.1-2).	Primarily religious concerns. (Hos. 4.11-13; 8.11-13; 13.1-2). Israel has become the ‘harlot’ (Hos. 5.3-4). Hosea uses a distinct metaphor – the harlot. Also uses parent child relationship (11.1-4) and the anguish of God (11.8-11).	Primarily political concerns. (Isa. 30.1-2; 31.1-3; 7.1-4). Trust in God, not in the power of political alliances. As a minstrel, Isaiah sings songs of the beloved and his vineyard (5.1-5). List of woes (5.8-23).	Primarily ethical concerns. Jerusalem is the center of greed and exploitation (2.1-3; 3.1-3). The leaders are the butchers. False confidence (3.11). Courtroom scene (6.1-8).
Foretelling – This concerns the future. What will the judgment be? Can any hope be offered?	He sees war and exile for Northern Kingdom. He has visions of locusts, fire, a plumb line, and a basket of fruit (Amos 7.1-8.2). He sees a day of judgment and not deliverance for Israel (Amos 5.18-20).	He sees war and exile for the Northern Kingdom followed by: purification through suffering (5.15-6.2); a new covenant or new ‘betrothal’ (2.14-23; 14.1-8).	Three “R’s”: Retribution, Remnant, Restoration. Destruction of Judah (6.11-13). Judean remnant (10.20-23). Messianic oracles and the new age (9.2-7; 11.1-5; 2.2-4; 11.6-9; 35.1-10).	Destruction of Jerusalem (3.9-12). Exile, then redemption (4.10). Shepherd king from Bethlehem (5.2-4). New age (like Isaiah) (4.1-8).
Primary Emphasis of Ministry	The anger of God: God demands justice (Amos 5.24).	The anguish of God: God desires love (Hosea 6.6)	The holiness of God: God is trustworthy (Isa. 2.4 or 30.15).	God looks after the outcasts and poor (Micah 6.8).

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[1] This chart is from Celia Brewer Marshall’s book, A Guide Through The Old Testament (Louisville: Westminster / John Knox Press, 1989), p. 106.