The books in this section deal with the lives and messages of prophets
who lived at different times in Israel’s history. The books are not arranged
in chronological order. First are four major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel. After the four major prophets are the
twelve minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. (Major & minor referring
to the length of the books, not their quality or importance.) Prophets
were those who served as God's messenger's to His people, beginning primarily
with Moses (Ex.3:1-4:17). There were many prophets who did not write
down their messages. A common formula found in the prophetical books
includes 1) an introduction that the message is from God; 2) An accusation
or condemnation of the people for some particular wickedness; 3) pronouncement
of the judicial sentence from God; 4) description of the forthcoming punishment;
and 5) a promise of redemption.
