OTS 501 OLD TESTAMENT INTRO AND LITEARTURE Dr. Esa Autero

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 1.1 Introduction to Micah What are the familiar passages in Micah? Who was Micah and what was his message? Heard sermons from Micah? Any passage that spoke to you personally in Micah?

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 1.2 Historical and Critical Issues Author, composition, date Micah of Moresheth (Shephelah foothills) “Who is like YHWH?” Also mentioned in Jer 26:17-19 Unified work – traditional view Critical view of composition Only chs. 1-3 from Micah OR Hope oracles as later additions (2:12-13; 4:1-5:9; 7:8-20) Micah as a unified work – hope oracles as predictive Date of Micah – written in late 700s BC If composite – final postexilic redaction

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 1.3 Background, purpose, structure Historical background Great Assyrian crisis – fear & anxiety Prophesied about Judah & Samaria Social and political upheavals – after Uzziah’s prosperity Wealthy upper class merchants & poor farmers Downfall of Samaria (722BC) under Shalmaneser V Sargon II (721-705BC) Sennacherib’s invasions into Judah in 701BC (2 Kgs 19) Micah’s prophecies Jotham 742-735BC Ahaz 735-715BC Hezekiah 715-687BC

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Purpose of Micah Message of judgment and hope “I am filled with power…Spirit…justice…declare…transgressions” (3:8) Structure of Micah Difficult to discern structure – alternating doom & hope Superscription (1:1) First round of judgment and salvation (1:2-5:15) Second round of judgment and salvation (6:1-7:20)

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 1.4 Themes in Micah Judgment and salvation Jerusalem and Samaria under judgment due to sin Salvation and deliverer Lame and those cast off restored (4:7) Restoration of Israel and Judah (2:12-13; 4:1-13; 5:1-15; 7:18-20) Socio-economic injustice Powerful rich leaders and the poor Seizing property “b/c it is in their power…covet fields, and seize…oppress” (2:1-2) “women…you drive out from…houses” (2:9) Violence, bribery, injustice (3:2-3, 8-11; 6:8, 12; 7:1-3) Corruption of leaders, priests and prophets (3:11)

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 2.1 Introduction to Nahum Who is Nahum? Would you be able to summarize the message of Nahum to a person in your congregation? Anything positive about the message of Nahum? Any passage spoke to you?

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 2.2 Historical and Critical Issues Author, composition, date Nahum of Elkosh Elkosh close to Nineveh; in Galilee; Capernaum; Judah(?) Little known of Nahum the prophet Literary genius; prophet of written art Question of literary integrity and authenticity Opening psalm (1:2-8) integral to Nahum or later addition Parallels w/ Isaiah (Nah 1:15//Isa 52:7) True prophecy or “after the fact” Destruction of Thebes (3:38; 663BC) Downfall of Nineveh in 612BC

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Some comments on integrity and authenticity Opening psalm integral part of Nahum Nahum followed the traditions of the classical prophets Nahum delivered true prophecy Date of Nahum Prophecy dated to c. 655-626BC Assyria is “intact” and large (1:12) Book of Nahum written b/w 655-612BC

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 2.3 Background, purpose, structure Historical Background Climax of Assyria – Ashurbanibal Capture of Thebes in 664BC Weakening – 652BC onward Revolt of Samas-sum-ukin 652BC Assyrians out of Egypt by 650BC Destruction Nineveh 612BC Judah’s kings – Nahum’s favorable message to Judah Manasseh (c. 695-642BC) evil or good? (2Kgs21:1-18; 2Chr33:12-16) Josiah (640-609BC) Kings of Assyria Tiglath-Pileser III 745-727BC Shalmaneser V 726-722 Sargon II 721-705 Sennacherib 704-681 Esarhaddon 680-669 Ashurbanipal 668-627

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Purpose of Nahum The doom of Nineveh Judgment of Nineveh Encouragement to Judah Structure Introductory psalm (1:1-8) Doom of Nineveh and deliverance of Judah (1:9-2:2) The siege of Nineveh (2:3-3:19)

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 2.4 Message of Nahum Judgment and deliverance Alternating addresses to Nineveh and Judah Assyria’s brutal oppression now condemned Psychological warfare and propaganda of Assyrians Torture, amputation, atrocities Judah’s archenemy now condemned (cf. Jonah c. 100 earlier) Justice is good news to the oppressed Good news of salvation to Judah God the Warrior theme Powerful rhetoric – Assyrian brutality and propaganda “The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;     the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.” 1:3

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 3.1 Introduction to Habakkuk Special features of Habakkuk from other prophets? Wisdom features (“How long?” and theodicy); priority on topical arrangement than individual oracles Setting and message of Habakkuk? NT references to Habakkuk? Any passage that has spoken to you personally?

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 3.2 Historical and Critical Issues Author, composition, date Traditional author Habakkuk Little knowledge of who Habakkuk was Critical view of composition Only final psalm possibly later addition Date of Habakkuk – 7th century BC “God is raising up Babylonians” (1:6) [as a surprising thing] b/f Babylonians were powerful (independence from Assyria 626BC) BUT – conquest of Babylonian armies (2:5, 8-10) How does Josiah’s reform fit in? (640BC to the throne)  Prophecies sometime b/w [640-] 626-575BC Habakkuk written slightly later Habakkuk contemporary of Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Joel

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 3.3 Background, purpose, structure Historical background Steady decline of Assyria and emergence of Babylonia Decline of Assyria from 652BC Nabopolassar and the rise of Babylonian empire Jehoiachin’s exile in 598BC by Nebuchadnezzar (2Kgs24:8-14) The rise of Babylonian empire and threat to Judah Purpose Examine God’s justice among the nations “How long…?”

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Structure – prophet’s complaint and God’s answer Superscription (1:1) Exchange I (1:2-11) Exchange II (1:12-2:5) Woe oracles against the oppressors (2:6-20) Habakkuk’s psalm (3:1-19)

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 3.4 Themes in Habakkuk God’s just dealings with the nations Habakkuk honest questioning (1:2-4, 1:12-17) God will judge Judah’s sins through Babylon God will judge the arrogant Babylon In the midst of sin and injustice – trust, wait, be faithful “I will stand at my watch post…wait” (2:1-2; 3:16) “But the righteous will live by his faith” (2:4) God will bring about justice in surprising way (1:5; 2:14) God is holy and just (1:13; 2:15-20)

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 4.1 Introduction to Zephaniah Have you heard any sermons from Zephaniah? Anything that jumped out of the page as you read through Zephaniah? What is the basic message of Zephaniah?

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 4.2 Historical and Critical Issues Author, composition, date Zephaniah and his genealogy (1:1) Zephaniah – “the LORD protects/hides” “Cushi…son of Hezekiah” Was Zephaniah from Cush? Descendant of king Hezekiah? Critical theories of composition – number of additions Oracles of salvation (3:14-20) Restoration passages (2:7-9a, 10-11, 15; 3:1-14) Postexilic perspective (3:4-20) Similar to postexilic sections of Ezekiel and Isaiah Others see postexilic section as reinterpretation of Zephaniah’s words in light of new circumstance

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Zephaniah as a unified work Carefully constructed unity – from general to specifics Universal judgment (1:2; 3:8) + effects in Judah (1:4-2:3; 3:1-7) Universal blessing + effects in Judah (3:9-20) Date of Zephaniah Relationship of Zephaniah to Josiah’s reform in c. 621BC Was Josiah’s reform not extensive enough? Zephaniah’s prophesied c. 627/626BC - probably b/f 621BC

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 4.3 Background, purpose, structure Historical background Imminent invasion of Babylonia, Assyria or Scythia? Devastating effects of Manasseh’s reign (697-642BC) Ashurbanibal 627BC (†) – independence of Babylon 626BC “remnant of Baal” (1:4) – Josiah’s reforms under way already? Zephaniah’s oracles and Josiah’s reform Official reforms & actual practice Did it ignore socio-economic aspects? Timing and effects of the reform (2Kgs22:3; 2 Chr 34:8, 2-7) Purpose Initiate change in Judah by pronouncing judgment on sin Seek the LORD Day of the LORD on its way

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah Structure of Zephaniah Superscription (1:1) Oracles against Judah (1:2-2:3) Oracles against the nations (2:4-3:8) Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, Assyria, Jerusalem, everyone Oracles of salvation (3:9-20) Universal worship Blessing and restoration of Judah

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 4.4 Themes in Zephaniah Judgment, mercy, Day of the LORD “Be silent…the Day of the LORD at hand” (1:7) “Day…is near…hastening fast” (1:14) Socio-economic accusations and allusions “violence and fraud” (1:9); “traders have perished…wealth will be plundered…silver not gold will save” (1:11, 13, 18) Corruption of leaders (3:1-3) Salvation and restoration Deliverance of “humble of the land” from wrath (2:3) Remnant and salvation God’s people (3:9-20) “LORD has taken away the judgment…the king of Israel is in your midst…I will save the lame…gather the outcast…restore your fortunes” (3:15, 19-20)

Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah ;