Twelve Minor Prophets

The Twelve Minor Prophets are twelve short books.

They are in the Jewish Tanakh. They are also in the Christian Old Testament. Some people see them as one single book. Others see them as twelve separate books. Each book is named after a person. These books contain stories and poems. They share what these people believed.

Many people still read these books today. They are part of many faith traditions.

The Twelve Minor Prophets is a group of short books.

They were written between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE. These books are in the Jewish Tanakh. They are also in the Christian Old Testament. In the Tanakh, they are one single book. In the Christian Old Testament, they are twelve separate books. Each book has a name. These names come from the prophets themselves. The books include Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Most books have three parts. They have stories about the prophet. They have facts about the prophet's life. They also have speeches or poems. These speeches are often called oracles. The Book of Jonah is different. It is an anonymous story about Jonah. Scholars think the books were collected into one scroll long ago. The order of the books is mostly by time. Some books focus on the city of Jerusalem. Many people still study these books today. They are a big part of faith traditions.

The Twelve Minor Prophets is a special collection of short books.

These books are found in both the Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament. In the Tanakh, they appear as one single book called "The Twelve." This book is the last part of the Nevi'im. In the Christian Old Testament, they are twelve separate books. Each book is named after a specific prophet. The name "Minor Prophets" was used by Augustine of Hippo. He used it to tell these shorter books apart from longer ones. These longer books include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

Each book usually contains three different types of writing. First, there is autobiographical material written in the first person. This might include things the prophet said about themselves. Second, there is biographical material written about the prophet in the third person. This shows that other people helped collect and edit the books. Third, there are oracles, which are speeches or poems. These oracles use many styles like songs, hymns, or even proverbs. The Book of Jonah is a unique exception. It is an anonymous story about the prophet Jonah.

Scholars have many ideas about how these books were put together. They believe each book started as a core tradition for that prophet. These traditions were likely collected into one scroll during the Achaemenid period. This period happened between 538 and 332 BCE. Some experts think the first six books were collected first. Then, the second six books were added later. The first group asks questions about wrongdoing. The second group offers ways to fix those problems.

The order of the books is often based on time. The first group includes Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. These are linked to the early Assyrian period. Next come Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah from the later Assyrian period. The last group includes Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These belong to the Persian period. Some scholars also debate the exact dates for books like Joel or Obadiah. The order can also change depending on the Bible being used.

Today, these books remain very important in many faith traditions. The Roman Catholic Church reads them during specific weeks in November. They are also part of the liturgical year in many other ways. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates them together on July 31. Even though scholars disagree on some dates, the books are still studied deeply. They help people understand ancient history and belief systems. The diversity of their styles shows a very long history of writing.

The Twelve Minor Prophets, also known as the Book of the Twelve, is a collection of prophetic books. These writings are found in both the Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament. In the Tanakh, they appear as a single volume called "The Twelve." This volume serves as the final book of the Nevi'im, which is the second major division of the Tanakh. In the Christian Old Testament, the collection is divided into twelve individual books. Each book is named after a specific prophet: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The term "Minor Prophets" was established by Augustine of Hippo. He used this name to distinguish these twelve shorter books from the four longer prophetic books. Those longer books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Scholars believe each individual book contains an original core of prophetic tradition. This core is attributed to the specific figure for whom the book is named. These traditions include autobiographical, biographical, and oracular material.

Most of these books contain three distinct types of content. First, they include autobiographical material written in the first person. This may include details regarding the prophet themselves. Second, they contain biographical material written in the third person. This third-person perspective demonstrates that editors, rather than the prophets, completed the collection. Third, the books feature oracles, which are speeches or poetic messages. These oracles use many genres, such as songs, hymns, laments, and visions. The Book of Jonah is the only exception. It is an anonymous narrative about the prophet Jonah.

Historians believe these works were collected into a single scroll during the Achaemenid period. This period occurred between 538 and 332 BCE. While the exact timing is debated, evidence suggests a two-stage collection process. Many believe the first six books were collected first. The second six books were likely added later. This structure creates a thematic link between the two groups. The first group, Hosea through Micah, raises questions about iniquity. The second group, Nahum through Malachi, proposes resolutions to those issues.

The arrangement of the books is often roughly chronological. The first section includes Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. These are dated to the early Assyrian period. The next section includes Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah from the later Assyrian period. The final section contains Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi from the Persian period. Some books, like Joel, have uncertain dates. However, the order may also reflect a focus on Jerusalem and Judah. For example, Obadiah reflects the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. This event would place it later in a strictly chronological list.

Modern scholarship features an ongoing debate known as the "Persian Turn." Many scholars now argue that much of the editing occurred during the Persian period. This theory suggests that many books were finalized in Jerusalem during this era. However, other researchers like Heath Dewrell disagree. They argue that some books, like Hosea, show features from much earlier periods. They believe these texts were written close to their authors' time. Others, like Jason Radine, warn against oversimplifying these dates. They argue that the diversity of styles suggests a much longer development period.

The Twelve Minor Prophets remain central to many religious traditions today. The Roman Catholic Church reads them during specific weeks in November. In the modern Lectionary, certain prophets are read during Ordinary Time. For instance, Haggai, Zechariah, Jonah, Malachi, and Joel appear in weeks 25 through 27. The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the prophets collectively on July 31. Because of their complex history, these books continue to be studied by many scholars. They provide a window into ancient history, literary evolution, and religious thought.