In our Old Testament canon, the last section is referred to as the ‘Minor Prophets.’ In the Hebrew Bible these books are part of what are referred to as the ‘Latter Prophets’ which include Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel and are known as ‘The Book of the Twelve.’ In the Hebrew canon they are located between Ezekiel and Psalms. They are not referred to as minor because of their importance but because of their length. All twelve of the books combined are about the size of Ezekiel. They are arranged approximately in chronological order from the eighth century B.C. to the fifth century B.C. Many will mention the name of the King or Kings during which the prophet ministered but some can’t be dated with any certainty. If you are reading in a printed modern translation (not from an app) they will indent sections that are written in Hebrew poetry. You’ll see a lot of Hebrew poetry in these books. Some like Micah and Habakkuk are almost all poetry; some have a mixture of narrative and poetry like Amos and Zechariah, and Malachi is all narrative. Just as the Major Prophets occasionally had messages to or about nations other than Israel and Judah so will the Minor Prophets speak concerning other nations.
If you were to ask our former senior pastor what he was going to preach on the following Sunday, he always answered ‘sin.’ Sin was the reason for the rise of the prophetic ministry in Israel and Judah. From the split of the United Kingdom after the death of Solomon in 931 B.C. the Northern and Southern Kingdoms began a downhill slide into sin. The Northern Kingdom just slid faster and were conquered and taken into exile by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom had a couple of revivals and slid at a slower pace but were conquered and taken into exile by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The sin was addressed by the prophets. In Amos chapter 2:4-8 we read of the sin of Israel and Judah and then beginning in verse 9 God describes what He has done for them. In verses 11 and 12 we read,
That little phrase “yet you did not return to me” is repeated in verses 8, 9, 10, and 11. With all the discipline God brought upon the people they still did not repent.
Bible Project Videos to watch while reading the Minor Prophets.
1Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
If you were to ask our former senior pastor what he was going to preach on the following Sunday, he always answered ‘sin.’ Sin was the reason for the rise of the prophetic ministry in Israel and Judah. From the split of the United Kingdom after the death of Solomon in 931 B.C. the Northern and Southern Kingdoms began a downhill slide into sin. The Northern Kingdom just slid faster and were conquered and taken into exile by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom had a couple of revivals and slid at a slower pace but were conquered and taken into exile by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The sin was addressed by the prophets. In Amos chapter 2:4-8 we read of the sin of Israel and Judah and then beginning in verse 9 God describes what He has done for them. In verses 11 and 12 we read,
11 I raised up some of your sons as prophets
and some of your young men as Nazirites….
12 But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets,
“Do not prophesy.”
Then in chapter 4 we read,
6 I gave you absolutely nothing to eat,
in all your cities,
a shortage of food in all your communities,
yet you did not return to me.
This is the Lord’s declaration.1
Bible Project Videos to watch while reading the Minor Prophets.
- How to Read the 15 Prophetic Books in the Bible
- Hosea Video Summary
- Joel Video Summary
- Amos Video Summary
- Obadiah Video Summary
- Jonah Video Summary
- Micah Video Summary
- Nahum Video Summary
- Habakkuk Video Summary
- Zephaniah Video Summary
- Haggai Video Summary
- Zechariah Video Summary
- Malachi Video Summary
1Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Posted in Multiply
Recent
Archive
2025
March
The Time is NowSpring Is in The AirEaster Changes EverythingProclaim Jesus This SummerThe Great Co-Mission: Never Work AloneOrdinary MomentsMade For MissionsMay I See Your Ticket?Surrender and TrustWhat Is Thankfulness?Christ In ChristmasWhat's Your New Year's Resolution?Unity In The BodyGo & TellWhy Do They Call It Good Friday?It's Gonna Be MayVBS: The Most Impactful WeekWhat I Love About JesusJesus Is AmazingEveryone, Everywhere, AlwaysThe RollercoasterIt's Fall, Y'allWhy Give Thanks?Rekindle The FlameJesus Didn't Come to Make Christians. He Came to Make Disciples.Multiply—Week 1Multiply—Week 2Multiply—Week 3Multiply—Week 4DiscipleshipMultiply—Week 5Multiply—Week 6Multiply—Week 7Multiply—Week 8Multiply—Week 9Multiply—Week 10Multiply—Week 11Multiply—Week 12Resurrection PowerMultiply—Week 13Multiply—Week 14Multiply—Week 15Multiply—Week 16The Parenting BookMultiply—Week 17Multiply—Week 18Multiply—Week 19Multiply—Week 20Multiply—Week 21Multiply—Week 22Jesus Changes EverythingMultiply—Week 23Multiply—Week 24Multiply—Week 25Multiply—Week 26A Call To Impact The NationsMultiply—Week 27Multiply—Week 28Multiply—Week 29Multiply—Week 30Multiply—Week 31Multiply—Week 32Multiply—Week 33Multiply—Week 34Multiply—Week 35Multiply—Week 36Multiply—Week 37Multiply—Week 38Multiply—Week 39Multiply—Week 40Multiply—Week 41Multiply—Week 42Multiply—Week 43Multiply—Week 44Multiply—Week 45Multiply—Week 46Multiply—Week 47Multiply—Week 48Multiply—Week 49Multiply—Week 50Multiply—Week 51Multiply—Week 52The Living WaterMULTIPLY—GenesisBro. Eddie Little Announces RetirementMultiply—ExodusMultiply—LeviticusMultiply—DeuteronomyMultiply—NumbersMultiply—JoshuaMultiply—JudgesMultiply—1 and 2 SamuelMultiply—1 and 2 KingsMultiply—1 and 2 ChroniclesMultiply—Ezra and NehemiahMultiply—EstherMultiply—JobMultiply—PsalmsMultiply—ProverbsMultiply—Ecclesiastes