Prophets of the Bible

<body stylesrc="temp.html" background="ProphetsBack.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="#800000"> <p> </p> <h1 align="center"><font color="#800000"><b><u>Prophets of the Bible</u></b></font></h1> <h1 align="center"><font color="#101687">Hebrew Studies 231/Jewish Studies 231</font></h1> <h1 align="center"><font color="#101687">Religious Studies 231</font></h1> <h1 align="center"><font color="#101687">Ronald L. Troxel, Ph.D.</font></h1> <h2 align="left"><strong>The prophets of the Bible are shadowy figures of Israel's past, familiar to most moderns by name or reputation. For many of us, our knowledge of them is mediated by caricatures, such as the one implied in the disclaimer, "I am no prophet, but...." Others are acquainted with the prophets' tendency to challenge to the status quo on ethical grounds, through comparisons with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, it is noteworthy that the fountain outside the memorial to Dr. King in Atlanta is etched with words from the prophet Amos: "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24).</strong></h2> <h2 align="left"><strong>How accurate are these mediated images of Israel's prophets? To what degree were they prognosticators or lobbyists for justice? What kind of following did they enjoy in their society and how were they regarded by those in the status quo they challenged? How have we come to inherit a record of their words? Were they also authors, publishing their thoughts like modern </strong>pundits<strong> and philosophers?</strong></h2> <h2 align="left"><strong>This course explores the world of the prophets so as to understand some of the forces that prompted and shaped their words, and will </strong>elucidate<strong> how their words came to be preserved and transmitted. Moreover, students will develop strategies for reading the prophets effectively as literary compositions.</strong></h2> <h2 align="left"><strong>For a summary of course goals and requirements, see the </strong><a href="syllabus.html"><strong>syllabus</strong></a><strong>. Other options are given below.</strong></h2> <h6 align="center"><a href="what.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong>What's New</strong></font></a><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong> | </strong></font><a href="syllabus.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong><u>Syllabus</u></strong></font></a><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong> | </strong></font><a href="schedule.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong>Schedule</strong></font></a><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong> | </strong></font><a href="exam.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong>Exams</strong></font></a></h6> <h6 align="center"><a href="paper.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong>Paper</strong></font></a><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong> | </strong></font><a href="glossary.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong><u>Glossary</u></strong></font></a><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong> | </strong></font><a href="text.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong><u>Search</u></strong></font></a><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong> | </strong></font><a href="guestboo.html"><font color="#5B3D23" size="4"><strong>Guest Book</strong></font></a></h6> <p align="left"> </p> <h4 align="left">Dr. Ronald L. Troxel, Dept. of Hebrew and Semitic Studies<br> Copyright © 1999 by Ronald L. Troxel. All rights reserved.<br> Revised: 09 Apr 1999 08:35:03 -0400.</h4>  </body>