What is a Prophet?
The Hebrew term for a prophet was nabhi’ which commonly meant “speaker”. The prophet was thought to be a speaker for God, full of his Spirit, and fostering a special spiritual relationship with the Divine.
It's important to mention that when the Prophets spoke, it was directly tied to where Israel stood in their relationship with God. God had made an exclusive covenant with Israel through the Law of Moses that they often forgot about. As this Covenant made Israel a Chosen people, the goal was that they would be the living ambassadors of God on earth and reveal the closeness of others as well. Because of the Prophet's duty to point the people back to the Covenant in this way, they were not expanding doctrine but instead applying the message already found in the Torah to the current state of Israel.
In the grand story of God's people, Priests were the first group set in place to carry this role. We see their specific role outlined in the Book of Leviticus (as Levites were the priestly tribe of Israel). They received and offered sacrifices, led ceremonies, and acted as moral guides for the people. However, as we see in stories like in 1 Samuel 2:12-17, many priests would often become corrupt. When priests became corrupt, 1 Samuel 3:1 says, "The word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions." The nation would be overtaken by the influence of surrounding territories and enemies, and the people would begin to worship idols. Israel, many times, would forget God and the Covenant he had made with them.
WHAT IS THE “WRATH OF GOD”?
One way to think about Prophets then is that they were God's boots on the ground, speaking truth to power and directing the people back to God. Often, this would include warning people of the consequences of their disobedience. Scholars often see this as "punishments from God" or "the wrath of God." These concepts can seem complicated when we consider the loving vision of God we see in many New Testament passages. In Jesus, we see the expression of the invisible God. So, does this mean that we can imagine Jesus punishing people?
One thing to consider is that often in scripture, "God's wrath" has less to do with the Divine bringing retribution on the people and more to do with consequences set in motion by disobedience. Sin often brings about its repercussions. The people had turned away from God and, by rejecting his Covenant, had forfeited the protection that it brought. The Prophets warned the nation that they were straying too far and that God would "take his hands" off the situation. But in God's grace and mercy, he would permanently preserve them and be with them in the midst of this. There is nothing outside of God's control and plan. When Prophets spoke, they often acted as guardrails for the people, bumping them back into alignment with God's word.
STRUCTURE OF THE PROPHETS
The earliest prophets (Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha) communicated their messages orally. Following Elisha's death, much of the prophetic tradition transitioned into a literary one. These prophets maintained the same role as the oral prophets but prioritized writing their messages using tools like poetry and metaphor. By doing this, they preserved much of the early interpretation of the Law and Hebraic views of God.
A popular trope is that prophets functioned similarly to fortune tellers. Before the Babylonian Exile, schools of prophets would have existed. Major ones are mentioned throughout the Bible and could be famously found in places like Bethel, Gilgal, Jericho, and Samaria. However, some schools needed to be more legitimate as they offered services in divination for payment. It was essential to figure out who was an authentic prophet and who was false, so often, the leader of the Prophetic school would be called into question.
THE SAMUEL OF IT ALL
Though we have yet to learn precisely what Prophetic schools taught, one glimpse we get into this type of apprenticeship is the story of the Prophet Samuel. In Samuel 1, we read about how Hannah (Samuel's mother) cannot conceive a child. After Eli, the priest, hears her prayer, he reassures her that God has heard her, and Hannah gives birth to Samuel. In her gratitude, she brings Samuel back to Eli and offers him as an apprentice. In 1 Samuel 2:18-19, it says that "Samuel was ministering before the Lord" and even mentions how he wore priestly garments. So, it's established that much of his education under Eli was in priestly duties, which included interpreting the Law and performing sacrifices.
However, we see a shift in his role from Priest to Prophet in the context in which his training is happening. Eli's sons are also priests at Shiloh but "have no regard for the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:12). They took more than their portion of the sacrifices; they stalked and slept with women who came to worship and used their position as priests to bring attention to themselves. The account in 1 Samuel 2 also describes how an unnamed prophet approaches Eli about the problem of his sons. Already, we see the role of a prophet at play. He hears from God and announces to Eli that the result of his son's actions and his father's neglect to address it will end in their demise. Yes, this foretells events revealed to this Prophet by God. But, it is evident, given the dynamics of the situation. When God famously calls the boy Samuel in the night, he confirms this first word spoken. Samuel is now functioning as a Prophet and not just a priest because he speaks truth to power (Eli). He is not embellishing the word with new interpretations or a differing doctrine. Samuel is simply confirming what God has already spoken. The consequences of the fall of Eli's house are not a result of God's retributive punishment but the natural result of disobedience and selfishness.
Harrison, Roland Kenneth. Old Testament Times. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Eerdmans, 1970.
Egan, Patrick. "Training the Prophetic Voice, Part 3: The Schools of the Prophets." Educational Renaissance.Com, 26 Sept. 2020, educationalrenaissance.com/2020/09/26/training-the-prophetic-voice-part-3-the-schools-of-the-prophets/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.
