The Twelve Minor Prophets

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Hosea: Spotlight on the Twelve Prophets
Rabbi Yaakov Beasley
Spotlight on the Twelve Minor Prophets
Rabbi Yaakov Beasley
Haggai: The Practical Prophet
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
As opposed to many other prophets, Haggai describes no visions. Instead, he conveys a plain, clear message to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash. This stands in sharp contrast to Haggai’s colleague Zekharia who witnesses numerous visions conveying obscure meanings. Zekharia writes in poetry, Haggai in prose. For this reason, Haggai is called “the Navi” - God’s mouthpiece.

Haggai tells the people that if they abandon the building of God’s house, they cannot expect material comfort and success in their own homes. Whereas most prophets emphasize personal repentance from moral shortcomings, Haggai calls for a national return to the task of rebuilding the Temple.

The disparity in message between Haggai and earlier prophets – Haggai being a more practical book with more modest aims and a relatively upbeat message – is reinforced by another key distinction: the people actually obey Haggai’s prophecy! Precisely because Haggai’s message was more specific and optimistic, less radical and cataclysmic, his message was more readily embraced by the people than the doomsday scenarios prognosticated by his predecessors.
Haggai Redoubles His Efforts
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Haggai once again exhorts the community to remain committed to the building process. Although they had obeyed his first prophecy, they had apparently become discouraged yet again. The prophet conveys a similar message, if one more specifically directed at the Shivat Tziyyon period: Although things might presently appear grim, ultimately a transformation will occur, and the Second Temple’s glory will outstrip even that of the First.

By comparing the present reality to the Exodus from Egypt, Haggai reinforces just how radical is the transformation he anticipates. During the period of the Jewish enslavement in Egypt, the notion that the impoverished slave nation would suddenly take possession of their captors’ riches would have seemed utterly implausible. Much the same, argues Haggai implicitly, may be said for the metamorphosis he foresees.

There is, then, a straightforward literary structure to Sefer Haggai. The simplicity of the book’s design mirrors the directness of the prophet’s message. Anxiety about agricultural yield increases the peoples’ motivation to follow Haggai’s charge. Haggai’s succeeds in ultimately setting the reconstruction project back on its footing. By single-mindedly urging the people again and again to focus on one task, he ultimately achieves what he sets out to accomplish.
Zekharya: Spiritual Visionary
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Haggai and Zekharya, while radically different – Haggai is straightforward and political, Zekharya quasi-mystical and spiritual – can in fact be seen as two sides of the same coin. Similar to Haggai, Zekharya’s message says that while things may appear grim at present, in the long run they will turn around dramatically. However, while Haggai calls for the Jews to roll up their sleeves and begin the work. Zekharya cries for repentance, suggesting that the rebuilding of Jerusalem will materialize regardless. Throughout Zekharya, the Jews’ role is to strive in matters of spirituality, and God will take care of the rest.

Jerusalem will be so expansive that it will not be able to contain its population with walls. The expansive nature of the city is, of course, in sharp contrast to the meager numbers that plagued the community of returnees.

God commands the Jews of Babylonia that the exile has ended, and they must now return to the holy city of Jerusalem. Eventually, the other nations will join the Jews in worshipping God in Jerusalem.
Haggai: Spotlight on the Twelve Prophets
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Sefer Hoshea: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 13 minutes
Hoshea begins the “twelve prophets” or תרי עשר, which span a period of over 300 years. Amos is actually the first prophet, but Hoshea is chosen to open the series for thematic and poetic reasons.

Hoshea is probably from the tribe of Reuven, and he operated in the Kingdom of Israel, during the lifetime of the prophets Amos, Yeshayahu and Micha; his prophecy dealt with the moral decay in the kingdom of Yisrael, mostly, and he rebuked the over-reliance on Assyria, the rising world superpower.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Yoel: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 10 minutes
Yoel is the second of the “twelve prophets” or תרי עשר, which span a period of over 300 years.

Short and to the point, Yoel talks about a plague of locusts which will strike the land, which will eventually recover and be blessed; and then he talks about retribution to nations which have harmed Am Yisrael.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Amos: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 16 minutes
Amos is the third of the “twelve prophets” or תרי עשר, which span a period of over 300 years. Chronologically, however, he is the earliest.

Amos is a Prophet from Yehuda who warnes the kingdom of Yisrael about the coming of destruction by the hands of Assyria, should they not change their corrupt ways.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Ovadia: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 10 minutes
Ovadia is the fourth of the “twelve prophets” or תרי עשר, which span a period of over 300 years.

Ovadia talks about the betrayal and eventual downfall of Edom.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Micha: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 21 minutes
Micha is book #6 of the Trei Assar, and the last of the “Four Prophets” who prophesied in the same time period or alongside each other.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Nahum: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 23 minutes
Nahum is book #7 of the Trei Assar, and deals with the fall of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

This episode overlaps with several previous episodes and upcoming ones, which deal with the kingdoms of Israel, Judah and the Assyrian Empire. Those include: Yona, Melachim II, Yeshayahu and the upcoming Divre-Hayamim II. Make sure to check out those episodes.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Habakuk: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 23 minutes
Habakuk is book #8 of the Trei Assar, and deals with the rise and fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Zephania: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 22 minutes
Zephania is book #9 of the Trei Assar, and deals with the destruction of the region by Babylon. It is unique in tying together the destruction of the Temple and Yehuda together with the surrounding nations which were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

It is the last book in Trei Assar dealing with the Babylonan period, and the next and last three deal with the Persian period.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.
Sefer Haggai: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 23 minutes
Haggai is book #10 of the Trei Assar, and it kicks off the Persian Period.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.