A History of Prophecy in Israel by Joseph Blenkinsopp - Book Report/Review Example

A History of Prophecy in Israel Joseph Blenkinsopp’s A History of Prophecy in Israel is a historical perspective of prophecy in Israel. The entire history of prophecy in Israel is covered in this one book. Blenkinsopp uses a literary approach in laying out his thoughts on prophecy in Israel through literary sources. This includes the known prophets like Amos and Hosea and the unknown prophets preceding these two famous men. The main elements of this book revolves around the contradictions in the Christian and Jewish accounts of these prophets, and the assumption that the literary evidence handed down over years are influenced by man’s opinions. Thus the core argument is analysis of the Christian and Jewish prophecy accounts show the accounts are flawed when looking at the subject through a historical perspective, but still believable through faith. This book is a critical review, not a reaffirmation of faith. Blenkinsopp deals with his prophets of Israel study in an intellectual manner. This book will satisfy the intellectual readers, but leave conservative Christians yearning for a different type of reassurance about the prophets of Israel. Blenkinsopp takes on an ambitious task by undertaking an analysis of the prophets of Israel. He analyzes the prophets of Israel through chronological order, common sense, and other facts brought out in the literary sources covered. This ambitious undertaking could only be pulled off by a knowledgeable author like Blenkinsopp. Whole sets of encyclopedias and commentaries have been written on the prophets of Israel. This book is perfect for those with a strong background in the Christian Bible or Rabbinic Text. The references or texts for this book were Deuteronomy (Dtr), the Elohist (E) source in the Pentateuch (P), and the Chronicles. Blenkinsopp uses theses sources to analyze the history of the prophets of Israel. Since these sources are literary, the author’s style in Deuteronomy (Dtr), the Elohist (E) source in the Pentateuch (P), and the Chronicles, the subject, and logical sequencing of events in all of the literary references are examined by Blenkinsopp. This book also does not just use the Christian Bible or Rabbinic Texts by themselves. All of the information from the period of Israel’s prophets is taken into account. This makes this book an excellent sources of critical review of the prophets of Israel. Analytical study of the prophets of Israel is the key to this book. Several assumptions are made to help the reader understand the purpose of the book. The assumptions of this book are: 1. The literary evidence of Israel’s prophets are limited. 2. More prophets existed in Israel than were documented. 3. The accounts of the prophets create confusion when examined together. 4. Individuals want studies that prove religion beyond a doubt. 5. The literary texts reviewed were created for a different audience. These assertions help readers understand Blenkinsopp’s agenda, the critical study of the prophets of Israel. Blenkinsopp concedes that not many sources are available about Israel’s prophet. Not many independent sources corroborate the religious texts. In non-religious texts, such as the prophets of Israel from the Antiquities of Josephus, little or no proof is given.1 Blenkinsopp understood the challenges before undertaking his study.2 The basis of his study was founded on Deuteronomy (Dtr), the Elohist (E) source in the Pentateuch (P), and the Chronicles. Blenkinsopp asserted the belief that more prophets existed than has been documented. Some prophets are very well known like Eli, Samuel, and so forth, but the known scriptures elude to other unknown prophets. Blenkinsopp gives the following example: The passage describing mourning rites for a public figure in whose death the people had somehow been implicated has given rise to a wide range of hypothesis from King Josiah to Simon Maccabee… It is therefore an open question whether this passage refers to an unknown figure of that unknown period: either a martyred prophet, or more probably, given the allusions to the house of David, a casualty of Judean messianism, which we have no reason to believe died out after the time of Nehemiah.3 The texts that were examined allude to other prophets in Israel. If a specific prophet had been mentioned, then they would not be unknown. Blenkinsopp does not think that the absence of these prophets mean they were not real or accurate. The fault belongs to the documentation of create by humans. The evolution of documentation through the years created lapses in history. Obviously not every aspect of Israel or even the world’s history can be recorded. Thus Blenkinsopp could only deal with the known books of prophets, although he acknowledges that more prophets did exist. The accounts in religious texts, whether Christian or Jewish, are not laid out in a coherent manner. In fact, Blenkinsopp speaks very harshly about the reliability and consistency of religious texts. One passages states “biblical sources are confused and self-contradictory”.4 Blenkinsopp suggests that Chronicles might not be a trustworthy source.5 Throughout A History of Prophecy in Israel the texts are scrutinized closely. Some of the most basic biblical stories are called into question. Blenkinsopp dismisses the Jonah and the Whale story completely, calling these writings exaggerated.6 Blenkinsopp points out those Israel prophets often use outlandish tales in their writings. Since faith is based on things man cannot comprehend, the confusion and self-contradiction of the prophets are not disturbing. The idea that Chronicles was written by a man, which meant the author was fallible, gives Blenkinsopp a theory on why Biblical sources are not historically correct. Blenkinsopp’s ambitious study of current literary texts about Israel’s prophets is a product of the demand of proof from doubters in all faiths and those that do not believe. More analysis does need to be complete on religious texts. The problem is throughout the years so much analysis and interpretations have been intertwined into the religious text. Individuals of all faiths have been swayed by books, sermons, and other versions of religious texts. The analysis needs to be on the damage that has been done through misinterpretations and assumptions. Whether a believer in the prophets of Israel, or not, the literary text do exist. Literary analysis can only lend a new perspective on an already controversial subject. The outcome will depend on the author’s views and beliefs. All of the religious texts were created for a specific audience. Chronicles was intended for a Jewish audience that was from the ancient world before Christ’s birth. The Gospels were written for Christians or converted Jews. The authors could never have imagined writing for the technology advanced society of today. Blenkinsopp explains: The tone of these poems will not easily find sympathetic resonance in the mind of the modern reader, or at least the modern reader who has not suffered under such conditions as the Assyrians imposed on their subject provinces. But it may help to recall that what was at stake for the poet and his audience was the reality of divine power and the possibility of justice in the world of international affairs.7 Many individuals believe that the audience does not matter due to the fact that religious text were divinely inspired. The history and texts from the period of Israel’s prophets need to be examined from the perspective of the intended audience. Blenkinsopp’s A History of Prophecy in Israel wanted to analyze the prophets of Israel to make individuals understand that the confusion and contradictions of literary sources from the time are not because prophets did not exist. The religious texts might not make sense due to time, authors, and input by other historical figures. History cannot be related one hundred percent accurately due to faulty memory, or a biased perspective. Blenkinsopp shows that the prophets might not be false, but the reporting of the prophets’ accounts might be. A History of Prophecy in Israel has good points and bad points. The positive aspect is the interest that can be generated in Israel’s prophets as real life historical figures. An analysis can help scientific minded individuals understand biblical issues like prophets. The negative side of this book is the criticisms on religious texts and the assumption that everyone is knowledgeable about Israel’s prophets. This is an indispensable book for the theological student. Bibliography 1. Blenkinsopp, Joseph. 1996. A History of Prophecy in Israel. UK: Westminster John Knox Pr. Read More