Modelling the U.S disorders of the 1960s

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propositions, arguments, narrations and illustrations in timeless abiding truths with special focus on the applications of those truths to the current needs of the church.”

3.5 Practical Application – Amos 2:6-8

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need for literary analysis. The first two lines of the oracle for example are clearly not literal. This is because if you count the number of the offences listed, it is more than either three or four that is listed. This is a figure speech based on Jewish numerology. In this numerology, three means enough as is true also of the Yoruba people. There is a Yoruba proverb that says “ekini kebe, ekeji kebe, eleketa lajenjetan” which means if you commit any offence twice you would be forgiven but the third would not be forgiven. Thus the lines “For three transgression of Israel and for four”

simply mean that the transgressions of Israel have over-flown its limit and thus God does not have a choice but to execute judgement. The remaining verses contain the crime of Israel:

The people of Israel are accused of esteeming the most vile bribes more that the lives of human beings. The pair of sandal is the most priceless article that anyone could have, so to exchange a human live or dignity for this shows the level of depravity.

In verse seven, they were accused of incest which goes against the laws of the covenant thereby ridiculing the Lord‟s name. Verse eight begins with the statement “on garments taken as pledges they stretch out beside every altar” which is a reference to the participation of the Israelites in cultic prostitution, one of the very abominations for which the Canaanites were driven out of the land that was given to them by God.

In conclusion therefore, God has declared that for the numerous sins as well as the depth of the depravity of the Israelites, He can no longer afford to look the other way. Israel has to be punished.

4.0 Conclusion

In this unit you have learnt that the prophetic literature that has the largest number of books in the Old Testament is classified into the second division of the Hebrew canon. You have also learnt that a prophet is a spokesman who has been called to service by God. You should also know by now that the history of prophetic declaration in Israel can be classified into five: the early monarchy, the period of Assyrian domination, the period of Babylonian domination, the restoration and the inter-testamental period.

You have also been taught that the biblical concept of prophecy is largely misunderstood today as the prophets were not futurologists as usually thought but were spokesmen for God. The forms of prophetic genres include the lawsuits, the woes and the promise/salvation oracles. You must have also seen that the historical context out of which a prophecy was issued is germane to its interpretation.

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5.0 Summary

The following are the major points you have learnt in this unit:

 The Hebrew word for prophet is navi which means „one called by God‟.

 The history of prophecy can be divided into five stages, namely: the early monarchy, the period of Assyrian domination, the period of Babylonian domination, the restoration and the inter-testamental period.

 Prophets should be seen first and foremost as spokesmen for God rather than as futurologists.

 The forms of the prophetic genres are: the lawsuits, the woes and the promise/salvation oracles.

Self-Assessment Exercise

1. Discuss the role of prophecy in Israel at each stage of the development of the history of prophecy.

2. What are the steps to take in interpreting prophetic literature?

6.0 References/Further Readings

Adewale, Biyi (1996b). The Praxis of Biblical Interpretation. Oyo:

Multicrown Publishers.

Albright, W. F. (1957). From the Stone Age to Christianity. New York:

Double Day.

Berkhof, L. (1950). Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids:

Baker Books.

Burrows, Mark S. and Paul Romen (eds.) (1991). Biblical Hermeneutics in Historical Perspective. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans.

Fee G. D. and Stuart, D. (1993). How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

London: Scripture Union.

Flanders, H. J., Crapps, R. W. and Smith, D. A. (1973). The Dictionary of Biblical Literacy. Nashville: Oliver Nelson.

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Harrison, R. K. (1969). Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids:

Wm. B. Eerdmans

Hays, Daniel J. (2001). “Applying the Old Testament Today” in Bibliotheca Sacra 158:629. pp. 21-35.

Jaeggli, J. R. (1997). “The Interpretation of Old Testament Prophecy” in Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Fall, pp. 3-17.

Stein, Robert H. (1994). A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.

Kaiser, Walter C. and Moises Silva (1994). An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The Search for Meaning. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Pratt, Richard. (2008). “Interpreting the Old Testament Prophecies” in Reformed Perspectives Magazine, Vol. 10, Number 43, October 19-October 25.

Ramm, Bernard (1970). Protestant Biblical Interpretation. 3rd Revised edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.

Virkler, Henry A. (1981). Hermeneutics: Principles and Process of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.

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UNIT 3: Interpreting Historical Narratives