Full Description
These six prophets proclaim powerful messages about judgment and the sovereignty of God. Amos challenges hypocrisy and injustice. Hosea's marriage symbolizes the covenant between God and Israel, moving from love to separation and then reunion. Micah, Nahum, and Zephaniah condemn corrupt leadership, injustice to the poor, and worship of false gods. Habakkuk reminds all to rely on God, who will punish the evil and defeat chaos. Flowing through all these calls to be a better people is the unfailing promise of a faithful and forgiving God.
Contents
CONTENTS
Abbreviations 6
THE BOOK OF AMOS
Introduction 7
Text and Commentary 12
Superscription and Introduction (Amos 1:1-2) 12
Proclamations Concerning the Nations (Amos 1:3-2:16) 12
Three Words to Israel (Amos 3:1-5:6, 8-9) 19
Three Woes (Amos 5:7, 10-17; 5:18-27; 6:1-14) 26
Five Visions; Two Judgment Speeches (Amos 7:1-9:10) 29
Epilogue (Amos 9:11-15) 35
THE BOOK OF HOSEA
Introduction 37
Text and Commentary 42
Superscription (Hosea 1:1) 42
Marriage Metaphor; Gomer, Hosea, God, and Israel (Hosea 1:2-3:5) 43
Proclamation against Israel and Its Leadership (Hosea 4:1-5:7) 51
Judgment Speech against Israel and Judah (Hosea 5:8-14) 55
Expression of Divine Frustration and Judgment upon Israel and Judah (Hosea 5:15-7:2) 56
Description of Failed Leadership (Hosea 7:3-7) 57
Description of Israel's Folly and Fate (Hosea 7:8-12) 58
Woe Speech against Israel (Hosea 7:13-16) 59
Declaration of Warfare (Hosea 8:1-14) 60
Judgment Speech against Israel (Hosea 9:1-6) 62
Statement of Impending Divine Chastisement (Hosea 9:7-9) 63
Description of Israel's Crimes (Hosea 9:10-17) 64
Three Metaphors Concerning Israel (Hosea 10:1-11:11) 65
Description of Israel's Infidelity (Hosea 12:1-13:1) 70
Judgment Speech against Israel (Hosea 13:2-14:1) 71
Divine Plea and Promise of Healing, Restoration, and New Life (Hosea 14:2-9) 73
Epilogue: A Word of Exhortation (Hosea 14:10) 74
THE BOOK OF MICAH
Introduction 75
Text and Commentary 80
Superscription (Micah 1:1) 80
Proclamation of Judgment; Word of Hope (Micah 1:2-3:12) 80
Proclamation of Future Restoration (Micah 4:1-5:14) 89
Words of Judgment, Lament, Trust (Micah 6:1-7:20) 95
THE BOOK OF NAHUM
Introduction 105
Text and Commentary 108
Superscription (Nahum 1:1) 108
A Hymn to God (Nahum 1:2-11) 108
A Word of Good News to Judah (Nahum 1:12-2:1) 109
A Prophetic Vision Concerning Nineveh (Nahum 2:2-3:19) 110
THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH
Introduction 115
Text and Commentary 119
Superscription (Zephaniah 1:1) 119
Proclamations of Judgment and Imminent Disasters (Zephaniah 1:2-3:8) 120
Statement of Reproach against Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1-7) 125
Statement of Future Purification (Zephaniah 3:8-13) 126
Proclamation of Hope, Salvation, and Restoration (Zephaniah 3:14-20) 127
THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK
Introduction 129
Text and Commentary 133
Superscription (Habakkuk 1:1) 133
The Prophet's First Complaint (Habakkuk 1:2-4) 133
A Divine Response (Habakkuk 1:5-11) 134
The Prophet's Second Complaint (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1) 135
A Divine Response: A Vision Statement with Five Woes (Habakkuk 2:2-20) 136
A Prophet's Prayer (Habakkuk 3:1-19) 138
Review Aids and Discussion Topics 140
Index of Citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 145
Maps 146
