1) Assyrian Power Between 1500 and 1100 BC

Hosea

755 – 710 B.C.

Northern Kingdom

Relationship with G-d

The patience and long-suffering of G-d towards the rebellious and unfaithful northern kingdom of Israel is compared to an unfaithful marriage. G-d orders Hosea to marry an adulterous wife, Gomer. This was a symbolic representation of G-d's relation to Israel. G-d's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness.

Joel

830 B.C.?

Southern Kingdom

The Day of the L-rd

The book of Joel begins by describing a devastating swarm of locusts which destroys the agriculture of Israel. Joel calls the nation of Judah to a day of repentance due to this divine judgment.

The last portion of the book is concerned with events associated with the "Day of the L-rd." The Day of the L-rd is one of victory for the L-rd and disaster for the unrighteous. The message is that, if Judah repents, G-d will richly bless them and forgive them. The warning is that self-righteousness is not the same as righteousness in the sight of G-d.

Amos

765 – 750 B.C.

Northern Kingdom

Social Justice

Amos writes during a period of prosperity in Israel. King Jeroboam II was ruler, and the kingdom had reached new political and military heights. It was also a time of idolatry, extravagant indulgence in luxury, immorality, corruption and oppression of the poor. Amos was called by G-d to pronounce judgment on Israel by denouncing idolatry and moral depravity.

He also foretells of the dispersion of the Israelites, but points to a day when G-d would regather them in the land of their forefathers.

Obadiah

585– 565 B.C.

Southern Kingdom

Edom and the pending judgment

Obadiah was a prophet who pronounced judgment upon the nation of Edom for its antagonism toward Israel. Edom is the nation that is descended from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Israel). They have not treated Israel well, they did not allow them to pass through their land during the Exodus and have been attacking from the hill country through the rest of history.

Jonah

775 – 760 B.C.

Gentiles

G-d will save all who repent

Jonah is the reluctant prophet who is sent to warn the Gentile city of Nineveh. Jonah did not think that the gentiles were either deserving of G-d's mercy or capable of repenting. He was proved wrong.

Nineveh is the capital city or the Assyrian empire. In 625 BC, Babylon won independence, destroyed Nineveh and in 612 BC brought the Assyrian empire to an end. They prospered another 140 years after they repented.

Jewish tradition says that the book was written after the Babylonian captivity by one of the "Men of the Great Assembly," a group of sages who wrote and taught the people after the exile.

Micah

735 – 700 B.C.

Southern Kingdom

After Isaiah in the days of Ahaz

Micah was contemporary of Isaiah and was to the southern kingdom what Amos was to the northern kingdom

Judgment and Deliverance

Micah’s message is about regeneration of Israel’s remnant through judgment. The Judgment of G-d is always tempered by his mercy. Even with the deterioration of the nation, the establishment of the kingdom of G-d in the line of David is sure because it is a promise made by G-d. The faithful remnant will be regathered. The conversion of the nations through that kingdom and the deliverer who will come out of Jerusalem.

2) Assyrian Decline

Nahum

620 B.C.

Gentiles

(Ninivah one century after Jonah)

The Judgment of Ninivah

The book of Nahum was written approximately 140 years after the recorded events in the book of Jonah. Nineveh has turned from its repentance and has taken Israel captive. Jonah’s mission resulted in repentance. Nahum is sent to proclaim a message of doom upon Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. They who were once used as G-d’s tool against the people of Israel and Jerusalem. Now they will be destroyed because of their great wickedness.

Habakkuk

620 – 605 B.C.

Southern Kingdom (Between Jeremiah and Obediah)

A dialogue with G-d

Habakkuk tries to come to grips with being a righteous man among an unrighteous people. He begins by complaining of injustice in Judah and his inability to understand G-d’s failure to judge the wicked and morally depraved nation of Babylon. Habakkuk is shown that G-d’s people must continue to trust in his mercy regardless of the circumstances about them. The wicked appear to prosper while the righteous are chastened. He knows that this prosperity of the wicked is only temporary. G-d will not abandon those who obey and follow his commandments: "the just shall live by faith (Hab. 2.4)".

Zaphaniah

635 – 615 B.C.

Southern Kingdom

During the days of Menassa

G-d's approaching judgement

Zephaniah prophesied during King Josiah’s reign. He was responsible for a great religious reform. This reform followed the wicked reigns of Manasseh and Amon, who led the nation into various forms of idolatry. It is an interesting context for Zephaniah to pronounce inescapable judgments against Jerusalem for their sins. Leadership is held responsible for leading the people astray but Josiah's reforms are too late.

3) Postexilic

Haggai

520 B.C.

The Remnant

Consequences of disobedience

Haggai's four messages were given during a four-month period in 520 B.C.. He was contemporary with Zechariah. Both Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jews who had returned to Judah from their captivity in Babylon to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 5:1–2; 6:14). Haggai exhorts them to "consider their ways" and to complete the Temple whose foundation had been laid 18 years before. (The people responded and the Temple was completed in 516 B.C.) Haggai further pronounces that pagan empires will be overthrown by G-d and Judah will be elevated during the time of the Messiah. (ref)

Zechariah

520 – 490 B.C.

The Remnant

Rebuilding of the Temple

Zechariah was a younger contemporary of Haggai. He also encouraged the people to rebuild the Temple. Like Daniel this book contains Apocalyptic visions. It contains detailed references to the coming Messiah. The book concludes with descriptions of the enemies of Jerusalem being judged and of the future glory of G-d’s kingdom.

Malachi

430 B.C.

The Remnant

Life after the Exile

Malachi’s message comes to the people in a time of great spiritual decline. It is approximately 80 years after the rebuilding of the temple and the promises of the coming Messiah have not yet been realized. As a result, the people had become lax and had an increasingly casual attitude toward G-d and worship. Malachi states that their sacrifices were unacceptable to G-d, husbands were unfaithful, and the priests had neglected G-d’s covenants.