sage differed from that of Amos in coupling the graciousness of God with the certainty of doom. He makes use of a wonderfully pathetic figure of an unfaithful wife (chapter 1) and compares the husband's continued affection with the readiness with which God forgives.

The book is somewhat disconnected and the style is tender and emotional. It contains a large number of frequently quoted passages.

ISAIAH

While Jeroboam II was reigning in the northern kingdom Uzziah was king of Judah. This kingdom likewise enjoyed a period of prosperity. Uzziah was succeeded by Jotham and Ahaz, weak monarchs, and then came Hezekiah, a ruler who showed considerable strength of character. It was during the latter part of this period that Isaiah did his prophetic work. (It is no part of this book to go into technical discussions of authorship, but it may be said that it is the opinion of scholars that the Isaiah mentioned here had to do with chapters 1-39, and that the remaining chapters relate to a second Isaiah who lived considerably later.)

The message of Isaiah was very similar to those of Amos and Hosea, but he seemed to have been a man of considerable influence at court. He was a member of the upper classes and a writer of great literary charm. Chapter 5 begins with a parable and concludes with a remarkably powerful piece of oratory. In chapter 11 he sees a vision of a time which is to come and sets it forth in strong and beautiful language. Read also chapters 26 and 32 in this connection. The remainder of the book is made up largely of denunciations of the enemies of Judah.

MICAH

This prophet was associated with Isaiah. He was a

somewhat younger man and was born in the country, while Isaiah came from the city. His message was chiefly directed against the social shortcomings of Israel and Judah. His experiences as a peasant had embittered him against the rich and powerful, whom he represents as skinning and eating the poor-language which is not entirely unfamiliar at the present day. He has a clear vision of the future, the best illustration of which is, perhaps, his reference to Bethleliem (5.2). A noteworthy passage frequently quoted is found in 4. 4.

A part of 6. 8 is said to have been Theodore Roosevelt's favorite passage: "What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

CHAPTER IX

THE LATER PREEXILIC PROPHETS

ZEPHANIAH

AFTER Micah no prophetic voice was heard for about seventy-five years. During the reign of Manassehabout 698-643-there was a period of open persecution of the worshipers of Jehovah. This situation continued during the reigns of Amon and Josiah. Zephaniah appeared about 625. He was a prince of royal blood and probably a companion of Jeremiah. He predicts a "day of Jehovah" in which Israel and all other nations shall be tried by fires of purification. At the conclusion of his message there is a strong note of encouragement for Zion, and a clear vision of restoration to prosperity. In 1. 15 he refers to a "day of wrath, a day... " upon which was based Celano's famous hymn, "Dies irae."

NAHUM

This prophet has left us a short book of three chapters devoted almost exclusively to the fall of the As syrian capital, Nineveh. In the first chapter he contrasts God's goodness to his own people with his wrath against his enemies. Note verse 7.

HABAKKUK

This book has a high literary value, reminding one strikingly of Job in certain passages. He discusses the age-long question of the prosperous state of the wicked, and comes to the conclusion that time alone will adjust matters satisfactorily (2. 3). Chapter 3 may be compared with Job 41. A beautiful passage frequently used in ritualistic services is found in 2. 20.

JEREMIAH

The story of Jeremiah as written down in his prophecy is most interesting. It is too long to be outlined here, but the student should read enough of it to get the style and become familiar with the principal events. He was, perhaps, confronted with more difficult problems than any other of the prophets. He was ardently patriotic, but his clear vision convinced him that a policy of nonresistance to Babylon was the only proper one. Although of aristocratic family, he was not above the employment of many curious methods of popular appeal. The first part of chapter 5 reminds us somewhat of the methods of Diogenes. Note his fiery denunciations of Judah and his frequent diffi culties with the rulers. It is scarcely to be wondered that he has become the synonym of pessimism. Note the various types employed beginning with chapter 13. His troubles with the rulers culminate with the coming of the Babylonians, when Zedekiah asks him to pray for deliverance. Jeremiah shows his real patriotism by his assistance to his people when vanquished.

There are but few passages in Jeremiah which are of pronounced literary value. The following are noteworthy 6. 14; 8. 22; 13. 23; 31. 15.

CHAPTER X

THE PROPHETS OF THE EXILE

EZEKIEL

THE deportation of the two tribes into Babylon was a unique experience in their history. They were not treated as slaves as in the days of Egyptian bondage, but were given tracts of fertile land and opportunity for economic development. The Jews, however, were poorly equipped for a life of this kind. In so far as they had adhered to the true God they had come to associate religious worship with the city of Jerusa lem, and their failure to adjust themselves to their new conditions was voiced in the pathetic Psalm, “How can we sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?"

Among the exiles was the prophet Ezekiel, who gave intermittent messages to the people for more than twenty years. His writings consist of visions, parables, and glimpses of a universal acknowledgment of the supremacy of Jehovah. The book makes but little contribution to literature, and has but one frequently quoted proverbial passage (18. 2). Read chapters 33 and 38 as specimens of his best style.

THE SECOND ISAIAH

It is the opinion of most modern biblical scholars that the portion of the book of Isaiah beginning with chapter 40 was not written by the author of the first thirty-nine chapters. It is thought that the second Isaiah may have been a captive in Babylon during the latter part of the exile. There are certain indications that several writers were concerned with this work. Although written at a later period, it supplements admirably the vision of the first Isaiah.