Introduction to the Latter Prophets

The Latter Prophets period falls between the 8th and 5th centuries BC, overlapping with the final centuries of the Former Prophets period. The Latter Prophets were literate individuals who recorded and preserved their own messages or instructed scribes to do so. The books of the Latter Prophets are divided into two sections: the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets. There are three books categorized as Major Prophets. This doesn’t imply they are more important, but simply that they are longer in length.

These three Major Prophets are:

1 Isaiah: Comprising a total of sixty-six chapters, the Book of Isaiah actually contains two parts, written by authors living in different periods. The first thirty-nine chapters were written by Isaiah son of Amoz, a figure from the latter half of the 8th century BC. The remaining chapters are referred to as Second Isaiah (Deutero-Isaiah) and are widely believed to have been written by one or more unnamed authors who lived during the Jewish exile in Babylon (after 586 BC). Although it would be more logical to separate Isaiah into two books, when the Hebrew Bible was later compiled, both parts were combined into a single, complete volume.

The Book of Isaiah is filled with the prophet’s concern over the sins of the Jewish people and his warnings of God’s impending judgment. Isaiah strongly urged the Jews to separate themselves spiritually and politically from the surrounding nations, to cease idol worship, maintain pure religious practices, and pursue social justice. The chapters belonging to Second Isaiah further foretell a time when there will be no more wars among humanity, and all nations will enjoy eternal peace and harmony. This day of peace will come when God’s people are willing to obey and follow God’s laws.

2 Jeremiah: This book prophesied and later witnessed the destruction of the Temple and the land of Israel, as well as the Babylonian exile of the Jews. It teaches about God’s strong demands for ethics and morality. It also records the prophet Jeremiah’s profound lament over the tragic fate of the Jewish people and conveys comfort and hope to the exiles.

3 Ezekiel: This book records prophecies that occurred during the Jewish exile in Babylon. Its verses are filled with sorrow over the sins of the Jewish people and the destruction of Jerusalem, while also offering comfort and admonition regarding the future. Ezekiel was a visionary prophet who spoke what God allowed him to see, foretelling the rebuilding of the land of Israel for the Jewish people. This book particularly emphasizes the Temple, the priesthood, sacrificial rituals, and the exalted status these three would regain after the Jews returned to Judea.

In the Hebrew Bible, according to Jewish tradition, the books are divided into three categories: the Torah (Pentateuch), the Prophets, and the Writings*. The Prophets are further divided into the Earlier Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Prophets).

*The Book of Lamentations and the Book of Daniel are categorized as Writings in the Hebrew Bible but are grouped with the Major Prophets in Greek translations.