Social World of the Hebrew Prophets [Paperback]

Victor H. Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Social World of the Hebrew Prophets is an introduction to the Hebrew Prophets and the social world of which they spoke. Matthews examines ancient IsraelÂ’s prophets chronologically, providing sketches of their historical contexts. He explains pertinent aspects of historical geography, economic conditions, and social forces that influence a prophetÂ’s life and message. This analysis includes many of the images and metaphors a prophet used to communicate effectively. Thus, for example, the reader only skims the surface of a text without understanding what it meant to be a member of TekoaÂ’s community of hill country farmers and herders, or what an exiled Levite from Anathoth experienced as a prophet in Jerusalem.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Victor H. Matthews is professor of religious studies at Southwestern Missouri State University. He received a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and has written numerous popular as well as scholarly articles. He is the author of Manners and Customs in the Bible, and co-author of Old Testament Parallels: Laws and Stories from the Ancient Near East, and The Social World of Ancient Israel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hendrickson Pub (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565634179
• ISBN-13: 978-1565634176
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Weak on Delivery, August 18, 2003

By 

Byron G. Curtis (Beaver Falls, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Social World of the Hebrew Prophets (Paperback)

The promising title of Victor Matthew's book leads this reader to disappointment. There has been a good deal of sociological and social-world research on the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in the last 25 years; precious little of it shows up in this book on the Israelite and Judean prophets.

After the requisite introductory materials on the definition of "prophet" and the like, the book settles in to offer primarily thematic treatment of the individual prophetic books, with occasional light excursions into history, historical geography, archaeology and the prominently-promised social world of these writers and rhetors of ancient Israel. Social world topics include very brief treatments of cognitive dissonance theory, the "egalitarian" ideal found in many prophetic books, and a somewhat more developed treatment of "enacted prophecy."

The topical treatment prevails. The Isaiah chapter, for example, offers section-headings like "Isaiah's Call," "Oracles of Warning," "Political Message," and "The Remnant." The "Oracles of Warning" section does contain a helpful discussion of the geographical and agricultural background to the famous "Song of the Vineyard" (Is a 5:1-7). This is one of the more interesting sections of the book.

Often the treatment is quite brief: Haggai and Zechariah together get four pages; Joel gets about 2.

The book seems to be intended for the lay-level or freshmen-level audience, but the title probably finds little appeal within that audience. Theologically, the book seeks a middle ground between historical-critical skepticism and conservative Protestant faith.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So much more can be said!, January 4, 2005

By 

Robert Spender (Lancaster, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Social World of the Hebrew Prophets (Paperback)

Matthews's book is primarily a discussion of the historical times of the biblical prophets. Unlike similar books, Matthews begins with a brief but interesting outline of historical geography, which surprisingly is not integrated into the book. After a summary of the nature of Hebrew prophets the rest of the book moves through the canon from Moses to the post-exilic period. The book includes brief highlights of key topics and a glossary of key terms highlighted in the text. Both are great ideas but neither are strong features. Often the accentuated topics are no more than a list of related verses on the same issue or a parallel from ancient Near Eastern literature while glossary definitions are so brief they appear disconnected from the text.

Less emphasis upon the social world is found than expected by the title. The book provides a discussion of the basic message and the historical situation of each prophet with some emphasis upon well-known social concerns (justice) but far less on topics like international tensions, class struggles, or economic backgrounds.

One strength of Matthews is his handling of symbolism, which comes out in his discussion of Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard, (84-88), the symbolic use of clothing (93), and the city gate, (120). But over all, the book provides neither a strong discussion of the prophets nor their social setting.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, January 10, 2012

By 

William D. Rupe "Geezer" (Hesperia, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Social World of the Hebrew Prophets (Paperback)

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