Harris on Prophecy

• What two types of misconduct motivate the prophets to declare their messages?
• What is one difference in style between history ("the story of Israel's rise and fall") and prophecy?
• Identify some women prophets from the bible.
• What institution coincided with prophecy? Explain.
• Which prophet from Kings becomes the pattern of anti-authoritarianism?
• Give an example/description of an ecstatic prophet or an "incubation ritual."
• According to Jeremiah, how can you tell a true prophet from a false one?
• How does Zechariah advise mothers to nurture future prophets? Why?
• Post-exile writers replaced prophecy with Torah and Apocalyptic writers. Why?
• What were the three great crises to which prophets responded?
• Box 6:1 lists some prophetic themes. Explain one.
• Box 6:2 Lists some distinctive language prophets use. Identify and explain one.
• Box 6:3 How did Micah characterize greedy politicians?

Harris on Ezekiel and Isaiah (191-98)

• Harris says Ezekiel's book is dominated by four "strange, bewildering visions." Explain the second or the third.
• From where does Ezekiel get his language to describe God's throne chariot?
• Give an example of Ezekiel's "performance art."
• In what way does Ezekiel reject the teaching of Moses?
• Briefly describe Ezekiel's vision of rebirth in a "valley."
• Unlike First Isaiah (1-39),which is preoccupied with the Assyrian crises, what is Second Isaiah about? When were its oracles delivered?
• According to the anonymous prophet of Second Isaiah, through what political figure did God remain active in history?
• What insights does figure 6.8 give you into the events of Second Isaiah?
• To what does this prophet compare "mighty empires"?
• How does the "scapegoat" of Second Isaiah represent "a new development in biblical attitudes toward the meaning of suffering"?
• List two proposed identities of the Suffering Servant.