Why are some .....

Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel prophesied for and against the leaders of Israel throughout their lives and their books cover most of their adult lives.

While Jonah apparently was a lifelong prophet as well (see 2 Kings 14:25) his only major prophetic event was his ministry to Ninevah, and he quite obviously did not want to do it.

Though we describe Daniel as a "prophet" and include his work in the minor books, Jewish scholars do not. His is lumped together with what they call "The Writings" which also include the Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs. Some such scholars also include Ruth and Esther in that mix.

Essentially, the Minor Prophets' books center on one specific prophetic event in their lives. Some were also lifelong prophets but felt compelled only to write one book regarding a specific event.

Amos was a farmer and was called out of Judah to prophecy destruction to Israel. That seems to have been his only prophetic assignment and he apparently went back to his farm afterwards.

He is an exception, however. Most of the others spent their lives in service to the Lord as His prophet. They just didn't feel the need to record all their work.

It is obvious from the "Big Three" writings that their prophecies were important, and charted a course for Israel.

 

In the Hebrew bible the "minor prophets" were known as the "twelve" and probably were contained in a single scroll.

To further confuse the issue, there are the early prophets and the later prophets.

Joshua, Judges, Kings and Samuel are the "early prophets" in the Hebrew canon.

Rob

 

I got home and looked thing up.

Minor correction not "early prophets" but "former prophets".

Rob

 

The terms major and minor are modern day references to the size of the books. Major prohphets are the books that are much larger than the minor books which often have very few chapters.