The Prophets (Perennial Classics)

This is a must read for those engaging in a deep dive into biblical prophecy and its leading proponents.

Fantastic and insightful read. Highly recommend for someone wanting a classical perspective of the pre-exilic prophets. The book is divided into two parts. The first half is composed of chapters which are general commentaries on the individual books of the pre-exilic prophets (Dr. Herschel also covers the second half is Isaiah which he dates as post-exilic). The second half contains chapters of topical discussions probing the prophetic mindset and culminating in a defense of the Hebrew prophetic revelation as an unprecedented and incomparable ancient phenomenon. Highly recommended for the in-depth Bible reader

I was searching for a book that delved into the topic of the Old Testament prophet's experience. How did he view his calling? How did he feel about what he was doing? What was it like internally to speak on God's behalf? Heschel delves deep into this vane of thought. He compares God's prophets to the false prophets. He compares them to prophets from various pagan religions. With a fine tooth comb he separates the nits from the scalp and delivers an intriguing, soul searching, and inspiring look into the heart and mind of an Old Testament prophet. I've not read anything else like it. Best book I've read in a decade.

The first part of the book was wonderful--and I see why this is a classic in the field that anyone interested in the Prophets- or prophecy itself - would do well to read. He opens up the relationship the prophets had with God and with the people-- a very moving picture of the pathos of God. My only caveat is that in the second half of the book when he is speaking about mysticism, he makes the mistake many activists make. He assumes that all mystics are just interested in their own personal experiences and journey with God. I don't know enough about Jewish mysticism to speak much here- so maybe he is only intending to write about his own tradition - but in Christianity, one of the primary ways mystical experiences are tested for their genuineness is by their fruit. Theresa of Avila-- herself a mystic/reformer/activist/writer - said that if the experiences did not bear the fruit of increased love and service to others then they were not to be trusted. Christian mysticism in never just about the individual- increased love of God and intimacy with God is seen as enhancing love of neighbor. I would be surprised if Jewish mysticism did not also have that caveat- as so much of the richness of Christian spirituality is rooted in Jewish soil, which is also founded in loving God and one's neighbor as oneself..

A man who writes beautifully and intellectually. His books are a gift to the reader. I am a Catholic lay member of the Dominican Order. We place great emphasis upon scholarship as we seek Truth and Wisdom where ever she is to be discovered. As an avid student of Judaism, Abraham Joshua Heschel has become a major recourse for my studies.

This is still, despite the years that have passed since its first publication, an eloquent and heartfelt examination of one of the most beautiful and influential parts of the Jewish Bible. It presents many insights into these ancient and sometimes mystifying texts. The section on the nature of divine anger is particularly useful for the modern reader, who may find this aspect of the prophetic texts off-putting. The book is in a sense a treatise on the evils of moral indifference and complacency, and it is no surprise to realize that the morality presented in the Prophets motivated Heschel to become active in the civil rights movement.

I am presently studying Hosea, so this book has given me a good interpretation vs that of the Bible. Background history of the subject, is always good to have when you are reading the Bible

Before reading The Prophets by Abraham Heschel, I had thought of the writings of the Prophets as angry diatribes against the people they were intended for, but Heschel sees these men, on the one hand, as passionate lovers of God who must relate to their people the wrath of God and the consequences of their behavior, and on the other hand, vulnurable human beings themselves whose compassion for these same people moves them to beg God for mercy, for one more chance. One is also able to see, through Heschel's eyes, the tremendous love of God for these same people and even though they bring their troubles on themselves, God is always compassionate, forgiving, and eternally loving. Abraham Heschel's writings are not only profound and moving but also written in a flowing prose style that attracts the modern reader. I heartily recommend this book to fans of Heschel as well as to those who might see the Old Testament as a book of judgment and condemnation. Heschel will cure you of that.