Prophets in Judaism

According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses of Judaism.[1][2] The last Jewish prophet is believed to have been Malachi. In Jewish tradition it is believed that the period of prophecy, called Nevuah, ended with Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi at which time the "Shechinah departed from Israel".[3][4]

Rabbinic tradition

According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses.[5][1]

The 48 prophets to Israel

  1. Abraham  Hebrew patriarch according to the Bible
  2. Isaac  Biblical patriarch
  3. Jacob  Regarded as a Patriarch of the Israelites, later given the name Israel
  4. Moses  Abrahamic prophet said to have led the Israelites out of Egypt
  5. Aaron  Prophet, high priest, and the brother of Moses in the Abrahamic religions
  6. Joshua  Central figure in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Joshua
  7. Phinehas  Biblical priest and prophet who opposed the heresy of Peor
  8. Eli  High priest of Shiloh in ancient Israel
  9. Elkanah  Husband of Hannah and father of Samuel in the Books of Samuel
  10. Samuel  Biblical prophet who plays a key role in the establishment of the Israelite monarchy
  11. Gad  Seer or prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible
  12. Natan  Person in the Hebrew Bible
  13. David  Biblical figure; third king of the United Monarchy of Israel and Judah
  14. Ahijah the Shilonite  Biblical prophet
  15. Solomon  Biblical figure; king of the United Kingdom of Israel
  16. Shemaiah  Bible prophet credited with preventing a war between the divided kingdoms of Rehoboam and Jeroboam
  17. Iddo  Minor biblical prophet
  18. Obadiah  Biblical prophet to whom authorship of the Book of Obadiah is attributed
  19. Jehu  Biblical prophet and son of Hanani
  20. Oded  Father of Azariah the prophet
  21. Azariah  Biblical prophet credited with persuading King Asa of Judah to carry out reforms
  22. Hanani  Biblical character
  23. Jahaziel  Meaning of Jahaziel in the Bible
  24. Eliezer
  25. Elijah  Biblical prophet
  26. Elisha  Prophet and wonder-worker in the Hebrew Bible
  27. Micaiah  Biblical prophet, disciple of Elijah
  28. Jonah  Biblical and Quranic prophet
  29. Amos  Hebrew prophet
  30. Hosea  Biblical character
  31. Amoz  Father of Isaiah
  32. Isaiah  Israelite prophet
  33. Micah  Prophet in Judaism
  34. Joel  Abrahamic prophet, author of Book of Joel
  35. Zephaniah  Person in the bible
  36. Nahum  Minor prophet in the Bible
  37. Habakkuk  Prophet of the Hebrew Bible
  38. Urijah  Biblical prophet, son of Shemaiah
  39. Jeremiah  Biblical prophet
  40. Ezekiel  Prophet in the Abrahamic religions
  41. Mehseiah  Minor figure in the Hebrew Bible
  42. Neriah  Biblical figure, father of Baruch and Seraiah
  43. Baruch ben Neriah  Biblical character, friend of prophet Jeremiah
  44. Seraiah
  45. Haggai  Hebrew prophet
  46. Zechariah  Biblical prophet
  47. Mordechai Bilshan  Biblical figure
  48. Malachi  Traditional writer of the Book of Malachi

The 7 prophetesses to Israel

  1. Sarah  Biblical character
  2. Miriam  Sister of Moses and Aaron
  3. Deborah  Prophetess in the Bible
  4. Hannah  Biblical prophetess, traditional author of the Song of Hannah, mother of Samuel
  5. Abigail  Wife of King David in the Bible
  6. Huldah  Biblical character
  7. Esther  Biblical Jewish queen of Persia and Medes

Additional prophets

Although the Talmud states that only “48 prophets and 7 prophetesses prophesied to Israel”,[6] it does not mean that there were only 55 prophets. The Talmud challenges this with other examples, and concludes by citing a Baraita tradition that the number of prophets in the era of prophecy was double the number of Israelites who left Egypt (600,000 males). The 55 prophets are recorded, because they made prophecies that have eternal relevance for future generations and not just for their own generation, or own ecstatic encounter with God.[7][8] Hebrew scripture makes references to groups of such ecstatic prophets, for example concerning King Saul:

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another: ‘What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?’ 12 And one of the same place answered and said: ‘And who is their father?’ Therefore it became a proverb: ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’ 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.[9]

Prophets to other nations

The Talmud lists 7 prophets to the nations of the world (gentiles):[10]

  1. Balaam  Prophet
  2. Beor  Biblical figure, father of Balaam
  3. Job  Biblical figure
  4. Eliphaz  Biblical figure, an associate of Job
  5. Bildad  Biblical figure, an associate of Job
  6. Zophar  Biblical figure, an associate of Job
  7. Elihu  Biblical figure, an associate of Job

See also

References

  1. Scherman, Nosson. The Stone Edition Tanach. Mesorah Publications, Limited. p. 2038.
  2. Megillah 14a and glosses ad loc.
  3. A Dictionary of the Jewish-Christian Dialogue, Paulist Press (1995), p167.
  4. Light of Prophecy Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America/National Conference of Synagogue Youth (1990), p6.
  5. Megillah 14a and glosses ad loc.
  6. Talmud, Tractate Megillah 14a
  7. Why Isn't the Book of Daniel Part of the Prophets? from Chabad.org, footnote 2
  8. Talmud Megilla 14a
  9. 1 Samuel 10-13
  10. Bava Batra 15b
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