The Hebrew Prophets:Architects of a Moral Universe

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Seeing the prophets on their own terms and in their own historical context is daunting (often we lack the reference points for such a journey). Abraham Heschel, The Prophets (1962) and Norman Podhoretz The Prophets (2002), are two valiant attempts and through them we see our shortcomings in understanding the prophets. Heschel, a liberal, emphasized the prophets’ stand on social justice issues, especially toward the most vulnerable in society (as I will do below), a position that animates modern progressives. Podhoretz, a social conservative, saw the prophets as more concerned with preserving traditional culture, especially the Temple system. Above all, the prophets, according to him, sought to root out all vestiges of idolatry. Both works are immensely valuable, since the prophets are broad enough and sweeping enough to accommodate many modern interpretations. Taking the prophets out of the Early Iron Age and transplanting them in our time, though, to reinforce a current political perspective, is similar to taming a beautiful, wild bird. Our concerns, values, and perspectives color all efforts, howevers incere. Yet the prophets continue to speak to the modern world and people continue to listen. Are we that different from the Hebrew prophets and their culture? I will discuss the value system that nurtured these remarkable individuals and inspired their messages. Though these powerful voices come from what is for us a murky, distant past, we know more about their cultural context than ever before.