Prophets in Judaism
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According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses of Judaism (Hebrew: נְבִיאִים Nəvīʾīm, Tiberian: Năḇīʾīm, "Prophets", literally "spokespersons").[1][2][3] 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 (mid-5th century BCE) at which time the "Shechinah departed from Israel".[4][5]
Rabbinic tradition
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According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses who prophesied to Israel.[2][3]
The 46 prophets to Israel (46 according to Rashi, commentary on Tractate Megillah 14a)
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The 7 prophetesses to Israel
[edit]Additional prophets
[edit]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]
On one occasion during the Exodus journey, "the spirit which was upon Moses" was passed to seventy elders, who were also able to prophecy for one time only, but mostly they could not prophecy again.[10] When Eldad and Medad continued to prophecy, Moses expressed the hope that "all the LORD's people" could be prophets.[11]
Prophets to other nations
[edit]The Talmud lists 7 prophets to the nations of the world (Gentiles, goyim):[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Khan, Geoffrey (2020). The Tiberian Pronunciation Tradition of Biblical Hebrew, Volume 1. Open Book Publishers. ISBN 978-1783746767.
- ^ a b "Megillah 14a, the William Davidson Talmud (Koren - Steinsaltz)". Sefaria. 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ a b Scherman, Nosson. The Stone Edition Tanach. Mesorah Publications, Limited. p. 2038.
- ^ Klenicki, Leon; Wigoder, Geoffrey, eds. (1995). A Dictionary of the Jewish-Christian Dialogue. Paulist Press. p. 167.
- ^ Light of Prophecy Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America/National Conference of Synagogue Youth (1990), p6.
- ^ Talmud, Tractate Megillah 14a
- ^ Why Isn't the Book of Daniel Part of the Prophets? from Chabad.org, footnote 2
- ^ Talmud Megilla 14a
- ^ 1 Samuel 10-13
- ^ Numbers 11:25
- ^ Numbers 11:26–29
- ^ Bava Batra 15b