Minor Prophets: Thematic Structure

I stated in an earlier post on the Minor Prophets, "If you have ever looked into Minor Prophet studies you’ll find an interesting truth. These twelve prophets are always in one scroll, thus often called The Book of the Twelve.”

The basic Prophetic Structure follows as such.

The pre-exilic prophets: warn of impending judgment

The exilic prophets: assure the people that God would restore them to the land.

The post-exilic prophets: assure the people that God would deal with the restored community according to the same principles.

Furthermore all Prophets contain the following:

• Warning of impending judgment because of the nations sinfulness
• Description of the sin
• Description of the coming judgment
• A call for repentance
• A promise of future deliverance

I want to propose another means of grasping the book of the 12 as in its current order.

PRE-EXILE Hosea 750 Joel 830 Amos 760 Obadiah 840 Jonah 780 Micah 740 Nahum 640 Habakkuk 608 Zephaniah 640 POST-EXILE Haggai 520 Zechariah 520 Malachi 420

NAME MEANING Salvation Yahweh is God Burden-Bearer Servant of Lord Dove Who is like unto the Lord Consolation Embrace Yahweh-hides My Feast Yahweh remembered My messenger

TO Israel Judah Israel Edom Nineveh Judah Nineveh Judah Judah Judah Judah Judah

Covenant Sin Covenant Punishment Covenant Restoration

MESSAGE Sinfulness of Israel Judgment on God’s people Sinfulness of Israel Sinfulness of the World Judgement on All people Sinfulness of God’s people Sinfulness of the World Providence / protection Providence / restoration Restoration of worship Restoration of presence Restoration of accusation

As seen in this newest chart that i've developed, there is clear reasoning for the order of the 12. As you may notice they are not grouped chronologically, nor receptionally. I believe that we get clarity to the order once we look at the topics of the text. So in the last post on the book of the 12 I proposed 3 points of covenant to the book. But for my friends who want a more specific breakdown, I think the messages give us the best picture. 

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