Abram’s Counsel to Sarai (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot)

Prophets In Judaism

Prophets In Judaism

Here is the list of the prophets in Judaism.

The 48 prophets and seven prophetesses of Judaism, according to Rashi. 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”.

Prophets

According to the Talmud, there were 48 prophets and seven prophetesses.

The 48 Jewish prophets

Abram’s Counsel to Sarai (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot)

Abram’s Counsel to Sarai (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot)

  1. Abraham
  2. Isaac
  3. Jacob
  4. Moses
  5. Aaron
  6. Joshua
  7. Phineas
  8. Elkanah
  9. Eli
  10. Samuel (Shmu’el, שמואל)
  11. Gad
  12. Nathan
  13. David
  14. Solomon
  15. Iddo
  16. Michaiah son of Imlah
  17. Obadiah or Ovadyah [עובדיה]
  18. Aisling prophet of Carmel
  19. Ahijah the Shilonite
  20. Jehu son of Hanani
  21. Azariah son of Oded
  22. Jahaziel the Levite
  23. Eliezer son of Dodavahu
  24. Hosea or Hoshea [הושע]
  25. Amos [עמוס]
  26. Micah the Morashtite or Mikhah [מיכה]
  27. Amoz
  28. Elijah

    The bears savaging the youths at Elisha's command, while Elijah is borne in the flying chariot (1453 French manuscript).

    The bears savaging the youths at Elisha’s command, while Elijah is borne in the flying chariot (1453 French manuscript).

  29. Elisha
  30. Jonah son of Amittai or Yonah [יונה]
  31. Isaiah (Yeshayahu [ישעיהו])
  32. Joel or Yo’el [יואל]
  33. Nahum or Nachum [נחום]
  34. Habakkuk or Habaquq [חבקוק]
  35. Zephaniah or Tsefania [צפניה]
  36. Uriah
  37. Jeremiah
  38. Ezekiel
  39. Shemaiah
  40. Baruch
  41. Neriah
  42. Seraiah
  43. Mehseiah
  44. Haggai [חגי]
  45. Zechariah Zekharia [זכריה]
  46. Malachi or Malakhi [מלאכי]
  47. Mordecai Bilshan
  48. Oded
  49. Hanani

The seven prophetesses to Israel

  1. Sarah
  2. Miriam
  3. Deborah
  4. Hannah
  5. Abigail
  6. Huldah
  7. Esther

Additional prophets

Although the Talmud states that only “48 prophets and 7 prophetesses prophesied to Israel”, 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. 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.

Prophets to other nations

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

  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

Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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