The term prophet had a wide meaning among the Israelites, since it also included people like Abraham, Moses, and Miriam. That is why some so-called historical books are often called the early prophets. Jewish traditions hold that there were 48 male prophets, and seven female prophets, Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. Others have recognized Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah as female prophets also. Thus, there is a wide range of written prophetic books in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament. The Hebrew prophetic dominant message was a return to Yahweh and his laws. They were to protect the poor, the orphans, and the widows. Justice and righteousness dominate in their messages. Yahweh would judge them. Although some Israelites were sinners, they would have a bright future if they turned from their evil ways to Yahweh.
the orphans
Judgment against the wicked (Mal 3:5-3:5)
“‘Then I will draw near
To you
For judgment.
I will be swift
To bear witness
Against the sorcerers,
Against the adulterers,
Against those who swear falsely,
Against those who oppress
The hired workers
In their wages,
Against those who oppress
The widow
With the orphan,
Against those who thrust aside
The alien,
Against those who
Do not fear me.’
Says Yahweh of hosts.”
Yahweh was going to deliver his judgment against various wicked people. He was gong to bear a swift witness against them. Then he specifically mentioned them, the sorcerers, the adulterers, and the liars. He also would bear judgment against those who oppressed their hired workers, the widows, and the orphans. He also would bear witness against those people who did not treat aliens correctly or did not fear Yahweh. There was no ambiguity in what he was talking about.
True judgments (Zech 7:8-7:10)
“The word of Yahweh
Came to Zechariah,
Saying.
‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts.
Render true judgments!
Show kindness
To one another!
Show mercy
To one another!
Do not oppress
The widows!
Do not oppress
The orphans!
Do not oppress
The aliens!
Do not oppress
The poor!
Do not devise evil
In your hearts
Against one another!’”
This oracle of Yahweh came to Zechariah. Yahweh of hosts told him to tell the people that they should render true justice in the land, since they should show kindness and mercy toward each other. They were not to oppress the widows, the orphans, the aliens, and the poor people. They should not devise evil in their hearts against each other. This is good old be kind and nice to each other.
Amend your ways (Jer 7:5-7:7)
“If you truly amend your ways,
If you truly amend your doings,
If you truly execute justice,
One with another,
If you do not oppress the alien,
If you do not oppress the orphan,
If you do not oppress the widow,
If you do not shed innocent blood
In this place,
If you do not go after other gods
To your own hurt,
Then I will dwell
With you
In this place,
In the land that I gave of old
To your ancestors forever.”
Yahweh, via Jeremiah, says that he will dwell with them if they amend their ways. This was very conditional. It depended on them being just with one another. They were not to oppress the aliens, the orphans, and the widows. They were not to shed innocent blood. They were not to go after others gods. If they did all this, Yahweh would remain with them forever in this land that he gave to their ancestors.
False justice (Isa 10:1-10:4)
“Woe to you
Who make iniquitous decrees!
Woe to you
Who write oppressive statutes!
You turn aside
The needy from justice!
You rob the poor of my people
Of their right!
Widows may be your spoil!
You make the orphans your prey!
What will you do
On the day of punishment?
What will you do
In the calamity
That will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help?
Where will you leave your wealth?
Will you crouch among the prisoners?
Will you fall among the slain?
For all this
His anger has not turned away.
His hand is still stretched out.”
Isaiah then curses those who practice injustice, those who make evil decrees and oppressive statutes. He was against those who took away justice and robbed the poor people of their rights. These unjust people took stuff from the widows and the orphans as if they were taking spoil after a war or prey for an animal. What were they going to do on the punishment day? In troubles, who would help them? Where were they going to leave their wealth? They might end up as a prisoner or get killed. Once again, this little section ends with the refrain that the angry hand of Yahweh has not turned away, since it is still stretched out today.
Worthless money (Isa 1:22-1:23)
“Your silver has become dross.
Your wine is mixed with water.
Your princes are rebels.
They are the companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe.
They run after gifts.
They do not defend the orphans.
The widow’s cause does not
Come before them.”
Isaiah reminds the Israelites that their silver money in Jerusalem has become worthless scum dross. Their wine is not pure, since it is mixed with water, or watered down. The princes of Jerusalem have become rebels and companions of thieves. They love bribes and run after gifts. There is no one left to defend and help the orphans and the widows, which is so important for Israelite life.
The works of the wicked (Ps 94:4-94:7)
“They pour out their arrogant words.
All the evildoers boast.
They crush your people!
Yahweh!
They afflict your heritage.
They kill the widow.
They kill the stranger.
They murder the orphan.
They say.
‘Yahweh does not see.
The God of Jacob does not perceive.’”
Now the psalmist gives a description of what the wicked do. They pour out their arrogant words. They boast about their evil deeds. They crush the people of Yahweh’s heritage. They kill the widow, the stranger, and the orphans. Basically, they kill the weak people in society. They say that Yahweh does not see them. They proclaim that the God of Jacob does not perceive what is going on.
Help the weak and needy (Ps 82:3-82:4)
“Give justice to the weak.
Give justice to the orphan.
Maintain the right of the lowly.
Maintain the right of the destitute.
Rescue the weak.
Rescue the needy.
Deliver them
From the hand of the wicked.”
The Temple prophet or priest spoke for God, saying that they should give justice to the weak and the orphans, a common theme in Israel. They had to maintain the lowly and the destitute. They had to rescue the weak and the needy from the hands of the wicked, which seemed to take advantage of them.
Yahweh must bring justice (Ps 10:17-10:18)
“Yahweh!
You will hear the desire of the meek!
You will strengthen their heart!
You will incline your ear!
You will do justice for the orphans and the oppressed!
Thus those from the earth may strike terror no more.”
The psalmist wants Yahweh to hear the meek and strengthen their hearts. Listen to the cries for justice of the orphans and the oppressed. Get rid of the evil doers so that they cannot strike terror any more. The psalmist of David wanted justice for the oppressed. Get rid of the terrorists. That is a cry that we often hear today.
The lament of the poor (Ps 10:14-10:14)
“But you do see!
Indeed,
You note the trouble and the grief!
You may take it into your hands!
The helpless commit themselves to you.
You have been the helper of the orphans.”
However, Yahweh does see what is going on. He notes the trouble and the grief of the poor and the orphans. Yahweh has to take them into his own hands. The helpless rely on Yahweh because he has been a helper of the orphans. Yahweh always seems to help the weak ones.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 