Rabbi Natasha Mann

Background of Micah Time:  8 th Century BCE                         Note: North falls in 722BCE, when Ahaz is on the Southern throne Place: Southern Kingdom Kings:  Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (Judah) Political Backdrop: ·        Northern and Southern kingdoms both still standing – Micah prophesies against both kingdoms ·        Approximately the same time as Isaiah Primary Themes of Micah: ·        Accusations and warnings, followed by messages of hope and redemption ·        Everyone is corrupt – even God’s prophets o    Social and religious sins are blended together ·        Judgment: Courtroom language o    God as: accuser, defendant, judge? o    Israel as accuser and defendant o    People of earth and the earth itself as the witnesses (Judges are themselves accused (chapter 3)) ·        What is redemption? Contradictory models presented Structure of Micah Content Verses Section I:

The Book of Jonah Background of Jonah Time:  Set: Pre-Northern Dispersion (Pre-722BCE); written: Persian Period Place: Travelling Kings:  Jeroboam II (786–746 BCE)? (II Kings 14:25) Political Backdrop: ·        Assyrians are primary political threat Primary Themes of Jonah: ·        Justice, Mercy, and the Power of Teshuvah ·        Universalism and Nationalism ·        Topsy-Turvy o    The prophet disobeys God; the foreign pagans obey o    Jonah runs from his mission, but is the most successful prophet in Jewish history ·        The Genre of Jonah o    Prophetic Literature? o    Satire? o    Parable? o    Meta-Prophetic Literature? Structure of Jonah Content Verses Section I: Jonah Flees Mission Chapter 1 Jonah is called 1:1-2 Jonah flees toward Tarshish God sends a tempest Gentile sailors interact with Jonah, cast him overboard, and worship God