REL 252: Study Guide 19

Harris: ch. 16

What is a prophet? What is the function of Israelite prophecy?

What is the relationship between a prophet & the king?

What is the relationship between a prophet & YHWH? (Think about both the c. 400 prophets and Micaiah ben Imlah.)

What do you make of the ecstatic frenzy under which prophets prophesy?
 

1 Kgs 18–19

What happens to Elijah because he’s a prophet? What does Elijah do? Why does the narrator have Elijah do what he does (hint: what other figure in Israelite history does the narrative evoke)?

1 Kgs 22

What is the role of a prophet? Is it different for the c. 400 prophets of YHWH at Ahab's disposal on the one hand & for Micaiah ben Imlah on the other (1 Kgs 22)?

Can prophets lie? If so or if not, what would that mean?

What do you make of the "evil wind/spirit of God/YHWH" in 1 Kgs. 22:23? Cf. Judg. 9:23; 1 Sam. 16:14; 1 Sam. 16:15; 1 Sam. 16:16; 1 Sam. 18:10; 1 Sam. 19:9.

Cf. 2 Kgs 2 (cf. Ex 15; Josh 3): Moses? Elisha the mean/powerful baldy?