Bible Overview encompasses all of our Bible-related articles in one section. Bible Characters "Did you know" goes into detail about a Bible character we are studying either from that book in the Bible or from one of many stories in the Bible.

This month’s “Did you know” section focuses on the three Minor Prophets, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.

Did you know...

NAHUM

• Very little biographical information is known about any of these three prophets.
• Each wrote a book only three chapters in length.
• Nahum probably ministered first.
• His name appears once in the OT.
• His name probably means “consolation” or “comforter.”
• He is never called a prophet, but he was given an oracle or a vision.
• Some think his words aren’t prophecy at all, but liturgy – whether its festival or prophetic liturgy has yet to be determined.
• Nahum begins his book with an acrostic poem – the first letter of each line follows the Hebrew alphabet.
• His home was in Elkosh, although no one knows where that was.
• He lived during the height of the Assyrian empire.
• His message was basically an oracle against Nineveh.
• How difficult it must have been for him to predict the demise of Nineveh when the city was thriving and doing so well.

HABAKKUK

• Even less is known about Habakkuk than Nahum.
• Scholars aren’t even sure re: the etymology of his name.
• It has been variously translated as “embrace” or possibly “garden plant,”from an Accadian word.
• Regardless, it’s a foreign word, which might indicate the extent of foreign influence at that time.
• One legend has it that Habakkuk was the son of the Shunammite woman of 2 Kings. The connection is made through the word “embrace” in 2 Kings 4:16. “Thou shalt embrace a son….”
• Like Nahum, Habakkuk gives no date for his preaching.
• Habakkuk carried on a dialogue with God.
• When Habakkuk didn’t like God’s response, he let him know.
• His “striving” with God reminds scholars of Job.
• Habakkuk’s primary message was to remain faithful to Yahweh, to his sovereignty, to his justice even in the face of an enemy poised on his doorstep.
• He was determined to love God regardless of human circumstances.

ZEPHANIAH

• Zephaniah’s name might be derived from two words: Zaphon and Yah. Yah is an abbreviation of Yahweh. Zaphon was an important Canaanite god. The combination might mean that the real God that some called Zaphon was really Yahweh. Then others think Zaphon is simply a word for north.
• His name is thought to mean either “Yahweh hides” or “watchmen for the Lord.”
• Some think he was a priest; others think he had royal status.
• His name is common, used 10 times in the OT, but for at least four different people. Scholars argue whether any of those might be Zephaniah, the prophet, but no one knows for sure.
• His father’s name was Cushi, generally thought to refer to Cush (Ethiopia). Still, people think he was thoroughly Hebrew. But maybe there was some foreign influence in his family.
• He did prophesy during the days of Josiah, but no one knows whether it was early or late (most think it was early).
• His primary message was re:the Day of the Lord.
• This was to be a horrible day for Judah. Previously, they always thought of it as a day of judgment for everyone else, never for themselves.
• No doubt, his message was none too popular in Judah.
• But he provided a measure of hope at the end – for those who remained faithful.
• He believed that that time would come “before their eyes,” meaning before they died.
• Within fifty years, his predictions of judgment were fulfilled; restoration would take a little longer.

Bibliography

Craigie, Peter. “Twelve Prophets.” Daily Study Bible Series. Philadelphia, PA:      Westminster Press, 1984.

Gaebelein, Frank. “Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah.” Expositor’s Bible      Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1985.

Mills, Watson and Richard Wilson. Mercer Commentary on the Bible. Macon,
      GA: Mercer University Press, 1995.

Smith, Ralph. “Micah-Malachi.” Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas, TX: Word      Books, 1984.