This material is a summary of the views
of Claus Westermann

• Types of speech used by prophets
• • Accounts
  • • Biographical and autobiographical narratives about the prophet himself or his experiences
    • Usage
    • • Common method of transmitting prophetic word before the writing prophets - the narratives of Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha are prophetic accounts
      • Much less common in the 8^th century B.C.E. although the technique was still used (e.g., Hos. 1, Amos 7:10-17, Isa. 6, but none in Micah)
      • Frequent in later prophets (e.g., Jer. 18:1-11, 19, 27, 28; Ezek. 1-3, 24:15-18; Jonah 1-4)
  • Prophetic speeches (oracles)
  • • Word of God delivered by the prophet
    • • Judgment speech
      • Salvation speech
    • Usually poetic
    • Usage - basic prophetic speech form
  • Prayer
  • • Utterances of human to God
    • Two forms
    • • Lament (of evil situation) - e.g., Jer. 13:9-15, Ezek. 30
      • Praise (of good situation) - e.g., Isa. 42:10-13
    • Usage - became prominent after exile
• Relationship between prophetic speech and prophetic role
• • Three elements
  • • Speaker - prophet speaks but understands himself to be the bearer of God's message
    • Audience
    • • Israel - as an individual (usually king or priest), as a group (prophets, wise men, etc.), or as the whole nation
      • Other nations
    • Message - judgment or salvation
  • Prophetic role was one of "proclaimer" on behalf of another - the messenger formula ("thus says the LORD") indicates this understanding of the role
• Basic forms of prophetic speech
• • Judgment speech
  • • Audience - to individuals (JI - e.g., 1 Kings 21:18-19, Amos 7:16-17, Jer. 36:29-31) or to nations (JN - e.g., Amos 3:9-11, 4:1-2; Hos. 2:5-7; Isa. 8:6-8)
    • Forms
    • • JI (judgment against individual)
      • • SUMMONS TO HEAR
        • ACCUSATION
        • MESSENGER FORMULA
        • ANNOUNCEMENT OF JUDGMENT
      • JN (judgment against nation)
      • • REASON
        • • Accusation
          • Development of the Accusation
        • MESSENGER FORMULA
        • ANNOUNCEMENT
        • • Intervention of God
          • Results of God's Intervention
    • Use of form
    • • JN form developed from JI form
      • Both forms may be varied but the JN form, in particular, is frequently varied and expanded
    • Sitz im Leben ("setting in life") - disputed but probably is rooted in the legal process
    • Variants
    • • Woe oracle (e.g., Isa. 5:8-30, 28:1-31:9)
      • • Form:
        • • hoy ("Woe")
          • Announcement (participle describing subjects)
          • Accusation (participle phrase and explanatory sentence with finite verb describing offense)
        • Messenger formula is usually missing - thus, not originally a messenger speech
        • Sitz im Leben - the curse and wisdom settings have both been suggested but the most probable setting is the dirge (lament for the dead)
      • Legal procedure (e.g., Hos. 4:1-3, Isa. 1:18-20, Mic. 6:1-5)
      • • Form:
        • • Summons
          • Trial
          • Sentencing
        • God speaks directly as judge against nations or Israel
        • No messenger formula
        • Sitz im Leben - legal setting
      • Disputation (e.g., Mic. 2:6-11, Isa. 28:23-29)
      • • Form:
        • • Summons
          • Recitation of gracious acts
          • Accusation
          • Call to witness of covenant (heavens and earth)
        • Prophet vs. opponent (e.g., Mic. 2:6-11, Isa. 28:23-29) or God vs. His nation (e.g., Jer. 3:1-5)
        • No messenger formula
        • Sitz im Leben - probably legal setting in which one in the covenant issues a complaint or lawsuit against the offending member
      • Various other forms
      • • Parable (Isa. 5:1-7)
        • Lament (Amos 5:1-3, Jer. 9:17-22)
        • Prophetic Torah (Isa. 1:10-17, 8:11-15) - reproof and instruction
  • Salvation speech
  • • Audience - to nation typically
    • Forms
    • • Heilszusage ("assurance of salvation, oracle of salvation")
      • • Salvation is already completed (in perfect state in Hebrew) - may still be future but is regarded as if it had already occurred
        • Form:
        • • Direct Address (2^nd person singular)
          • Declaration of Salvation
          • • "Fear not"
            • Verbs in perfect state in Hebrew
          • Proclamation of Consequences (verbs in imperfect state in Hebrew)
        • Sitz im Leben - a priestly oracle in response to an individual lament
        • Examples - Isa. 41:8-13,14-16; 43:1-4,5-7; 44:1-5
      • Heilsankundigung ("announcement of salvation, proclamation of salvation")
      • • Salvation in the immediate future (in imperfect state in Hebrew)
        • • Announces concrete deliverance from a particular situation - not eschatological
          • Sometimes accompanied by a sign
          • Conditional - only if people believe - thus, sometimes it is not fulfilled
          • Tells Israel that a future is possible - gives a great deal of hope
        • Form:
        • • Cites or alludes to Lament
          • Announcement of Salvation (verbs in imperfect state in Hebrew)
          • Declaration of Purpose
        • Sitz im Leben - a prophetic response to a community lament
        • Examples - Isa. 7:7-14, 41:17-20, 42:14-17, 43:16-21
      • Heilsschilderung ("portrayal of salvation")
      • • Salvation in the distant future
        • • In a period of blessedness beyond the present age everything will be different
          • Characterized by blessedness and peace
          • Transcends historical reality
          • Salvation to all creation
        • Form - contrasts present with new, different, idealized future - apocalyptic
        • Sitz im Leben
        • • Not prophetic in origin
          • Ancient words of blessing and words of seers describing the future
        • Examples - Isa. 11:6-8, 65:17-25; Zech. 14