In the first book of the Maccabees (ix, 17) the dis- continuance of the prophetic calling is considered as forming an important sera in Jewish history (see Ste- raann, />■ /'. rmino Prophetarum | Rost 17-j;; |), while at the same time an expectation of the renewal in future ages of prophetic gifts is avowed (1 .Mace iv, 16; \iv. 41). After the Babylonian exile the sacred writings were collected, which enabled every one to find the way of salvation; but the immediate revelations to the peo- ple o!' Israel were to cease for awhile, in order to raise a Btronger longing for the appearance of the Messiah, and to prepare for him a welcome reception. For the same reason the ark of the covenant had been taken away from the people. The danger of a complete apostasy, which in earlier times might have been incurred by this withdrawal, was not now to be apprehended. The ex- ternal worship of the Lord was so firmly established that no extraordinary helps were wanted. Taking also into consideration the altered character of the people, we may add that the time after the exile was more tit to pro- duce men Famed in I he law than prophets. I'm Fit
this period, the faithful ami the unbelieving were Btronglj opposed to each other, which excited the for* mer to great exertions. These relaxed when the oppo- sition ceased, and pious priests now took the place of prophets. The time after the exile is characterized by weakness and dependence; the people looked up to the past a i" a height which they could not gain: the earlier writings obtained unconditional authority, and the disposition for receiving prophetic gifts was lost. About a hundred years after the return from the Baby- lonian exile, i he prophetic profession ceased. The Jew- ish tradition uniformly states that after Haggai, Zech- ariah, and Mala, in no prophet arose a uj the Jews
till John the Baptist woke afresh the echoes of a long- lost inspiration as the prelude to a new dispensation. For its resumption under the New-Test, economy, see § x below.
•_>. Manner of Life <•/ iIh Prophets. — The prophets went about poorly and coarsely dressed (2 Ki not as a nun: piece of asceticism, bnt that their very apparel might teach what the people ought to do; it was a "sermo propheticus realis." Comp. 1 Kings xxi, 27, where Ahab does penance in the manner figured by the prophet: "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his el. .this, and put sackcloth upon his flesh and fasted" (see Nicolai, l>> Prophetarum Vestitu | Magdeb. 17 16 ; Zacharia, //. Prophetarum llnliitii \ Sodin, 1766 |). The general appearance and life
01 the prophet were very similar to those of the Eastern dervish at the present day. His dress was a hairy gar- ment, i^irt with a leathern girdle i Fa. x.\. 2; Zech. xiii, I: Matt iii. 1). He was married or unmarried as he- chose; but his manner of life ami diet were stern and austere (2 Kings iv, 10,38; 1 Kingsxix, 6; Matt iii, •I). Generally the prophets were not anxious to at- tract notice by ostentatious display; nor did they seek worldly wealth, most of them living in poverty and even want (1 Kings xiv, 3; 2 Kings iv, 1. 38, 1-': vi, 5). The decay of the congregation of God deeply chagrined them (comp. Micah vii, I, and many passages in Jeremiah). Insult, persecution, imprisonment, and death were often the reward of their godly life. The author of the Fpistle to the Hebrews says i.h. xi, 37) : "They were stoned, they Mere sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep-skin- and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented" (comp. Christ's speech. Matt xxiii, 29 sq. ; 2 Chron. xxiv, 17 sq.). The condition of the prophets, in their temporal humiliation, is vividly rep- resented in the lives of Elijah and Elisha in the hooks of the Kings; and Jeremiah concludes the description of his sufferings in the 20th chapter by cursing the day of his birth. Repudiated by the world in which they were aliens, they typified the life of him whose appearance they announced, ami whose spirit dwelt in them. They figured him, however, not only in his low- ness, but in his elevation. The Ford stood by them, gave evidence in their favor by fulfilling their predic- tions, frequently proved by miracles that they were his own messengers, or retaliated on their enemies the in- jury done them. The prophets addressed the people of both kingdoms: they were not confined to particular places, but prophesied when- it was required. For this reason they were most numerous in capital towns, es- pecially in Jerusalem, where they generally spoke in the Temple. Sometimes their advice was asked, and then their prophecies take the form of answers to ques- tions submitted to them | Fa. xxxvii ; Ezek. \x : Zech. vii). Hut much more frequently they fell themselves inwardly moved to address the people without their ad- vice having been asked, and they were not afraid to stand forward in places where their appearance, per- haps, produced indignation and terror. Whatever lay within or around the sphere of religion and morals formed the object of their care. They strenuously op- posed the worship of false gods (Fa. i. 10 sq.), B8 Well