After the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah, the nation continued to spiral out of control.  As sin increased, God sent prophets to warn the nations about impending punishment.  Their disregard led to their exile.

16 – Exile

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPHETS

• Prophecy does not simply mean foretelling the future.
• The primary job was to speak for God to their specific audience.
• In prophetical books, we hear from the prophet, but we rarely hear about the prophet.
• The prophets were commissioned to serve as covenant enforcement mediators.

The Warnings of the Prophets

• Isaiah 1; 40
• Jeremiah 29
• Lamentations 3
• Ezekiel 36-37
• Hosea 11

The Exile Details

• Assyria conquered Israel (Northern Kingdom) with the destruction of Samaria in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:3-6).
• Babylon conquered Judah (Southern Kingdom) with the destruction of Jerusalem in 597 BC (2 Chron. 36:17-21).
• The Israelites had to learn how to live for Yahweh in a land that did not do the same.
• While many simply adjusted to their new lives, men like Daniel stayed faithful in these times.