Leadership in the Prophetic Literature with Special Reference to Eighth Century BCE Prophets

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About The Book

The book identifies the leadership pattern and model that portrayed by the eighth century BCE Israelite's prophets. The social and cultural life of Israel was governed primarily by three groups of leaders: the kings/royal officers, the priests, and the prophets. Of these, the kings and priests were by far the more prominent. Although the prophets did not occupy a prominent position in the life of Israel as that of the other leaders, their popular style and genial manners attracted a large number of followers among the common people. They did not rule with the authority of the kings in secular world or the authority/piety of the priests in religious world; they were simply earnest seekers of the moral life and justice for the poor, and it was their aim to teach and advise their fellow common people on what that Yahweh wants from them and how good that life is.

This research has taken the scholarship to another milestone, that leadership is God's given task for Israel. She was expected to lead the world community. The challenge of the day is the challenge of developing quality leadership which would be leading, guiding and encouraging people to achieve the goal, full of vision and a dedicated life for the cause of the one who are called the leaders. The troublesome situation demands troubled leaders who would come forward and sacrifice their lives and restore peace and harmony in the church as well as in the society at large in the midst of vice and corruption.

About the Author

Dr. A. Abeni Patton hails from Lakhuti Village, Wokha, Nagaland. She started her Theological Journey from Clark Theological College, Aolijen, Nagaland, then to Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, Assam. She pursued her Master of Theology in the discipline of Old Testament from Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai and Doctor of Theology from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune. Following her dream/vision she entered into teaching ministry since 1999. Presently she is a teaching faculty in Baptist Theological College, Pfutsero, Nagaland, India.

Introduction

1. Elaboration of the Problem

In ancient Israel the kings or royals and priests held their own offices and were regarded as leaders of Israel. On the other hand, although the prophets carried out important leadership role that have not been fully recognised as leaders. They were the main critics of the priests and the kings/royals. Hence, this research focuses on the "leadership roles" of the prophets. The texts such as Amos 7:10-17: Isaiah 7:1-17; 39:1-8; Hosea 4:1-10; Micah 3:1-12: point towards such critique on the issues of leadership and power struggle.

Some of the issues that have to do with leadership identified in this study are:

Conflict of Perspectives Nominality in Leadership

Manipulation of Cult/Religion by the Priest and the King (elites).

The Problem of Status-the Affluent versus the Poor

Lack of Vision in Leadershi

1.1. Leadership: Conflict of Perspectives

The Bible frequently alludes to conflict involving the prophets' conflict with each other, conflict with priests, conflict with kings and with various other people with whom they interacted, or to whom they addressed their oracles. The Bible tends to view these conflicts almost exclusively in ideological terms. It is a question of truth, and of a prophet truly sent by God: true religion, prediction, reading of events, true understanding of religious norms and true discourse for a needy people. Conflict is something to be endured and suffered in the interest of a higher duty to one's holy calling.

**Contents and Sample Pages**