The Twelve Lesser or Minor Prophets

The prophetic books of the Lesser or Minor Prophets possess a special difficulty forthe modern mind because they are not arranged chronologically, nor according todate.¿ In addition the message, which isspoken by each prophet to his contemporaries, does not describe or indicate thecircumstances under which the message is being delivered.¿ They do, however, expose the political andsocial ills in Israel,her apostasy and denial of her fundamental teachings, and religious principleswhich are valid and have endured in every generation since.¿ And the view of some of the historical pointsin the history of God's Chosen People, from the ninth centuryB. C. to the present hasprevailed, and is a necessity in order to relate to the twelve Minor Prophets,and how, and when, and where they fit into history.¿ We should strive to look through and beyondthose things pertinent to the time of of theprophet to that which is abiding and significant in order to convert it intoterms that apply to our own era and to our lives.