• Title Page
• Pentateuch
• History
• Poetry
• Prophets
• Post Captivity Prophets
  • Lesson 33: Summing Up The Ante-Captivity Prophets
  • Lesson 34: Daniel
  • Lesson 35: Ezra and Haggai
  • Lesson 36: Zechariah
  • Lesson 37: Nehemiah and Malachi
• Gospels, Acts
• Pauline Epistles
• General Epistles

Summing Up The Ante-Captivity Prophets

In the reading of Andrews’ valuable book already referred to, I have come across one or two chapters from which a few sentences or paragraphs might be culled and pieced together to make an interesting and instructive summary of the teachings of the prophets thus far considered, before we enter upon the epoch of the captivity in the study of Daniel.

Dr. Andrews points out that even Moses distinctly taught that there was a point in national transgression beyond which divine forbearance would not go, and that the time might come when, through unfaithfulness to their covenant, the Jews would cease to exist as a nation and be scattered over the earth (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). This declaration of Moses we have seen repeatedly and distinctly announced by all the prophets with ever increasing fulness as the time drew near.

While the judgment referred to in these prophecies was the deportation of the Jews from their land and their subjection to the heathen nations, yet it had a larger meaning. In establishing the theocracy, for example, Jehovah entered into two relations, (1) that of King of the people, and (2) that of Proprietor to the land. These relations were co-existent, and so long as He was their king, He dwelt in the land as His own, and His presence was their national preservation. Even if, for a time, He permitted their enemies to invade the land, it was for their punishment and reformation; but to permit them to be carried away to another land and His temple to be destroyed, was not compatible with His honor as their King dwelling among them. Therefore, when their sins had reached that degree that He must cast them out from their land, He Himself must first depart.

This departure of Jehovah from the holy city and Temple as symbolized in Ezekiel 10-11, was the determining condition of the captivity marking, as it did, a change in His theocratic relation to the people that continues even to this day. While they did not cease to be His covenant people (Leviticus 26:44), and His promises respecting the Messiah were not withdrawn, and He continued to accept their worship, yet He was no more reigning at Jerusalem. Though the people returned from Babylon by and by and rebuilt the Temple, still the change continued. They were never again an independent nation under His immediate rule. For a brief period under the Maccabees there was an assertion of