The Prophets and Prophecy in Israel Author:Abraham Kuenen Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER I. THE SEASONABLENESS OF A NEW INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE PROPHETS AND THE NATURE OF PROPHECY IN ISRAEL. Who were the prophets, what was prophecy... more » in Israel ? It does not seem unreasonable to expect that we should receive one and the same answer to these questions, let us address them to whom we may. We stand at a sufficient distance from the prophets to be able to judge them impartially ; the writings which can put us in a position to form such a judgment are in the hands of all. There thus seem to be no insurmountable obstacles in the way of our forming a conception of the work of the prophets which shall be, not only incontestably just, but also universally accepted. But still, even in our day, the ideas concerning Israelitish prophecy are widely divergent, and the extreme views on the subject are even directly opposed to each other. It is true indeed that at present scarcely a single trace can be discovered of depreciation or misconstruction. The charges which, more than a hundred years ago, were here and there brought against the prophets of Israel, are all silenced. In high estimation of their aim and their work all are agreed. But on all other points what a difference of conception ! If it were not that we heard everywhere the same names, we should almost doubt if it was one and the same subject which was described to us in its origin and development, its historical significance and permanent worth. Let us first recall to mind the traditional view, and let us recall it in that form in which it still continues to be held by tbe great majority of Christians. What need is there to remind the reader of that which every one knows, that the prophets of Israel live still, in the grateful remembrance not only of their own people, but of universal Chris...« less